Made in China
Whats goin on here? Does China have the market on manufacturing for just about every product sold in the USA these days?
It does seem that way and it's a fact that American manufacturing, in general, has largely moved to foreign countries, especially China.
The biggest cost of manufacturing is usually the labor - people. China offers hard-working people who work more than eight hours a day, don't get minimum wage, three weeks vacation a year, or holidays off, much less any medical benefits (it's a socialist state). No Social Security or Unemployment taxes to pay, either. A businessman's dream, which is why they go to China for cheap labor.
Even with import taxes and the U.S. taxes the American companies pay, it's still a bargain for the employeer and the China economy benefits greatly.
On the other side of that coin, manufacturers can offer Americans' goods that are a whole lot cheaper than before, as the labor savings are partially passed down to the consumer. You can buy a 13" TV for next to nothing, today. Made in China. Lots of the sneakers and hip clothes we buy are 'Made in China', keeping the price reasonable if it doesn't have a fancy-name label.
It's a win-win, to a point, but China is a rabidly communist country with an aging, dictatorial , unelected 'leadership' that both fears and distrusts the United States. Chinese are pretty much slaves in their own country, despite the happy face the government attempts to put on it's oppression. Try saying a bad word against the government in China and you'll 'disappear'.
China's leaders have territorial designs, too. Worst of all, the Chinese have nukes. They are not to be trusted, in my opinion, and all this feverish 'trading' we do with them makes me a bit nervous, as we may be financing them for a war some black day in the future. Hopefully not.
Mexico is still a popular cheap-labor source but I've heard that the lack of a cultural work ethic made operating a factory on schedule a problem when dealing with folks who tended to wander in and out and come to work when they felt like it, if at all. Hence, China looked pretty good with obedient workers that didn't dare question anything asked of them and were grateful for the opportunity to make some money as there was no drug money to be had, as in Mexico, at least not by the average Chinese peasant.
So, next time we buy that 'cheap' item that says 'Made in China', think about some poor Chinese peasant slaving away for pennies to make it, then, be glad you're not them - and enjoy it.
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