Food products made in China (apple, Walmart, best, country)

[Chromekitty]

Originally Posted by stlterp

The thinly veiled racism on this thread is pretty sad.

Yes, there are a lot of issues in China with rampant greed/speculation, lax oversight, an impending environmental catastrophe and poor product quality. After decades of stagnation, there is now a me-first, get rich quick ethos among an oligarchic class that goes against thousands of years of history and culture.

However, what is going on in China now is no different than in the US, Britain and other Western countries during the industrial revolution. Working conditions in many factories may be poor, but still much preferable to conditions in the rural countryside/villages. There's an unbelievable work ethic and a desire to create a better life for oneself and family. There is a good reason that millions of migrant workers travel from farms to Shenzhen, Shanghai and other cities in search of factory work. There are absolutely unscrupulous factory owners and business people who take advantage, either trying to make more money for themselves or because their being squeezed to cut costs to remain competitive. To judge China, India, Brasil or any other developing country based on our standards today is a bit unfair.

To be sure, there is a ticking time bomb in China as the gulf between rich and poor, urban and rural continues to grow.

racism???

Oh please....your words emulate much of what has been said. ie: greed, corruption yet we are racist?

Oh and what the American people are being fed is NOT our standards, we want and deserve better. Corporate America is shoving this *standard* down our throats.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by stlterp

The thinly veiled racism on this thread is pretty sad.

Yes, there are a lot of issues in China with rampant greed/speculation, lax oversight, an impending environmental catastrophe and poor product quality. After decades of stagnation, there is now a me-first, get rich quick ethos among an oligarchic class that goes against thousands of years of history and culture.

However, what is going on in China now is no different than in the US, Britain and other Western countries during the industrial revolution. Working conditions in many factories may be poor, but still much preferable to conditions in the rural countryside/villages. There's an unbelievable work ethic and a desire to create a better life for oneself and family. There is a good reason that millions of migrant workers travel from farms to Shenzhen, Shanghai and other cities in search of factory work. There are absolutely unscrupulous factory owners and business people who take advantage, either trying to make more money for themselves or because their being squeezed to cut costs to remain competitive. To judge China, India, Brasil or any other developing country based on our standards today is a bit unfair.

To be sure, there is a ticking time bomb in China as the gulf between rich and poor, urban and rural continues to grow.

"Thinly veiled racism?" Dude, you gotta be kidding me!

You are gonna play apologist for the way the working class is treated in China?

Listen up: I can't do a thing about the Chinese government, Chinese laws, Chinese human rights issues, etc. However, American corporations who have moved operations there have helped create the Chinese economy.

And businesses that buy the products produced in China are doing so simply to increase their profit margin.

Here are the facts: Americans are out of work (factories, mills, plants closed) b/c greedy American corporations sold out in favor of cheap labor.

And the end result? Cheapass goods that are often substandard in quality and that tear apart or do not function properly after a very short lifespan of use.

That's great that the Chinese have a wonderful work ethic! Good for them! Americans have a wonderful work ethic, too, IF THEY HAVE A JOB!!!!

Why should we be depending on China to produce the goods we consume here in our own country?

Racism? It is racist to want American corporations to produce American goods so Americans can go to work???

Dang. You must not have a family member or friend who is a displaced worker due to outsourcing of jobs to other countries. All we are asking is to quit importing this cheap crap - and give us our jobs back.

ETA: And this is a LOCAL ISSUE, b/c our economy here in North Carolina has been severely impacted - and indeed, crippled and destroyed, in several sectors - including textiles and furniture manufacturing - b/c of cheap imported goods to this state.

In addition, I think it would be very helpful if our posters would take the time to give us all insight into products MADE IN NORTH CAROLINA - as well as Farmer's Markets we can patronize.

This information gives us, as consumers, the info we need so we know where to spend our dollars LOCALLY in order to help sustain the remaining businesses we still have in NC.

[stlterp]

Nobody is giving anybody's job back. For a whole myriad of reasons, many goods cannot be manufactured and at a competitive price in this country. When that happens, a countries' economy needs to adapt...which is why math and science education are so important, along with innovation and creating new high-tech/green tech jobs and companies. Perhaps as the cost of transporation goes up, some of that will change, but the likely result is the manufacturing will be done in Mexico, Central America, etc. If American countries hadn't gone overseas for cheaper labor, many of them would be out of business themselves. Business is a global competition these days, and companies and countries have to develop and maintain new competitive advantages on an almost daily basis.

It'll be China today, and when China gets too expensive, it'll be another country. It's the way the world works.

Don't forget that China, India and other developing countries represent a huge market for American goods and companies as well. Coca Cola, McDonalds, Boeing, P&G and many others are making a ton of money there, so it's not completely a one way street.

[anifani821]

You know, I haven't said all I want to say about this.

It used to be that here in NC, we were pretty self-sufficient. We had so many mills that produced goods used right here in this state. And as residents, we could take advantage of outlets (hosiery, textiles - sheets, towels, clothing, furniture) that allowed us to spread that discretionary income and still acquire top quality products at a terrific price. On top of that, our families and friends worked at this factories, plants and mills - often generations of families worked there.

We had farmland and grew our own veggies that were sold locally, not just at farmer's markets, but in grocery stores. Now, we get this imported stuff from Mexico. (Oh, guess I am a racist cause I don't want e-coli imported from Mexico on my spinach). It got cheaper for grocers to import this merchandise than give us fresh - RIPE - tomatoes from Farmer Bill down the road. Half the time, this produce is picked when it is so green, it doesn't even have any flavor when it reaches my table.

Now, our economy has changed. Does anyone else find it troubling that as our jobs got exported to China (and Mexico, for that matter) . . . our standard of living is going DOWN . . . while we have created such a prosperous infrastructure in China that they now lend us money? They are working in those jobs and creating that wealth b/c they are creating the products that are then sent to us to consume.

If you stop and think about it - the USA has become an outpost for China (and Mexico, as well). They take our dollars . . . they got our jobs . . . and now they export what we need to sustain ourselves (and therefore, dictate the quality cause we have no CHOICE of products) . . . and on top of it, they lend our government the money so we can continue to go into debt on such things as healthcare (and fighting a war).

We have just become an outpost for China's industrial revolution. And since they own our debt - we are essentially a Chinese colony. Oh sure . . . sounds reactionary, doesn't it. But every month, we are accepting more and more of China's $$$ . . . and every month, we are accepting more and more of China's products. So tell me in five years that China does not "own" us.

This is racism to recognize that we are becoming nothing more than a nation of consumers who rely on both the $$ and goods from another country? Hmmmmmm. Now if memory serves me correctly, seems we already fought a battle over this in our past . . . when another country owned us and we were dependent on them for both our coffers and our imported goods.

[gkleoni1]

Piggybacking on what Ani said... The complaints on this thread are in reference to the Chinese government and corporations who have exploited their policies. Basically everyone, down to those who buy the products made in China are saving/making money off of the the sweat of the chinese people. If we wait around for changes to be made from within China it will NEVER happen, if we wait for governments to "talk" to each other and ask for changes nicely, it will NEVER happen. The ONLY language these people understand is $$$$$$. If people take a stand and stop buying at least until the playing field is fair and the Chinese governement is held to the same standards we have here then circumstances would improve. I don't have a problem buying products that are not from the US as long as they are from a country that has standards and ways to check those standards. Typically then there are not such price differences because they have to produces those products in the same manner they are produced here, paying people a fair wage.

Also regarding the peanuts and spinach. Can you imagine how many more places would be found in China if they had agencies who looked and checked for these things or if that type of agency were allowed to disclose those findings or if their newspapers were allowed to write about those findings. Really how can any intelligent person even begin to try and defend China???

[sophialee]

Originally Posted by stlterp

Nobody is giving anybody's job back. For a whole myriad of reasons, many goods cannot be manufactured and at a competitive price in this country. When that happens, a countries' economy needs to adapt...which is why math and science education are so important, along with innovation and creating new high-tech/green tech jobs and companies. Perhaps as the cost of transporation goes up, some of that will change, but the likely result is the manufacturing will be done in Mexico, Central America, etc. If American countries hadn't gone overseas for cheaper labor, many of them would be out of business themselves. Business is a global competition these days, and companies and countries have to develop and maintain new competitive advantages on an almost daily basis.

It'll be China today, and when China gets too expensive, it'll be another country. It's the way the world works.

Don't forget that China, India and other developing countries represent a huge market for American goods and companies as well. Coca Cola, McDonalds, Boeing, P&G and many others are making a ton of money there, so it's not completely a one way street.

Still not getting the racism statement . I'm pretty sure a good deal of people that live in China would say worse things about how their country was run than we are. Are they racist too?

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by stlterp

Nobody is giving anybody's job back. For a whole myriad of reasons, many goods cannot be manufactured and at a competitive price in this country. When that happens, a countries' economy needs to adapt...which is why math and science education are so important, along with innovation and creating new high-tech/green tech jobs and companies. Perhaps as the cost of transporation goes up, some of that will change, but the likely result is the manufacturing will be done in Mexico, Central America, etc. If American countries hadn't gone overseas for cheaper labor, many of them would be out of business themselves. Business is a global competition these days, and companies and countries have to develop and maintain new competitive advantages on an almost daily basis.

It'll be China today, and when China gets too expensive, it'll be another country. It's the way the world works.

Don't forget that China, India and other developing countries represent a huge market for American goods and companies as well. Coca Cola, McDonalds, Boeing, P&G and many others are making a ton of money there, so it's not completely a one way street.

You are missing the point entirely. Sure, they buy stuff we export. But the balance of trade is so wacked out that unless we completely shut down WalMart, there is not way to even make a dent in the difference b/n what we import from China and what piddly amount we are exporting to them. And don't forget - when we export raw goods that is counting in our GDP - but when those raw goods are exported back to us in the form of products - WOOPS!!!! - it is counted as an import. That means that a huge amount of what is SHOWING as exports from this country are actually coming back in as imports as products. So it is WORSE than the figures actually show (wh/ is hard to fathom).

I don't care if it is a one way street, a two way street, or a super highway. There needs to be a big ole STOP SIGN in this imbalanced flow of goods - and corporate greed needs to be curbed . . . THAT is the only reason we no longer have our jobs here. GREED. You can philosophize till the cows come home (the few we have left in this state, that is). It doesn't change what has transpired.

It is simple.

China works for chicken feed.
American corps are greedy and took advantage of that.
American factories shut down.
Americans lost jobs.
Now we are stuck buying crap PLUS having people out of work.

Further, we cannot exist as a service oriented society - and this political global BS about "shifting to math and science" cause our jobs are never coming back is a justification that does not even make sense. Where are the jobs for all these "math and science" majors? They are also all in China and India.

PS. And no offense to Bubba, but we have plenty of Bubbas in this state, and there is no way you are ever gonna educate a Bubba so that he suddenly transforms into a nuclear physicist. Hell, you are not even gonna transform Bubba into a payroll clerk. Some people NEED piece work, factory work, routine not-too-many-decisions type work cause that is what they are capable of doing. And don't tell me they can go back to CP and become an HVAC repairman. That takes critical thinking and some people just are not capable of it. But that doesn't mean they didn't do a superb job drilling holes in furniture legs.

[gkleoni1]

Originally Posted by sophialee

Still not getting the racism statement . I'm pretty sure a good deal of people that live in China would say worse things about how their country was run than we are. Are they racist too?

Oh no they would NEVER say a word because then they would wind up in jail. They looove their country. Oh and BTW I have never been to China but my husband spent 2 months there during the Olympics when they put their best foot forward. He still came home with some interesting stories like watching a US co-worker get interrogated for 2 hours the day after he had a private conversation with his wife where he had said some negative things about the Chinese govt. Can you say phone tap??

[mullman]

The 2-3x a year I actually go to Wal-Mart, I entirely hate it.

Is that racist?

[Chromekitty]

Originally Posted by gkleoni1

Piggybacking on what Ani said... The complaints on this thread are in reference to the Chinese government and corporations who have exploited their policies. Basically everyone, down to those who buy the products made in China are saving/making money off of the the sweat of the chinese people. If we wait around for changes to be made from within China it will NEVER happen, if we wait for governments to "talk" to each other and ask for changes nicely, it will NEVER happen. The ONLY language these people understand is $$$$$$. If people take a stand and stop buying at least until the playing field is fair and the Chinese governement is held to the same standards we have here then circumstances would improve. I don't have a problem buying products that are not from the US as long as they are from a country that has standards and ways to check those standards. Typically then there are not such price differences because they have to produces those products in the same manner they are produced here, paying people a fair wage.

Also regarding the peanuts and spinach. Can you imagine how many more places would be found in China if they had agencies who looked and checked for these things or if that type of agency were allowed to disclose those findings or if their newspapers were allowed to write about those findings. Really how can any intelligent person even begin to try and defend China???

A large part of my complaint lies with the American corporations and US policy. That is who is doing this....

Why should we as American citizens pay top shelf prices for fifth rate product? It is a lose, lose for us the American people.