Arthur,
You put your finger on it when you write (below): "We have lost design
capacity in many areas".
The Americans plagiarized the English and the Germans' scientific know-how
and industrial designs for the better part of the past two centuries (right
up to, and including the computer and the world wide web). And now the
Chinese are copying the Americans. Can you really blame them?
There are plenty more potential design areas. And if the Americans, the
English and the Germans don't develop them -- and thus the next phase of
industrial production and prosperity -- then the Chinese will certainly do so.
And they'll do this more effectively by recruiting the cream of American
and Western scientists in the next few decades.
Just like the Americans did when they recruited the cream of England's and
Germany's brains year after year from for the past 70 or 80 years.
If Americans and the West put up the tariff barriers against Chinese goods
then: (a) the cost of living for the average consumer will go up; (b) the
Chinese will still be able to recruit the best American and Western
scientists by offering good research facilities (the Chinese started their
'key personnel' Green Card system some three years ago); (c) the Chinese
will develop equivalent consumer markets in South America and Africa.
Keith
At 10:10 13/07/2010 -0400, you wrote:
I am a protectionist. I try to protect my family, my community, my city,
etc. I am sure that you are too. I am willing to trade off economic gains
for security and a range of social and esthetic reasons. I support building
codes. And heritage designations. So why is "protectionist" such a bad
word?
We have embarked on a program of short term gain for long term pain. Prices
are lower on almost all products. Yes. Produced by prison labour, or child
labour, or non-union labour, and in conditions where health and safety laws
are not like ours, environmental laws , etc. This really isn't trade with
China. It is buying low cost products from China and them taking our IOUs.
At some point this has got to come to an end. At the end we will have gone
beyond hollowing out our mfg sector. We have lost design capability in many
areas. We are buying products that we don't fully understand how they are
made. Our craftsman have been retired and there is no one around to take
their place since there are no jobs. I am overstating the case but this is
what trading with super low cost countries leads to.
I agree to trade. Trade with countries that have somewhat similar laws and
protections.
We have really been following Lenin's dictum: "A capitalist will sell you
the rope you later use to hang him with".
I hate to echo so much of what has been said by others but it really seems
that the elites have sold out the working class. It gets worse. Tune into
late night radio and the hustlers are trying to get the newly impoverished
to rush out and buy gold. Get it before ....just get it. Looks like a new
bubble. So walking away from homes and jobs, take a try on the casino of
gold.
We should be governing for the long term good of our citizens, not for the
short term bottom line of corporations. Sometimes they coincide, this time
they are diverging, strongly.
arthur
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray Harrell
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 11:43 PM
To: 'RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION'
Subject: Re: [Futurework] FW: Tremble, Banks, Tremble
Interesting. Do you believe that there should be no NAFTA or the other
International Agreements that have caused the loss of jobs to go overseas?
How would you have handled it? Like the Japanese farmers? Our farmers
have the same problems even with the subsidies and how about the subsidizing
of energy companies for the status quo. What are your suggestions?
REH
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Arthur Cordell
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 11:05 PM
To: 'RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION'
Subject: Re: [Futurework] FW: Tremble, Banks, Tremble
Google Clinton Wal-Mart China and you will see just what nice folks the
Clinton's are.
Hillary on the Board of Walmart while "first lady" in Arkansas. Pres
Clinton touting the promise of opening trade with China, meanwhile Walmart
is one of the first to get product from China. Walmart in a profit squeeze
was desperate to get goods at lower cost and so China became the place to
get low cost product. And what of American workers? Hmm.
No not a mensch at all. Slick willie was a name that was well earned.
Smart. But then again shysters are often smart.
Arthur
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray Harrell
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 3:34 PM
To: 'RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION'
Subject: Re: [Futurework] FW: Tremble, Banks, Tremble
Agreed but if someone removes the struts from a bridge to allow more traffic
and puts in place the building of larger struts to accommodate the traffic
and the next administration refuses to do the work and sells the materials
off for the upper classes nine houses in nine countries and naked ladies be
served at parties on the backs of European waiters, then the blame for the
original removal is specious.
Arthur. Clinton had a whole plan to work through the problems of NAFTA and
the market but Busy trashed the plans and went for the cheap thrill. I
would trust Clinton again with the economy because although he's an old
hound when it comes to sex, otherwise he's a "mensch". The others launch
armies as orgasms and their economics is faux. Fake leather from China.
REH
PS. Thanks Mike for the article. This Galbraith is turning out to be an
interesting one.
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Keith Hudson, Saltford, England
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