The Chinese Are Stealing Our Jobs

framingthedialogue.com ^ | December 3, 2009 | ghblog

[Ghblog]

“U.S. elected officials accused China on Tuesday of stealing American jobs.” I was trying to visualize how the Chinese snuck over and stole these jobs. They would certainly have used the largely unprotected southern border with Mexico to take the jobs, but how did they transport the jobs?

The “U.S official” turns out to be Pennsylvania’s Gov. Ed Rendell who is an expert in jobs losses as he has lead Pennsylania from 5.5% unemployment when he was first elected in 2002 to a whopping 9.5% today (data available through September 2009). Playing on our fears about job losses and a terrible economy, Rendell equates the fact that the Chinese are able to sell steel pipe to Americans cheaper than it can be made here with job theft.

[EGPWS]

The Chinese Are Stealing Our Jobs

We need to get them back so we can tax it away from our producers instead of borrowing it from the Chinese!

[mylife]

Sorry but WTF is Rendell talking about? those steel jobs have been gone for 30 years.

Back in the 70s when I was in the business South Korea was producing all the steel.

Bethlehem steel tanked a looooong time ago.

[dfwgator]

"They took 'er jerbs!"

[mylife]

Oh, and I will never forget the day I was rejected from an application to Republic steel back in the 70’s because I wasnt Black

[mylife]

Durker Durrr!

[fours]

I was trying to visualize how the Chinese snuck over and stole these jobs. They would certainly have used the largely unprotected southern border with Mexico to take the jobs, but how did they transport the jobs?

This guy is either a moron or is simply being willfully ignorant of how globalization works — that manufacturing jobs are "lost" when factories move overseas. No sneaking over the border necessary.

[dog breath]

Interesting article, I think American companies did not let the Chinese steal jobs but rather gave them the jobs willingly. Corporations are set up to return profits to their shareholders, all else is extraneous. The people in charge of various companies did what they had to do and created a better life for themselves in the process. Actually producing something was pointless if you could have someone else make it cheaper and stick your logo on it. It does have a tendency to sometimes bite them in the long run for the Chinese tend to pay attention when you show them how to produce something they will go and produce it in competition. Maybe American workers do not deserve to have a decent standard of living due to some innate flaw in our society. I do know that in the end we become dependent on foreign goods because we no longer are able to afford shoes, clothes and other goods we produce ourselves. In any case the ship sailed some time ago and politicians are often flies using the decaying remains of American manufacturing for their own purposes. There are the few manufactures with character who chose community, pride and other values over profit. Now that we are faced with the problem the question remains what to do about it.

[max americana]

“They TOOK UR JURBSSSS!”

[mountainlion]

The democrats are so enamored with themselves that they can't believe that they are the ones that caused the jobs to leave.

[diefree]

I’m always looking for Americans who will raise their children to work in factories if the manufacturing companies come back.

[Brilliant]

If you want to prevent manufacturing jobs from moving to China there is a simple way. Build oil refineries and drill for oil.

[cripplecreek]

Reagan cut their (American steel) taxes by half, Clinton denied them bankruptcy protections then gave Chinese steel a half trillion dollars in loan guarantees.

[Stultis]

Now that we are faced with the problem the question remains what to do about it.

Exactly. And the thing NOT to do is reduce trade, erect barriers to trade, or back from from free trade expansion, as not only most liberals, but some economic populists here on FR, would council.

The fact is that the availability of cheaper and/or better quality foreign products is one of the few things inhibiting growing government from yet further increasing the cost of doing business. So, as well as driving capital from less to more efficient, productive and profitable uses, free trade also provides an important aid and argument to protecting our liberties and limiting government growth and power.

[Stultis]

If you want to prevent manufacturing jobs from moving to China there is a simple way. Build oil refineries and drill for oil.

That should certainly help. At least as I'm given to understand, energy cost is a much higher percentage of total cost in manufacturing, compared to most other economic sectors.

[TribalPrincess2U]

If you don’t need it or can get by without it and you know for sure China made it....don’t buy it.

[mountainlion]

Do you remember the radioactive rebar that came form Mexico?

[Yossarian]

I’m always looking for Americans who will raise their children to work in factories if the manufacturing companies come back.

What a stupid statement, manufacturing engineering is a fine and proud profession. I practiced it for many a year, before the MBA class like you decided that getting your hands dirty was "icky".

You probably hold the same attitude about sex.

[The Comedian]

[cripplecreek]

I don’t remember that particular case but between Mexico and China, the crap imports just kind of merge into a steady flow after a while.