We're About to Lose the Biggest War!...

[Peter Frank]

I used to post on many forums, "Buy American!" -- it fell on deaf ears. Now it's too late. American businesses have de-industrialized commensurate with the influx of cheap (non-tariffed overseas goods). The American consumer was duped into the advantage of crazy low prices. There's always a catch, but no one had the guts to explain the catch when trying to get elected/reelected.

With the complicity of our gov (sorry to say, including Clinton) China has finally gotten to the point where it can dictate the price structure of virtually any product. It's only a matter of time when it out-competes Japan (its mortal enemy) in securing the international power to be gained by buying off our debt to such a level that precious few of our "American" institutions will actually be American anymore.

The spoils of American trade imbalances are being fought over in an Asian trade war. Now that our standard of living is so compromised -- we are even more dependent on the lower prices that gut our industry.

Suggestions?

[Selatius]

1. My opinion:

It's nearly impossible to stop at this point. It's too far advanced. With China, what I predict is that one day the US is going to suffer enough and then try to cut China off to stop the hemorrhaging. When that happens, we're going to fall. We have simply grown too dependent on China for our wellbeing. They know it, and we know it, but the ones in control here are simply interested in making a profit. When the fall comes, they will be safely locked away in their immense estates guarded by the best security money could buy, while the rest of the system decays.

Our products have "Made in China" on them. Their factories have "Made in America" on them.

[jdots]

2. what scares me ......

at the rate the greed factor is going America will become a third world nation making cheap junk for China and everywhere that the greedmiesters went to get stuff made for less than here.
If for some chance people in this country realize they need quality and less toss away crap that can't be fixed the country may survive.meanwhile the shippers get very rich,cut down a tree here send it to china to make plywood then sell it at home depot.
people used to fix things like shoes and electronics,now you dump them because they are so cheap to buy,that fixing them would cost more than buying a new piece of junk.The whole planet may be headed for a fuedal state of the kings & queens and billions of something just above slaves taking anti depressants and watching t.v. We have work to do and if someone thinks we don't they should get out of the way.

[ClintonTyree]

3. A possibility...............

the fiscal policies of the "neo-conservatives" are designed to bankrupt our country. All of our debts would be meaningless, we'd start with a clean slate, dispatch all entitlements from our government, and return to the glory days of Robber Barons, monopolies and cheap, almost slave labor, in our country. It would create world chaos for a time, but in the long run the US would come out of it smelling like a rose. No one would ever trust the American Government again, but do they now?
I really do believe that this is the goal of the neo-cons. Only time will tell if I'm correct.

[KT2000]

4. Without firing a shot

While we have been engaged in Iraq, and before, the Chinese have been implementing a long range plan than includes securing natural resources, i.e. oil in African nations. They have been building cooperation between Asian countries that will form a Union that will compete with the European Union.

As the second largest lender to the U.S., China has already asserted itself in US foreign policy in Iran.

The people in charge of the American contribution, like you say, are concerned only with money. They do not see America as the future consumer base. The population of China and India offer more opportunities. What happens to us is not the concern of the so-called american corporations. When American workers are paid less than their counterparts in China and India - the jobs will come back here and we will make crap for them.

As long as people choose cheap over everything else - that is the way it will go.
Having worked on an issue where a local mill was polluting so much that the number of sick children came to the attention of the state health department. The local citizens did everything they could to keep the statistics about the sick kids quiet and keep the pollution going. Guess its those "moral values" at work.

[NMDemDist2]

5. another lovely by product of our outsourcing to China huh? the Brown Cloud

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x1040

[Disturbed]

7. South America

The U.S. govt.s have alienated SA as well and their oil producing countries will rather sell their oil to Europe, Japan and China. The Multi-Corps along with our govt.s have sold us out not only economicaly but our liberties, as well.

Amerika is an empire that will fall, as most Empires do.

[MSgt213]

6. but no one had the guts to explain the catch

Because if you do explain the catch. Big business will go out of the way to ensure you are never elected/reelected. You will be labeled a crack pot.