for askolover and norgeway
First of all, while in principle I like your ideas, they will never get off the ground.
Reason being, you are outnumbered by a trillion to 1. Literally.
First you have Wall Street. It will ALWAYS influence financial and trade policy so as to benefit shareholders. Yours and my needs don't figure into the equation.
Second, you challenged that companies who outsource to China should be banned from selling here. That's fine, but let me ask you this...........WHO buys this crap from China?
Answer: WE DO!
I know it's hard to fathom but think about it. Consumer spending drives about 68% of economic activity in this country. That means, simply put, we choose winners and losers by voting with our feet and pocketbooks. And for years, we've operated under the notion that when in doubt, cheaper is better. And the lowest priced product usually winds up in the shopping cart. These are not my rules, but just how it is in the USA marketplace.
As as result, company X has a choice........try to appeal to the patriotism that has all but evaporated OR saddle up with the rest of the corporate snaggers and find a contract factory in China. Or rise losing shelf space at SprawlMart. What would YOU do?
Some years back, the SVP of Merchandising at my company addressed store's concerns about the increasing amount of imported products in our warehouses. Specifically, he addressed galvanized and black pipe fittings, nipples, elbows and the like. He noted that the imported products outsold the domestic sourced ones by a ratio of 15-1. He ended his discussion stating that while there was a lot of "demand" for USA sourced goods, there were declining numbers of "customers". Thus the reason for cheaper imported product.
Here's a typical discussion with a typical, brain dead, lazy, media fed American moron who cannot or will not think.
BDAM (brain dead American Moron):Ya know, it's really getting bad out there, people cannot find jobs, it's depressing. Why back in my day a guy could leave high school, marry Judy, start breeding kids, buy a station wagon, a house, and a small boat and live the good life. Now look at what has happened.
Me: Well since your time sir, globalization has demonstrated that both capital and intellect know of no national boundaries. And the countries we once bombed in doubya doubya 2 are now our competitors.
BDAM: Darn right. That's what I mean. All this stuff coming from China and god knows where. Back in my day, WE actually built stuff in this country. Now a good paying job is a cashier at Walmart.
ME: As we've evolved, we've moved from a manufacturing based economy to a service economy. Britain and France went through the same thing..........
BDAM: (interrupting)That's right! Friggin Walmart. I know someplace my taxes are covering those people that don't make enough to live on. How awful! They gotta do something, it's getting really bad out there.......
ME: Well it is for those who cling to the notion that only the US of A can make products.............
BDAM: (interrupting again).........well who says we have to buy stuff from China anyway? By golly, I know we can make it just as good, if not better here. And we could support good paying jobs IF we wanted to. It's George Bush's fault, yes, that's the problem!
ME: Well Barack Obama is president now sir.
BDAM: Yeah, I know. He's killing us, yes sir he is. By golly I never voted for that guy. They shoulda put that Mitt or Steve guy in there. It's really getting bad out there, yes sir.
ME: (clearing throat)By the way, I take it you are retired?
BDAM: Darn right! Got me a pension too! USW pension I might add. Best pension. We fought those guys tooth and nail but by golly we got it. Benefits too. Even the old lady is covered! I think the teamsters come close but we fought those corporate bastards for every dime. Yes sir, union is the way to go. Don't see too many union shops today do ya? I bet you wish you was in a union sonny!
ME: I work in IT and most of my field is non union. What isn't here is in India, usually Banglalore or Chennai.
BDAM: Huh? What you say? Are those places in like California or something? Or is that some new kind of restyraunt?
ME: Un no, those are two major IT outsourcing centers in the sub continent of India sir.
BDAM: (sounding doubtful) Oh.
ME: So you have a good pension yes?
BDAM: (proudly)Yes I do. Wuz a card carrying union member for 39 years kiddo. I got my benefits, paid for home, and a place on the lake. Yes sir, I still have my union card. Carry it too! Solidarity forever kiddo.
ME: By the way, where do you shop for groceries and household items?
BDAM: Why Walmart! Sams Club too!
ME: Is that a fact?
BDAM: Sure is. The got the best prices. Can't beat 'em either. My old lady does all the shopping and she says they have the lowest prices in town. So we get everything there. Even tires. Did you know that you can get tires for your automobile there sonny?
ME: Yes.
BDAM: Yes sir, we're careful with our money. Yes sir.
ME: You're talking about the same Walmart that you stated earlier does not pay their workers enough money right? That your taxes somehow subsidize right?
BDAM: (eyes glaze over).........coughs.......well you can't beat those prices.
ME: I bet you can't. But can you see the connection here?
BDAM: What connection? I'm not connected with anyone except the USW!
ME: (getting irritated)No, what I am saying is, how do you think Walmart, the very place you criticized earlier with the imported items from China and the low wages, undercuts the competition?
BDAM (now sporting the brain dead deer in headlights gaze, his mind blown with the nobody's home upstairs jaw dropping stare) Uh, gosh I don't really know.
ME: (places Marlboro gold cig in mouth. Pulls out USA made Zippo. Lights cig. Pulls smoke downstairs in one drag. Exhales, blowing smoke rings in the process. Stares at BDAM through the smoke.
I thought so. Turns and walks away, shaking head.
