[Southack]

I'm not saying ban anything, much less Kodak's cameras from China.

But Kodak's profits on those cameras are occuring NOT because Chinese labor is so cheap, but by Chinese currency manipulation that makes those cameras cheaper for the U.S. to buy than what it actually cost to make them in China...by some 40%.

That currency manipulation is therefor distorting our economic view of the global Marketplace. It is also extremely expensive for the Chinese to maintain...though it is addictive because it employs millions more than would be otherwise employed in China and also because it draws in massive foreign investments into China that would otherwise not be there.

Marketplace distortions, however, are bad. Yes, you can profit from them, but that's not the point. There will be considerable pain when China's currency manipulation is finally ended (one day). The sooner that it is ended, the less pain for the global economy (including the U.S.).

[Brilliant]

OK, I get your point, but why is that not the problem of the Chinese? If the Chinese government manipulates the currency so that Chinese labor costs less to Kodak than it is really worth, then why shouldn't we take the Chinese for all they've got, buy some cheap cameras, and leave them holding the bag?

I will grant you that when the cheap Chinese labor comes to an end, that will be painful. But if someone gave you the choice of losing your leg now or losing your leg in 5 years, which would you take?