[TheForge] Re: Taiwanese Machine Tools - and some Yak

Wed Sep 24 06:54:00 2003

Rant to follow (BG)

Perhaps we should implement a Bureau of Approval of Trade Fairness.  The new
BATF would assure good intent is  blended with the profit motive,
implementing protectionist practices to protect us from greedy competition
of those little brown people. With the correct measures of tariffs and
protections and antidumping acts we'll be safely isolated and have a higher
standard of living because the unions will run the show and we can pay 5x
the going rate of everything :)  Social engineering through the war on
drugs, terror and bad trade with a people that will be doomed to work in
rice paddys assure our choices aren't base on our own needs, but the needs
of the greater good!

Personally I think that Rockefeller and Standard Oil did way more to save
the whales than Greenpiece will ever approach.  Read recently that behind
Mexico, work is exported England, Germany and Isreal  for machine work.  BUT
they have higher hourly wages?!  Could it be the same regulatory/tax maze
that causes the same drugs to be sold for more here than across the border?
Most likely that's part of it.

We have more to fear from the good intentions than greed, in many cases.
Greed is a magnification of self interest which is much more transparent
than somebody wanting to choose what's best for me.

Kevin

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Andrew Vida
Sent: Wednesday, 24 September, 2003 2:21 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: Taiwanese Machine Tools - and some Yak

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 20:57:44 -0600, R.C.Mundt <[email protected]> wrote:

> Seems to me big business is all about maximizing profit,

	Nothing wrong with profit, but when profit is the ONLY
	consideration, the corporate organ becomes a parasitic
	tumor-like entity, posing a threat to the host.  People
	running such companies are in fact nothing more than
	defacto parasites of the brand that will mindlessly
	kill their host in blind pursuit of their immiediate
	goals.  Personally, I think such people should be shot
	as vermin, dangerous to all.

> and they have
> absolutely no respect for anyone, least of all their employees.

	This is sadly so true.  And unfortunately, there is a
	cascading effect.  Once a major manufacturer moves to
	bumfuck island where they can pay workers $.01 per day
	for back breaking labor, their domestic pricing advantage
	pretty well forces the issue for their competitors because
	the consumer will very predictably go for the cheaper
	product.  Match the pricing or go out of business.  This is
	the sword's other edge in action, and though the initial
	appearances seem wonderful (Oh look honey!  Nike for only
	$10.99... god bless all those nice little brown people that
	make our goods), the long term effects I am far from convinced
	will be anything better than starkly ugly.

	The long term evolution will be interesting to observe.
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