On Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 11:49:44AM -0700, John Oliver wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 10:05:05AM -0700, Lan Barnes wrote:
> > On Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 09:31:33AM -0700, John Oliver wrote:
> > > On Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 09:38:17AM -0700, Lan Barnes wrote:
> > > > And what is our threat to China? "If you don't start honoring all our
> > > > Mickey Mouse and Microsoft copyrights and patents, we'll ... we'll ...
> > > > we'll STOP SELLING YOU OUR BONDS! Yeah, that'll show you!"
> > >
> > > In theory, we could stop buying massive quantities of consumer goods
> > > from them. If we tariffed the hell out of Chinese products, that would
> > > more than sting them.
> >
> > I don't know whose theory you're quoting. There is this idea called
> > "free trade" (the real thing, not what passes for it these days) that in
> > _accepted_ economic theory is good for both countries, their consumers,
> > and their competitive positions vis a vis each other.
>
> Since when does a "theory" have to belong to someone?
Umm ... I'm trying to think of an exception. OK, theories become orphans
rather rapidly when they're discredited.
> Are you saying
> that it would be absolutely impossible for us to tariff or boycott
> Chinese goods?
>
Nope. OK, yup. It wouldn't be _impossible_ but it would be a disaster in
oh, so many ways.
> I'm not saying we should... just that we could.
... if we could get Walmart to agree, or the State Department, or just
about anybody.
> Personally, I'm against
> tariffs and protectionism... they're artificial restraints on free trade
> that the market will attempt to route around. And they invite
> retaliation. Trade wars are bad for a meshed global economy.
>
Perfect agreement.
> And there's absolutely nothing that says "our" response to lack of
> Chinese respect for patents has to be reasonable or rational. It's
> absolutely feasible that Microsoft could buy the response that they
> thought was most appropriate, ie. the one that would protect their
> profits, at least in the short run.
>
Well, M$'s been trying that with very limited success.
--
Lan Barnes
Linux Guy, SCM Specialist
Tcl/Tk Enthusiast
Sitting around parsing the definition of "civil war" doesn't support the
troops, it supports the president, and he's not a soldier, he just plays
one on TV.
- Bill Maher
--
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