Posted on 02/25/2008 5:28:10 PM PST by shrinkermd
This is a series of slides done by the Chicago Federal Reserve. You can go through them quickly and see some interesting information.
A summary of these slides is as follows:
(Excerpt) Read more at swissbusinesshub.com ...
“Maybe, just maybe, China’s changed from the stereotype most have, set back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s?”
Let’s see:
A democracy-free, intellectual property rights defying, exchange rate cheating, Sudanese-arming, nascent military superpower wannabe that produces unsafe lead/asbestos/PCP laden crap while engaging in corporate/military espionage while simultaneously occupying one foreign country (Tibet) and threatening to do the same to another (Taiwan: the other China).
Seems my stereotypes are pretty up to date.
“Oh, that’s right - China’s “communist”, I can’t actually own those things or heaven forbid SHOOT them! Silly me for believing what reality is...”
Are expats really allowed to own property over in China? And if so, are you certain the Chinese government would not be able to confiscate it/reclaim said property should it be so inclined? I would think the Chinese would be better able to exert their power over any claims made by foreigners. I’m not trying to be facetious here, just wanting to know if China is as non-communist as you’re implying here. If so, doesn’t sound much different than living in my beloved state of Texas.
My point exactly.
20 years ago a Chinese product costing $10.00 would last a year. An American made product costing $15.00 would follow a newborn baby to college.
Now it is $10.00 or $200.00.
Do the math. I’ll put the money against my next firearm purchase rather than a toaster. I can live without toast.
MAN CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT TOAST!
Very simple — you want good quality products, then you have to pay the price.
LOL. Yum
“Our 25 year old toaster finally died. American made.”
Reminds me of my Kirby vacuum cleaner that lasted a full 20+ years. Loved that thing. US born and bred, that one.
Please please tell me we still make them here...
Good luck finding any appliance still made in the USA. There are a few. My Bunn coffee maker. KitchenAid has a couple things still made here.
“A democracy-free, intellectual property rights defying, exchange rate cheating, Sudanese-arming, nascent military superpower wannabe that produces unsafe lead/asbestos/PCP laden crap while engaging in corporate/military espionage while simultaneously occupying one foreign country (Tibet) and threatening to do the same to another (Taiwan: the other China).”
You forgot pet food there...
You are absolutely right, after a small manufacturer gets to a certain size, it is the only competitive thing they can do to expand to move their manufacturing offshore. I think that is strictly because of business over-regulation. The amount of BS regulations that businesses have to put up with is incredible. Why do we make it more expensive to make stuff here than to make it in another country and ship it here? Not to mention that you are training and financing your eventual competitor.
Wo nian shu Hanyu?
A reasonable price.
Not 20x the Chinese price.
And the same problems exist in India; heck, the EU doesn't recognize software patents meaning that whole slice of IP from the US doesn't hold up in the EU, let alone the 2nd or 3rd world.
Your point?
Fixed it.
What’s the brand name you bought? American companies are giving the American public what they want; it’s the nature of economies. Businesses build and sell what makes them the most money, and most of their customers would rather get a really low cost item than an expensive one.
For the toaster, how about KitchenAid? The KitchenAid mixer I bought 11 years ago is still running strong as it ever has (even with a pretty permanent layer of flour embedded on it). A two slot, two slice all metal toaster for $90.
Well, I'd have to say:
一點ㄦ點ㄦ :)
If we're all dying, why are we not all dead? Because we're still process. We're starting to correct - give it time. Friedman also always cautioned that economies can take years to make shifts.
And you're right - not everyone will be a software engineer. However, there's new companies that exist BECAUSE of the ability to import from overseas; for example, Costco. Excellent pay and benefits, and it exists because of cheap overseas imports.
And not just checkout staff; warehouse staff, managers, CPAs, drivers, accountants, buyers, etc.
My point is that if the "loss of manufacturing jobs" was so terrible and damaging to employment, then why do we have near-full employment? Why don't we have hundreds of thousands of unemployed machinists on the street?
The reason we don’t have hundreds of thousands of unemployed machinists on the street, is that, as a nation we are spending our savings.
On cheap imports.
We eventually will run out of money. We then will have nothing left. No skills. No factories. No jobs. And no money.
Then we’re royally, toast.
Because I guaran-Kerry-tee it, China won’t be sending those jobs back here.
Ever.
I'll post a copy of my deed when I get back to Shanghai. Foreigners can own property and businesses, just like Chinese citizens.
As far as the guns go, I do have to register them with the State; of course, I have to do that here in Washington, too... But other than that, it's not nearly as repressive as most FReepers seem to believe.
Heck, I don't even have to wear a Mao jacket, nor eat rice for 3 meals a day!
You like Texas, you'd love riding the open steppes of Inner Mongolia - I did that last summer, and it was an adventure to never forget. Me, 3 Mongolians, 8 horses, and a yurt for a week. What a time!
A $90.00 toaster?
You are really young to think that is an option.
It is a freakin’ toaster!
I bet you have a $50.00 coffee cup too.
I guess $50,000.00 for a “good” couch is in your budget.
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