Tuesday February 14, 2012

TomDC's past comments

  • 1

    TomDC

    China is following a mercantilist policy, and the only reason why there has not been pushback is that so many American corporations have been profiting from the low yuan. American retail stores sell Chinese made goods at huge markups. Chinese manufacturers are not benefiting as much as they should. A change in policy to allow Chinese consumption would benefit parties on both sides.

    The Chinese government knows it will need to switch to a consumption-driven economy at some point. It is very expensive for the government to keep the yuan low in the face of a massive trade surplus. There is a risk of inflation. They are waiting for the right moment. Maybe waiting for a few more American manufacturers to go under, sell their equipment and lay off skilled workers. Waiting for Chinese factories to increase their capabilities. This way they can compete even with a higher yuan.

    Posted in: China slams U.S. after Senate passes currency bill

  • 1

    TomDC

    China is the biggest customer for Oregon (USA) products. Number one product made in Oregon and sold to China is Intel Pentium processors. Triquint Semiconductor also sells a lot there. Yes. Agricultural products. Wheat, soybeans, hay, nursery stock, grass seed. But also wine. Seafood. And air quality monitors, water quality monitors,

    Benchmade knives. A model that sells for $200 in the U.S. sells for $1400 in Beijing, and they are buying them. There in lies one of the problems. Only the rich in China can afford American and European quality goods. They want them.

    A Chinese friend of mine tried to start a home-building business in China. Chinese government rules would not allow him to get foreign currency to buy imported components and fixtures that he wanted for these homes. They say -- buy Chinese.

    Posted in: China slams U.S. after Senate passes currency bill

  • 0

    TomDC

    The debate here, the comments by President Bush, even the protest by the Chinese government -- all wonderful. A process going on. Chinese can't host Olympics without putting their domestic policies on stage. Bush can't make comments on human rights in another country without holding his own behavior up for examination. The dialogue, the give and take, brings out emotions, causes us to examine our convictions, even if we try not to betray our doubts in our written posts. (a lost cause because the strongest, most absolute, and provocative language betrays the greatest internal doubt and fear.) Talk on!

    Posted in: Bush calls for freedom of speech in China

  • 0

    TomDC

    I saw the national anthem video that was emailed to me from some friends. Then I went out to the news site and watched teh entire video. If you watch the entire video, you will see Obama singing along to the national anthem near the beginning (none of the other candidates were). At the end, you will also see him enthusiastically applauding. When you see the whole video vs. the carefully edited one -- the impression is exactly the opposite. In short, the edited video tells a lie. The real question for me is why people (supporters and non) have not bothered to check? The whole thing fits too neatly into the cultural divide in the US between latte sipping liberals and workin' people. Bill Clinton was framed in his first election as an elite (Rhodes Scholar) until he came out with his (genius) boy from Hope, Arkansas commercial. Hillary -- a midwesterner and a Wellesley grad -- has suddenly sprouted an Arkansas hills accent ("I'm goin' to..."). And lets not even bring up the fact that Andover - Yale - Harvard grad, grandson of a New York Senator, who's father was chauffered in a limo to Connecticut private school, George W. Bush only bought his ranch a couple of years before running for prez. Are people that naive? Or are facts beside the point?

    Posted in: Obama defends his patriotism, quarrels with McCain

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