Comments on: Made in China: What Price Profit? http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/ Homo homini rodentius est Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:20:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Aatom http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3840 Aatom Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:58:20 +0000 http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3840 I admire your optimism, Mr. Beale. ;) I admire your optimism, Mr. Beale. ;)

]]> By: SD http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3839 SD Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:15:06 +0000 http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3839 Thanks, Teresa for providing the link page. It's a good thing for people to know there are options out there. Fact is, though, prices on Chinese goods are in fact lower than they would be if companies weren't benefiting from cheap imports. I read somewhere that a Barbie doll cost two to three dollars when it debuted back in the 50's -- inflation alone would make it more than the $10 they currently cost due to reliance on China. Aatom, I appreciate the "globalness" of globalization. It is certainly a juggernaut that those in power are firmly committed to. Still, as we saw from the immigration reform debacle, citizens can affect policy when they really believe that it is not in their interest. And the untoward effects of free trade (including loss of jobs and increased risks from imports) could finally push people to seek changes. Thanks, Teresa for providing the link page. It’s a good thing for people to know there are options out there. Fact is, though, prices on Chinese goods are in fact lower than they would be if companies weren’t benefiting from cheap imports. I read somewhere that a Barbie doll cost two to three dollars when it debuted back in the 50’s — inflation alone would make it more than the $10 they currently cost due to reliance on China.

Aatom, I appreciate the “globalness” of globalization. It is certainly a juggernaut that those in power are firmly committed to. Still, as we saw from the immigration reform debacle, citizens can affect policy when they really believe that it is not in their interest. And the untoward effects of free trade (including loss of jobs and increased risks from imports) could finally push people to seek changes.

]]> By: Aatom http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3836 Aatom Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:34:01 +0000 http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3836 I can't help think of Ned Beatty's speech in Network (respectfully referenced by you in a past post) when I read anti-globalization rhetoric. There are forces here that are quite clearly beyond anyone's control, and especially beyond the control of small, feel-good grassroots movements attempting to divert dollars into MadeInTheUSA companies. I'm not opposed to these impulses, and would certainly support anything that helped rebalance the rather disturbing import/export equation currently at play in this country (which has far graver implications than merely bad dog food, I'm afraid). But the new industrial landscape has already formed, in large part in China, and we are essentially powerless to stop it or the multi-national conglomerates who take advantage of it at this point. The only real solution, in my mind (and I am but a humble media type, certainly no economist) is to somehow get global industries to start regulating themselves more effectively. This will of course require the Chinese government, among others, to start caring about its workforce and its image in the marketplace, which it currently does not in any meaningful way. But the wheels of profit operate with or without our consent, I'm afraid, and until there are some enforceable global business practice standards, the gaps, holes and back alleys of cheap labor and shoddy output will continue to reap rewards at our expense. I can’t help think of Ned Beatty’s speech in Network (respectfully referenced by you in a past post) when I read anti-globalization rhetoric. There are forces here that are quite clearly beyond anyone’s control, and especially beyond the control of small, feel-good grassroots movements attempting to divert dollars into MadeInTheUSA companies. I’m not opposed to these impulses, and would certainly support anything that helped rebalance the rather disturbing import/export equation currently at play in this country (which has far graver implications than merely bad dog food, I’m afraid). But the new industrial landscape has already formed, in large part in China, and we are essentially powerless to stop it or the multi-national conglomerates who take advantage of it at this point. The only real solution, in my mind (and I am but a humble media type, certainly no economist) is to somehow get global industries to start regulating themselves more effectively. This will of course require the Chinese government, among others, to start caring about its workforce and its image in the marketplace, which it currently does not in any meaningful way. But the wheels of profit operate with or without our consent, I’m afraid, and until there are some enforceable global business practice standards, the gaps, holes and back alleys of cheap labor and shoddy output will continue to reap rewards at our expense.

]]> By: Bob Smith http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3834 Bob Smith Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:14:43 +0000 http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3834 Any US corporate executive or board member who signs off on transferring jobs out of the US to sweatshops should be stripped of citizenship, stripped of most personal assets, and deported. Screw Mattel. Boycott. Any US corporate executive or board member who signs off on transferring jobs out of the US to sweatshops should be stripped of citizenship, stripped of most personal assets, and deported. Screw Mattel. Boycott.

]]> By: teresa http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3830 teresa Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:48:45 +0000 http://www.ratdiary.com/2007/08/19/made-in-china-what-price-profit/#comment-3830 Why is it that consumers mistakenly believe that toys made in America cost more than toys made in China? I'd hardly say that Mattel or Thomas the Train toys cost less than the average "American" made toy. It's just that they're cheaper for corporations to produce due to cheap labor. They certainly aren't passing the savings on to us, they're just enjoying record profits! It's time Americans started making the effort to buy American, even if it means a little more effort finding American products. (For an extensive list of American toys, brands and products, please visit [<a href="http://www.toysmadeinamerica.com" target="_blank">Toys Made in America</a>]. Let's start giving American companies our patronage, and force corporations to bring our jobs back home! Teresa Why is it that consumers mistakenly believe that toys made in America cost more than toys made in China? I’d hardly say that Mattel or Thomas the Train toys cost less than the average “American” made toy. It’s just that they’re cheaper for corporations to produce due to cheap labor. They certainly aren’t passing the savings on to us, they’re just enjoying record profits! It’s time Americans started making the effort to buy American, even if it means a little more effort finding American products. (For an extensive list of American toys, brands and products, please visit [Toys Made in America]. Let’s start giving American companies our patronage, and force corporations to bring our jobs back home!

Teresa

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