Why China Isnt Happening Yet


I have found it interesting to read about Chinese tube amps for a fraction of the price of US, how China is taking over the world etc.

A colleague of mine in the trading and investment business is actually thinking that the prosperity of the US is over forever, Medicaid/Medicare and our pension system are bankrupt, interest rates are going up, the housing market is going to collapse and one day Americans will figure out that there is more than one currency in the world.

At that point, the US will experience flight capital for the first time, and then we are really in big trouble.

Now some of this worries me, but I thought is was interesting that of the 6 or so, bargain priced, obviously knocked off in China, toys that were given to my baby boy for Christmas....

NONE of them worked properly?!?!

The robot? He wouldnt wind up, didnt walk, and sparks failed to fly from his mask.

The magic sliding coin tray? Also didnt work, and was so cheesily made that the mechanism was obvious.

Radio controlled car? Had a range of about 10 feet -- no fun at all.

Now none of this excuses the problems we may have here in America, but FYI I am less likely to buy a tube amp from China in the New Year.

Cheers.

cwlondon
cwlondon
China is a "communist" country in name only!

In reality, China is a right-wing "facist" dictatorship much like Hitler's Germany and Mussolini"s Italy.

Like Germany and Italy, China is now a corporate state (a term coined by Mussolini). The fianicial interests of business and the political goals of government essentially merge at the expense and influence of the common citizen.

Under the current administration, the USA is heading down the same road. The Wall Sreet crowd submits its wish list to the President and Congress. By and large, they get what they want. We get higher Medicaid/Medicare premiums, fewer student loans, less child care subsides to pay for the military-industrial complex and its policy of continuous war. Viet Nam morphs into a Reganesque spending frenzy. The hoped for "peace dividend" when the communist system colapses never materializes; instead, we get a so-called "war on terrorism" that seeks to redraw the geo-political map to the interests of business.

We can spend hundred of billions of dollars on a war but somehow it's not in our national interests to see that every American has medical coverage.

"What can a poor boy do..." says Jagger/Richard. I don't know. I guess I'll go into my listening room and turn up the volume to drown out the surrounding madness.
Just a couple of thoughts...

to describe human nature as "selfish" is not unlike calling an elephant large. What we call "selfishness" is simply a basic human trait. Sure we try to rise above our base instincts, but they are in the end an inseperable part of human beings. That's why every attempt at idealized "egalatarian" socities has failed. These systems ignore the fact that you don't get gold from cow shit.

Western style democracies with free market economies approach the subject from the opposite end- acknowledge this "selfishness" through respect for personal property rights and personal freedoms. Yeah, it can be ugly in some respects (lopsided distribution of wealth, etc.) but it at least recognizes the basic traits of human beings and attempts to channel these traits productively.

Now, as for this term "right wing facist"..

Germany and Italy, as "AXIS Powers", were National Socialists. In National Socialism, private parties can own the means of production but government determines what is produced and the quantities thereof. According to Marx and Engles, National Socialism is NOT "right wing"- it is in fact a stepping stone toward the "true communist state".

China, and the USSR, have never really been communist. They have always been subject to rule by party personalities with no term limits, who ruled with absolute power until they died. The "common citizen" in China is no worse off than he was under Maoism, and far less likely to die at the whim of the party leader.

What will be interesting is how China will control it's citizenry's desire for prosperity. It won't be easy, given our selfish nature :)
.
Here is a name some of you may recognize. This is a post that Mr. Hansen responded to over on AA.
=======================

hidden costs of Chinese products - Charles Hansen 07:19:33 05/21/05 (11)

In Reply to: Re: where is the new ARCAM manufactured? posted by suretyguy on May 2, 2005 at 11:47:23:

"There are hidden costs of Chinese products, but they are not borne by you, the consumer. Instead, they are borne by the Chinese workers and the people who live there.
During my visit to several Chinese loudspeaker cabinet factories, I saw no regard whatsoever for workers' health. The spray booths were the worst. The workers here worked full shifts spraying lacquer finishes with no respirators whatsoever. It's only a matter of time before these guys have brain impairment, liver damage, and probably cancer."

"The toxic chemical waste was simply dumped, either in the sewer or the back lot. These chemicals will of course enter the drinking water supply eventually. You may remember the horror of Love Canal in this country. There are thousands of similar disasters brewing in China."

"Finally you save money buying Chinese products because the workers are paid around $2 per day. Ignoring any other aspects of this, it is clear that US workers cannot compete with this. So buying Chinese costs American jobs, where we expect a living wage, health insurance, and educational opportunities for our children."

"It's your choice."
[Charles Hansen]
http://db.audioasylum.com/scripts/t.pl?f=general&m=382782
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Good post Danlib1, although it doesn't have too much to do with audio.

Personally, I think political opinions and agendas should not be a part of music. So when it comes to audio gear, it is not important whether it's manufactured in China or anywhere else. What is important is that for the price, it is a good deal/good performer. The fact that it's made locally should mean that a middleman was cut out. When you play music with someone, you do not care about their race. If you do, then that's racism. What is important is that he/she can play. Same with audio gear IMO. One shouldn't care where it's made. What's important is whether it's any good. Now that's not saying, I don't support people buying local to support their local community. Note that that's different from bashing others. One is positive while one is negative.
If you are not pleased with the current government in the USA then why would you have an allegiance to domestic products? Am I supposed to feel guilty about betraying Haliburton and Enron while listening to my Consonance gear?