Nasty effects of China syndrome

Times Online ^ | 9/7/07 | Mick Hume

[greenhorn]

Nasty effects of China syndromeMick Hume: Notebook Did somebody declare war on the Chinese without telling us? To judge by the news it would appear they are now to blame for everything, as revived fears of the “yellow peril” spread faster than Made in China labels.

If we believe what we are told, the Chinese are sending over lead-painted toys to poison our children, hacking into top-level military computers on both sides of the Atlantic and burning coal to destroy the planet. It is enough to make you wonder why that Terracotta Army is really coming to London.

Obviously, we Brits and the Americans would never dream of using a dirty trick like spying, or using filthy coal to fuel an industrial revolution. As for the panic about Chinese toys, it is little wonder that there are no reports of sick children since they would have to chew the paint off all their playthings and swallow it to feel any effect. Expect warnings from the food police not to put lead-painted Barbie dolls in your child’s lunchbox.

History suggests that panics about the “toxic” East reveal more about insecurities and anxieties in the West. Where once the Chinese were accused of polluting the human race with impure genes, now they can be blamed for polluting the planet with unclean industries. They are one group that liberals can feel free to abuse without being accused of xenophobia.

[greenhorn]

I heard recently about a book by a woman whose family set out to live one year without using any products made in China. Apparently, she ended up laying out a good deal of money for Italian sports shoes for her son, because most children's athletic shoes are made in China. This is fine if you are a wealthy professional, but not everyone can afford to boycott products because of political beliefs. Product safety is important, but people benefit from the availability of lower priced goods. I'm a rookie about economics and politics but don't people benefit from choices and lower prices? Isn't that just competition? I'm in agreement with Mr. Hume regarding paranoid reactions to toy recalls.

[steel_resolve]

If we believe what we are told, the Chinese are sending over lead-painted toys to poison our children, hacking into top-level military computers on both sides of the Atlantic and burning coal to destroy the planet.

Who told this horse's ass that the lead paint fiasco or the coal burning was deliberate? They did it because money is their God. Oh, and by the way THEY ARE HACKING OUR COMPUTERS. When are people like this going to wake up? This is so surreal. We live in strange days.

[cripplecreek]

I grew up with few toys and used my imagination a lot. No political prisoners were forced to make my imagination and it didn’t cause cancer.

[capt. norm]

Toy recall?

Well they're not gonna' get mine.

* Maybe that's the hidden meaning when my Mom used to tell me to "get the lead out".

[saganite]

He didn’t even mention their apparently successful attempts to buy off certain presidential candidates and a former president.

[farlander]

Well - I don’t believe they’re intentionally sending lead painted toys to specifically poison our children. I believe they’re cutting corners not caring much what happens, and I also believe that the quality control is non-existent. It’s up to the consumer to decide if it’s worth the risk buying Chinese made items. Yes people benefit from choices, and choices also imply responsibility. Don’t come cryin’ to me if you bought something made you sick.

And, yes - Chinese are hacking, just like we’re hacking, and like everyone else is hacking.

And, yes - they’re burning coal, wood, dung, and whatever else and pumping it all into the atmosphere, so next time somone bitches about the US it’s ok to point out that China *is* the greatest polluter on the planet.

[bperiwinkle7]

This Hume guy should just shut up.

[cripplecreek]

I believe they’re cutting corners not caring much what happens

They're treating us the same way they treat their own people. With no concern beyond making a buck. The world is watching and learning from this. The American companies that are doing business with them don't deserve a pass either.

[farlander]

The Free Market will take care of that. As people stop buying ‘made in china’ stuff the US companies will pack up shop and move elsewhere to India/Indonesia/southeast asia.

Unless they get sued out of existence here first...

[DB]

The writer is an idiot. Repeat after me... Lead paint is banished in the West. If you want to sell things to the West it is required you don’t use it. China agreed not to use it and then did. Simple as that. They cheated on a mass scale because it was less expensive. To say something is one way when it is actually another purposely is called fraud.

Number two, there’s a significant number of dead people and family pets to attest to the seriousness of poisons they put into their products that are intended to be put into the mouth.

Duh...

[snowrip]

If we believe what we are told, the Chinese are sending over lead-painted toys to poison our children, hacking into top-level military computers on both sides of the Atlantic and burning coal to destroy the planet.

Uhhhhhhh... it doesn't matter whether you believe it or not, you dumbass apologist. The facts exist independent of your beliefs.

[hoppity]

I tried to find a bike US made, but the only ones I found were over $1,000. The $700 range gave me Taiwan-made. I ended up buying a Schwinn cruiser for $90 made in China. It was that, or spend $300 on a Chinese-made bike.

[RipSawyer]

I grew up with few toys and used my imagination a lot. No political prisoners were forced to make my imagination and it didn’t cause cancer.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

And grew up the better for it! Today’s youngsters don’t seem to have the desire that was so apparent in the past. They seem more content to just let things happen without being a part of what is going on.