China, Earth's New Best Friend?

[MarkG]

"You know, I think people should be careful what they wish for on China. You know, if China were to revalue it¢s currency, or China is to start making, say, toys that don't have lead in them or food that isn't poisonous, their costs of production are going to go up and that means prices at Walmart here in the United States are going to go up too. So I would say China is our greatest friend right now. They're keeping prices low. "

[DaShi]

Markos, why do you hate China? Did something happen to you there?

Anyway, that clip was on the Daily Show recently too. She does sound a bit like a poster here. Not that I'm naming names.

[DinoDoc]

Now I know why I don't watch MSNBC anymore. China making fatal products makes them America's greatest friend?

[MarkG]

yeah i first saw this on the daily show and looked it up. i was pretty sure such a marvel of human intelligence would be on youtube

I dont hate China, I'd like to go one day? Why do you say that?

[DaShi]

I was reading an article earlier today on lead poisoning and the lead lobby. Actually, any level of lead is very toxic, especially to children. The minimum level proposed by the CDC is still enough to drop a child's IQ by about 7 points. Attempts to further reduce this level have been hampered corporate lobbyists. Perhaps a good thing about China's toxic toys is that it will help bring these issues to greater attention.

[SlowwHand]

China has these cities with populations of a million.
This city makes socks. This city makes underwear. T-shirts. On and on. Hazardous toys.
"You live in Xinji (for instance)? Ah yes. Sock City."
How are you going to compete with that?

[MarkG]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
How are you going to compete with that?

Microsoft

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by MarkG
yeah i first saw this on the daily show and looked it up.

Please tell me that Daily Show clip is on the net somewhere. Please post it if it is.

[MarkG]

actually it's on comedy central

[Wernazuma III]

I'm sure all this craze now has only to do with Chinese chunk products. Nothing of a hyped, concerted media campaign here.

The best bit is, when journalist then can't even read statistics.
I read in several articles that China produces some 80% of the toys sold in our stores. And then the horror: In one newspaper I had to read that more than 40% of all complaints about toys concern Chinese toys.
I only wished that the 20% produced in other countries wouldn't make up for 60% of the complaints.

Summing up, the stats was most likely completely wrong and the journalist did misread it terribly.

There's so much going wrong in Chinese economy and politics on a daily basis that our free media could continuously inform us. But this China-panic shows me how extremely vulnerable the free press is to staged campaigns, everyone reporting the same. Hello, hello, this is Radio Truth.

[Pekka]

It's press hype, we never even got it in here. Besides, we happen to know that Chinese have reasonably mature manufacturing processes. So as far as quality of the product goes, I wouldn't worry about it. People are stirring.

[Blake]

Is that satirical? It sounds like it should be, but I always get this sinking feeling that the "next quarter prophets"* actually genuinely believe what they say.


* A term I made up to describe those for whom money is religion.

[MarkG]

Is that satirical?

no, from what i understand she is a financial analyst on cnbc....

[Tattila the Hun]

She is correct, could have articulated a bit better... Put more checks on things on the chinese end, and the junk (not a boat-junk) will cost more. Of course, people would be willing to pay that. Won't be long, when toys and stuff will have disclaimers and stuff saying, that they do not contain lead, at all. And they will cost more.

Eh, a talking head, albeit a pretty one. Don't really care about what they have to say. Never listen... *eats paint*

[Patroklos]

"You know, I think people should be careful what they wish for on China. You know, if China were to revalue it¢s currency, or China is to start making, say, toys that don't have lead in them or food that isn't poisonous, their costs of production are going to go up and that means prices at Walmart here in the United States are going to go up too. So I would say China is our greatest friend right now. They're keeping prices low. "

"Your answer, while technically correct, was completely useless, which is how I immediately know I was at Microsoft tech support."