Letters

Answer China with self-sufficiency
I read your editorial (August 2007, China needs a lesson from U.S. consumers) and agree that we Americans need to watch what we buy. Two thoughts struck me immediately, though. One is with the government leaders that have led this great country the last 12 years or so, nothing will ever change. Secondly, there are too many Americans that think a big Arkansas-based business is the save all for their pocketbook. This country needs to stand up and say we will survive on our own—like our forefathers did. Thanks for letting me voice my opinion (at least until I can't do that anymore).
Travis Reichert
Rock Port, MO

That Arkansas-based company, Wal-Mart, distributes loads of made-in-China merchandise, but keep in mind, it’s distribution not manufacturing. We must look much deeper than that to understand the cause and effect of globalized trade.

China is in a similar point of development as the United States was when we arrived at mechanization. And the Chinese will suffer many of the same growing pains we did.

Chinese farmers are moving to the city by the millions. There is child labor, pollution and all the rest. On the other hand, the Chinese have hit an industrial revolution 100 years later than our period of mechanization. Now robots, computers are involved. Makes for a strange mix.

Made in Japan used to mean cheap and shoddy. Japan grew out of that market, took over Detroit, computers, etc. China is in a similar pattern, but with a billion people behind her progress. Hold onto your hat—when China hits pace, we won't have seen anything like it. I'd like to do as you say and survive on our own, but I'm afraid things are more intermingled these days. No reason to just let any product into our borders, though. I'll stick to my guns on that.—Editor

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