The price paid for cheap goods made in China... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

G-Benz · #1 03-12-2009, 03:21 PM

http://www.nlcnet.org/article.php?id=613#intro

mbdoc · #2 03-12-2009, 04:02 PM

I agree but not a tech ???..belongs in OD

aklim · #3 03-12-2009, 04:20 PM

Not happening here so it is not under our jurisdiction.

pawoSD · #4 03-12-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Not happening here so it is not under our jurisdiction.

Yes, by all means we should not care about how people are treated elsewhere.

We can make efforts for change by not supporting the products and companies, as well as getting on these companies for the things they allow.

aklim · #5 03-12-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Yes, by all means we should not care about how people are treated elsewhere.

We can make efforts for change by not supporting the products and companies, as well as getting on these companies for the things they allow.

Why should we interfere with the Chinaman? Does he have the right to tell you how to live and that you must live according to his rules? Who are you to tell him what to do in his own country?

Why should we pay more? Not our problem. We have enough problems going on here or hadn't you noticed? How about we take care of our own backyard first before we worry about other people's backyard? Again, who do you think you are?

PaulC · #6 03-12-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Why should we interfere with the Chinaman? Does he have the right to tell you how to live and that you must live according to his rules? Who are you to tell him what to do in his own country?

Why should we pay more? Not our problem. We have enough problems going on here or hadn't you noticed? How about we take care of our own backyard first before we worry about other people's backyard? Again, who do you think you are?

Ah, but this does impact our backyard!

Let me present my altruistic/self-serving/humanist/heartless scheme:

1. The U.S. launches a world-wide media blitz highlighting the inhuman (economical) treatment of these poor oppressed mistreated souls.

2. Boycott! Hit them where it hurts. Stop buying products sold with these keyboards. Offer to end the boycott when the employer allows the UAW to organize in their plants and allows the implementation of a UAW-caliber working condition, salary and benefit package. Important: Employee medical plans must be mandatory and selection limited to those offered by American HMO's. Cha-ching No. 1.

3. Suddenly-affluent Chinese workers will now have the unparalleled opportunity to buy expensive Western durable goods. The Chinese consider Buick a prestigious and desirable product? Ok. Let's welcome the newly-expanded Buick line for 2009 1/2; the Buick Escalade, Buick Silverado, Buick Suburban and Tahoe. Essentially we'll take every GM rattlebox/gashog currently nailed down to American showroom floors, slap a mylar Buick tri-shield on the hood, and ship them to exotic Far East locales for cash-only sales. Cha-ching No.2.

4. As a direct consequence of Step 2, a keyboard that once cost $3.97 to produce will now run about $500 and will last half as long as the old version. Couple the increased production costs with transocean shipping expenses, and the incentive to manufacture such goods in China evaporates, causing computer companies to move their production facilities into the backyard of their primary consumers. American employment skyrockets. Cha-ching No.3.

Well, unfortunately step 4 means those Chinese workers will soon be completely unemployed and relying upon unemployment benefits supplied by the soon-to-be-strapped Chinese government, but not every plan is perfect.

TheDon · #7 03-12-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Ah, but this does impact our backyard!

Let me present my altruistic/self-serving/humanist/heartless scheme:

1. The U.S. launches a world-wide media blitz highlighting the inhuman (economical) treatment of these poor oppressed mistreated souls.

2. Boycott! Hit them where it hurts. Stop buying products sold with these keyboards. Offer to end the boycott when the employer allows the UAW to organize in their plants and allows the implementation of a UAW-caliber working condition, salary and benefit package. Important: Employee medical plans must be mandatory and selection limited to those offered by American HMO's. Cha-ching No. 1.

3. Suddenly-affluent Chinese workers will now have the unparalleled opportunity to buy expensive Western durable goods. The Chinese consider Buick a prestigious and desirable product? Ok. Let's welcome the newly-expanded Buick line for 2009 1/2; the Buick Escalade, Buick Silverado, Buick Suburban and Tahoe. Essentially we'll take every GM rattlebox/gashog currently nailed down to American showroom floors, slap a mylar Buick tri-shield on the hood, and ship them to exotic Far East locales for cash-only sales. Cha-ching No.2.

4. As a direct consequence of Step 2, a keyboard that once cost $3.97 to produce will now run about $500 and will last half as long as the old version. Couple the increased production costs with transocean shipping expenses, and the incentive to manufacture such goods in China evaporates, causing computer companies to move their production facilities into the backyard of their primary consumers. American employment skyrockets. Cha-ching No.3.

Well, unfortunately step 4 means those Chinese workers will soon be completely unemployed and relying upon unemployment benefits supplied by the soon-to-be-strapped Chinese government, but not every plan is perfect.

strawman and slippery slope

how the hell does the UAW come into play with an electronics manufacturer?

PaulC · #8 03-12-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

strawman and slippery slope

how the hell does the UAW come into play with an electronics manufacturer?

Currently, the UAW does not only represent workers in the automobile industry.

TheDon · #9 03-12-2009, 06:16 PM

would the UAW move on to china and support these people? I doubt it would happen since the chinese government considers its citizens... expendable and seem to do nothing about these horrible conditions.

yet I do want to say... Those that complain that this is horrible while typing on your dell or IBM keyboard, like myself... how else do you think something is made cheap?

PaulC · #10 03-12-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

would the UAW move on to china and support these people? I doubt it would happen since the chinese government considers its citizens... expendable and seem to do nothing about these horrible conditions.

The Chinese government has an insatiable yen for incoming American cash.

R Leo · #11 03-12-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Well, unfortunately step 4 means those Chinese workers will soon be completely unemployed and relying upon unemployment benefits supplied by the soon-to-be-strapped Chinese government, but not every plan is perfect.

Let them eat rice...

aklim · #12 03-12-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

I doubt it would happen since the chinese government considers its citizens... expendable and seem to do nothing about these horrible conditions.

yet I do want to say... Those that complain that this is horrible while typing on your dell or IBM keyboard, like myself... how else do you think something is made cheap?

Then I don't care either. I sure as hell don't want the Chinese telling us how do do things.

I don't complain. I just accept it as being cheap and am happy that I spent less.

Hatterasguy · #13 03-12-2009, 06:35 PM

We went through that phase too around the turn of the last century.

We need to send them the UAW.

aklim · #14 03-12-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

We went through that phase too around the turn of the last century.

We need to send them the UAW.

The difference is that the Chinese tanks will flatten the UAW. OTOH, it might not be a bad thing too.

lutzTD · #15 03-12-2009, 06:48 PM

if you have ever been to the rural areas that the workers come from, you would see this is an appreciable step up in conditions. However cheating them on what they are due by agreement is absolutely horrible given the small amount they are payed. The reason they put up with it is the alternative is to go back home.