Jerry's thoughts on China
Posted by Matt in the absence of our comment system...

It will hurt, but it will be a good hurt: things from China are simply
too cheap and they distort the worlds value system. In making the
materials of the earth so cheap they are disposable, we are enticed
into the process of converting the sacred into the profane.
As to democracy in Taiwan... Taiwan belongs to China: it is in its
sphere of influence as much as the entire western hemisphere is in
ours, though we take umbrage at yellow people having anything like a
Monroe Doctrine (the Europeans felt we were totally nuts when we
established that doctrine! Who??? those Americans, dressed in buckskin
and living side by side with Indians???)
We also threatened England in no uncertain terms while they supported
the southern rebellion. And we still treat Cuba as some 1800 lunatic
fit to be locked in a primitive dungeon.
Honk Kong is gone. Taiwan will also go. And China is indeed becoming
reasonable democratic, and what with our moving toward them with
iterations of the patriot act, who knows where we will end up in the
ranking.
I like the notion of easing up trade with China. I like the notion of
staying a little closer to home, with Mexico and Canada and Central and
South Amreica. I like the notion of the US cleaning up its own house.
Mostly, we use Chinese goods like we use Mexican labor: to keep the
labor costs to local American corporations cheap. Screw the heath
care, OSHA, etc.
What are we going to do when China starts using its fair share of air
and then some? Who you gonna call then? (Ghostbusters... NOT)
Our national focus is on long term economic growth, and short term
economic gain, but things like eating, the arts, the good life,
spirituality, and the true heart of man.... nah.
We, the people, all the people, love our children. The governments,
the IMF, the WMF... they don't. It ain't "evil" but it sure is true,
and truth is what you deal with.