←back to thread

China

(drewdevault.com)
847 points kick | 1 comments | 20 Nov 19 15:44 UTC | HN request time: 0.215s | source
Show context
mc32 ◴[20 Nov 19 16:11 UTC] No.21585110[source]▶
>”It’s economically productive for the 1% to maintain a trade relationship with China. The financial incentives don’t help any Americans, and in fact, most of us are hurt by this relationship...”

So true, since its inception with GHW, its execution and realization through Clinton and then once fully engaged the timid, supplicant responses from GW and BO, China has contributed to the stagnation of the blue collar worker on America with the full complicity of Democrats, Republicans and most of Industry and even unions who didn’t oppose their cozy politicians. They all only saw starry dollar signs...

That’s where we are now. People have had enough. That’s why they put up with the guy no one likes because he’s willing to sever that codependent relationship.

Now, if you ask any pol running for the nomination who the greatest threat to America is... it’s not going to be China...

replies(15): >>21585140 #>>21585157 #>>21585158 #>>21585323 #>>21585326 #>>21585341 #>>21585355 #>>21585449 #>>21585659 #>>21585680 #>>21586024 #>>21586078 #>>21586407 #>>21586727 #>>21587541 #
1. poulsbohemian ◴[20 Nov 19 16:59 UTC] No.21585680[source]▶
I don't disagree with anything you are saying regarding the culpability of American politicians, but this common narrative overlooks the role of unadulterated greed on the part of American corporations. BigCo saw a billion person market. They saw cheap labor and a Wild West of regulations, especially environmental. Nevermind that they had to form joint ventures and expose their IP, it would be worth it. I saw an article earlier this year - think it was in the NYT - making the statement that now the US understood that the Chinese never had any intention of letting US companies gain a foothold in their domestic market - well duh! It was clear as day twenty+ years ago to anybody paying attention. It wasn't the Chinese that did this to the American worker and consumer, it was our own corporations with the full support of politicians.

The current buffoon political administration has identified a surface problem, but not the causes and certainly not a solution. The only solution I see comes in two parts: 1) The world needs to make China persona non grata. 2) Shareholders and corporate boards need to hold corporations accountable, not just on a moral basis, but also in terms of good business. Foreign companies cannot win there because the playing field isn't fair.

Thus, while yes we need politicians who can defend American interests, we also need to hold their corporate masters accountable.