Saturday, February 04, 2012
Theory of treason
Listening to a local stock-picking radio show. The host is interviewing an executive of Keytronics, which used to build keyboards but now does 'contract manufacturing', designing various things here and building them in China and Mexico.
I suspect the host was hoping to get callers asking about share value, but instead the callers grilled the Keytronics man on outsourcing. Good.
In response, Mr Keytronics complained about US regulations and said he simply couldn't compete with Chinese wages.
He then cited a theory that goes roughly like this: If we build things in China, we will help to develop a middle class in China. After about 50 years of killing our own working class to enrich the Chinese working class, we may be able to resume making things here and selling them to China.
Okay, asshole.
(1) You've just openly admitted to disloyalty. You stated explicitly that your business is devoted to destroying the American economy in order to build up the Chinese economy. That's how you make your profit.
(2) Your basic complaints are valid, but you've intentionally failed to state the cure for the complaints.
Regulations and foreign competition are not unchangeable laws of nature. They are artifacts of American federal law. In previous decades, US employment regulations were much less onerous and US trade policy was designed to favor American workers. Congress changed those laws because US businessmen, like you, wanted them changed.
If no company could import from China, nobody would have to compete against Chinese prices. If no company could outsource jobs to China, nobody would have to compete against Chinese wages. See how simple it is?
If a significant number of US business executives were loyal to America, they could tell Congress to roll back the regulations and reimpose tariffs and limits on outsourcing.
This has not happened because US business executives are traitors. They hate America and want China to succeed; and they have told Congress to shape the laws toward that 'theory'. ¶ 11:39 AM
I suspect the host was hoping to get callers asking about share value, but instead the callers grilled the Keytronics man on outsourcing. Good.
In response, Mr Keytronics complained about US regulations and said he simply couldn't compete with Chinese wages.
He then cited a theory that goes roughly like this: If we build things in China, we will help to develop a middle class in China. After about 50 years of killing our own working class to enrich the Chinese working class, we may be able to resume making things here and selling them to China.
Okay, asshole.
(1) You've just openly admitted to disloyalty. You stated explicitly that your business is devoted to destroying the American economy in order to build up the Chinese economy. That's how you make your profit.
(2) Your basic complaints are valid, but you've intentionally failed to state the cure for the complaints.
Regulations and foreign competition are not unchangeable laws of nature. They are artifacts of American federal law. In previous decades, US employment regulations were much less onerous and US trade policy was designed to favor American workers. Congress changed those laws because US businessmen, like you, wanted them changed.
If no company could import from China, nobody would have to compete against Chinese prices. If no company could outsource jobs to China, nobody would have to compete against Chinese wages. See how simple it is?
If a significant number of US business executives were loyal to America, they could tell Congress to roll back the regulations and reimpose tariffs and limits on outsourcing.
This has not happened because US business executives are traitors. They hate America and want China to succeed; and they have told Congress to shape the laws toward that 'theory'. ¶ 11:39 AM
