Protectionism vs. Open Markets

www.hotchicken.com ^ | 1-11-05 | www.hotchicken.com

[thebiggestdog]

elieve it or not, I often think about the US economy, and where it is headed. The US has proven that we can design, manufacture, and market the best products in the world, but lately we are designing and marketing, and sending the manufacturing overseas. I am not a Michael Moore type who believes that every American is entitled to a union job and a big pension, but I do believe that we are selling ourselves short by letting the Chinese manufacture such a high percentage of our consumer products.

Free markets are a great idea, but the problem is that Chinese labor, health and safety standards and business expenses cost so much less than they do in this country that it makes it almost impossible to stamp Made in America on anything. I do not blame this on 'greedy' corporate capitalists, because these people are held accountable to shareholders (if they are public) who are interested in profits, not manufacturing origin. Much of the problem lies in the eternal sruggle between a government that wants to control everything that moves, and a private sector that has to stay competitive.

[thebiggestdog]

This country has a problem. it is now too expensive for most companies to manufacture consumer products in America and sell them to Americans. The Chinese have beaten us at our own game, and unless we change the rules, there won't be many takers for Made in America stickers.