[dennisw]

if you present americans with the cost of something priced in real dollars, unaffected by global effects - the cost of a college education, the cost of paying for private sector healthcare or health insurance - what happens? they run screaming to the government for subsidies. why? because most of them can't afford to pay for those things. 

being able to ONLY afford imported chinese products is not a sign of wealth. my wealth is not measured by how many many $9 toasters I can buy.

I go into Wal Mart and see a lot of people who can only afford cheap items and made in China items. It is not a sign of wealth that so many can only afford cheap Chinese imports. Go into a Harbor Freight Tools store sometime for some real fun. I would  not be surprised if the PLA or some other ChiCom entity owns them

[Nathan Zachary]

"I go into Wal Mart and see a lot of people who can only afford cheap items and made in China items"

How would you know what people can and cannot afford simply by watching them shop at Wal Mart? I often go to Wal-Mart in my t- shirt and scruffy jeans when I need something, but I'm far from being poor. As for buying tools, I buy expensive tools of good quality, (snap-on) but for all I know they could be made in china. You wouldn't know it from the price though. Same as Mac or craftsman tools.