Topic: A Political Thought Experiment
creativesoul's photo
Thu 04/16/09 08:58 AM
What would happen to our manufacturing sector if China and the US become at odds with each other? Would it bankrupt those companies which depend on China for the fabrication of a product itself or some components, or would it force our government to prop up those things as it has done for the banking/investing industry?

Would it be bad... how?

Good...how?

MirrorMirror's photo
Thu 04/16/09 01:34 PM

What would happen to our manufacturing sector if China and the US become at odds with each other? Would it bankrupt those companies which depend on China for the fabrication of a product itself or some components, or would it force our government to prop up those things as it has done for the banking/investing industry?

Would it be bad... how?

Good...how?
:smile: good question:smile:

no photo
Thu 04/16/09 01:37 PM
Maybe people would pay alittle more for made in America products...:tongue:

adj4u's photo
Thu 04/16/09 05:19 PM
what american product

no photo
Thu 04/16/09 05:23 PM

what american product


Sad but true.

Dragoness's photo
Thu 04/16/09 05:26 PM
Hey, tin foil would survive....lol

nogames39's photo
Thu 04/16/09 09:40 PM

Maybe people would pay alittle more for made in America products...:tongue:


Wouldn't that be a drag?

I understand that we all like to talk that way, but in reality, are we ready to pay more for anything?

Remember the puny increase in gas prices? How well did that go?

no photo
Thu 04/16/09 09:44 PM
Edited by boo2u on Thu 04/16/09 09:50 PM
Somebody has to make up their mind, first I hear people saying that americans are spoiled and want to make too much money. Now how the hell is anyone supposed to pay more for a product made in america if the wages don't support being able to buy them? I am so confused.


Winx's photo
Thu 04/16/09 10:23 PM

what american product


I can't find any when clothes shopping.

tngxl65's photo
Thu 04/16/09 10:29 PM
American companies would take it in the shorts if that were to happen, but they'd simply find another low cost manufacturer. Remember when everything was made in Japan or Taiwan or Thailand? There's lots of countries on the pacific rim that would love to have those jobs.

I doubt those jobs will come back to the U.S.... certainly not in my lifetime.

Jess642's photo
Fri 04/17/09 03:47 AM

What would happen to our manufacturing sector if China and the US become at odds with each other? Would it bankrupt those companies which depend on China for the fabrication of a product itself or some components, or would it force our government to prop up those things as it has done for the banking/investing industry?

Would it be bad... how?

Good...how?


Your manufacturing sector would be in crisis....INITIALLY....then the true spirit of your nation, the 'pick yourself up, and get on with it', ingenuity, and resourcefulness that your people are known for, would return.

Initially I suspect many companies would bankrupt. The reasons being is it isn't 'trade' that is utilised, it's become greed based dependency.

It would hopefully create space for your government to inject funding into american based production, and consumption... and also to generate a change in consumer mentality.



My thoughts....................... and by all means change the name of 'your country', to 'my country', 'their country'....one size fits all.

s1owhand's photo
Fri 04/17/09 04:06 AM
In global economic competition everyone is at odds. Eventually this levels the playing field. Political disagreements between nations provide business opportunities for other nations. As the standard of living in China rapidly improves the cost of their labor is going to rise and other lower cost producers will emerge for labor intensive goods.

Defense related industries always take this into account and multiple sources are utilized for any critical components. Sensitive technologies are protected. Consumer goods on the other hand are never sensitive technologies. There is no real concern regarding the supply of: Computers/accessories, peripherals and parts, Miscellaneous household goods, Toys & sporting goods, Video equipment, Household furniture, Footwear, Cotton household furnishings & clothing, or Telecommunications equipment.

People adapt.



no photo
Fri 04/17/09 02:40 PM
We wouldn't have Made In America problem if we merely required other countries to adhere to our standards. If you want to sell your product in our country, here's the rules. Same as ours.

You need to comply with our minimum wage laws, environmental protection standards, worker safety standards, child labor laws, etc.

If I could just be king for a day.

nogames39's photo
Fri 04/17/09 06:25 PM

We wouldn't have Made In America problem if we merely required other countries to adhere to our standards. If you want to sell your product in our country, here's the rules. Same as ours.

You need to comply with our minimum wage laws, environmental protection standards, worker safety standards, child labor laws, etc.

If I could just be king for a day.



That is a good idea, except, it is us who want and need their products, not them, who need our paper. It is not like we pay in gold.

If there is money involved, then both sides are even. Both benefit from a sale. But this is not the case. We do not pay Chinese with money. We give then dollars, that we print at will, hundreds of billions at a time. We don't care, it is just paper. Chinese know this too. They are taking it, but only as long as the deal destroys our economy. This is the real price they are selling their goods for.

willing2's photo
Fri 04/17/09 06:31 PM


What would happen to our manufacturing sector if China and the US become at odds with each other? Would it bankrupt those companies which depend on China for the fabrication of a product itself or some components, or would it force our government to prop up those things as it has done for the banking/investing industry?

Would it be bad... how?

Good...how?


Your manufacturing sector would be in crisis....INITIALLY....then the true spirit of your nation, the 'pick yourself up, and get on with it', ingenuity, and resourcefulness that your people are known for, would return.

Initially I suspect many companies would bankrupt. The reasons being is it isn't 'trade' that is utilised, it's become greed based dependency.

It would hopefully create space for your government to inject funding into american based production, and consumption... and also to generate a change in consumer mentality.



My thoughts....................... and by all means change the name of 'your country', to 'my country', 'their country'....one size fits all.

Right on!:thumbsup:

Zapchaser's photo
Fri 04/17/09 06:39 PM

Somebody has to make up their mind, first I hear people saying that americans are spoiled and want to make too much money. Now how the hell is anyone supposed to pay more for a product made in america if the wages don't support being able to buy them? I am so confused.



laugh You aren't confused! laugh In the event that we shut the doors on Chinese goods, which will never happen, the market would change. America would still find a country that would supply our needs. The market will compensate. People want to maintain their standard of living and if the price of goods made here don't drop we will find the same goods at a lower price elsewhere. Truth is, we are spoiled and if a country can capitalize on that then they will...... and we will let them. :tongue:

Zapchaser's photo
Fri 04/17/09 06:41 PM


What would happen to our manufacturing sector if China and the US become at odds with each other? Would it bankrupt those companies which depend on China for the fabrication of a product itself or some components, or would it force our government to prop up those things as it has done for the banking/investing industry?

Would it be bad... how?

Good...how?


Your manufacturing sector would be in crisis....INITIALLY....then the true spirit of your nation, the 'pick yourself up, and get on with it', ingenuity, and resourcefulness that your people are known for, would return.

Initially I suspect many companies would bankrupt. The reasons being is it isn't 'trade' that is utilised, it's become greed based dependency.

It would hopefully create space for your government to inject funding into american based production, and consumption... and also to generate a change in consumer mentality.



My thoughts....................... and by all means change the name of 'your country', to 'my country', 'their country'....one size fits all.

Sadly Lee, greed based dependency is a tag that fits us. slaphead

Winx's photo
Fri 04/17/09 07:48 PM

We wouldn't have Made In America problem if we merely required other countries to adhere to our standards. If you want to sell your product in our country, here's the rules. Same as ours.

You need to comply with our minimum wage laws, environmental protection standards, worker safety standards, child labor laws, etc.

If I could just be king for a day.



I like minimum wage laws, environmental protection standards, OSHA - worker safety standards and child labor laws. We've come a long way since my Great-Grandfather's time.

Jess642's photo
Fri 04/17/09 08:11 PM


Sadly Lee, greed based dependency is a tag that fits us. slaphead


It fits all western nations, Steve, mine included.

nogames39's photo
Fri 04/17/09 08:31 PM


We wouldn't have Made In America problem if we merely required other countries to adhere to our standards. If you want to sell your product in our country, here's the rules. Same as ours.

You need to comply with our minimum wage laws, environmental protection standards, worker safety standards, child labor laws, etc.

If I could just be king for a day.



I like minimum wage laws, environmental protection standards, OSHA - worker safety standards and child labor laws. We've come a long way since my Great-Grandfather's time.


This is an interesting line. Because, this should help to understand one thing, namely, why is it that a socialist country MUST continuously expand and MUST seek war, not peace with others.

One of the reasons is that a socialist country always entangles itself with laws that kill production, and move it to a foreign supplier. Such as minimum wage law, for instance. You like it, and consider such law an achievement. I am not going to talk about a moral side of such law, only about it effect on economy.

Because a minimum wage law raises the floor price of labor, it makes it economically impossible to produce anything where such law has a jurisdiction. Because of this, the production will slowly leave such area, and move somewhere else, where law does not prohibit production.

This process, observed everywhere in socialist countries, eventually creates unemployment. The overpaid but ignorant masses, demand jobs, and the government must take the next logical step to remedy the situation.

They must dictate their laws to a country that produces for them, or it's own people will revolt. They do, but one can not make someone to destroy their production, other than by forcing them to it. Thus, a war.

On ideological side, such a necessary economically war will always be explained as "furthering the blessings of this country onto oppressed people of other countries".