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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ewheeley" data-source="post: 1350607" data-attributes="member: 10387">Again, this topic started because of my misidentification of a Walmart employee's Halloween costume. WOW.But I've got to interject now. Yes, Walmart is hands down the best example ever of capitalism at work. As a company, it has done exactly what is necessary to become and remain highly profitable. I don't doubt that every single one of us would strive for the same outcome if the idea was our own. If you disagree, move to Cuba with the communists. If you want to bring politics into this, these protectionism theories are so anti-capitalism that even the staunchest communist would be slightly uncomfortable. Without China, where would we find a labor market suitable enough to turn our American ideas into profitable, marketable products? Don't bother telling me "American workers would do it" because the Apples and HPs and IBMs would never amount to anything if they had to exist solely inside of the American business environment. The great part is, American success depends on the success of these emerging Markets like China, Korea, and Indonesia. As their economies and standards of living grow, what are they going to begin buying? iPods, computers, and high-tech equipment that, although manufactured overseas, will return the majority of their profits back to American owners. On a side note, what happens when all that cheap stuff gets to America? Freight workers in Anchorage, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, El Paso, and Laredo get to keep their jobs. Logistics firms like J.B. Hunt have to ship those goods all across the country. Shipping that stuff takes fuel, most of which we're going to get from Canada. Canada will make some money off of the sale of those fuels, so they'll spend it here in America. And all along that line, roads and infrastructure have to be built to allow the transit of those goods. Gas stations need to be built and maintained to refuel those trucks. Stores and schools need to be built to provide for the families who relocated to the coasts and borders to obtain the harbor jobs. Sure, there's more to it than that, but every little bit counts. My bet would be that if you jumpstarted the construction of new roads, on an Eisenhower scale, you'd see a change. But then again, where will we get the money to fund an infrastructure project like that???? CHINA. It's all so interconnected that we can't just say, "Oh, **** China, we're doing this the Amurikan way!"Someone earlier said that the economy has gotten to the point that even doctors and lawyers have to work for wages. In my opinion, that's their own damn fault. Lawyers especially. America has enough lawyers and doctors already. What we don't have enough of (and coincidentally what China is producing like Matchbox Cars) is engineers, technicians, and idea men. The competitive edge going into the next twenty years isn't in manufacturing capacity, it's in intellect and ingenuity. Who can think of the next big product? That's the one thing left that we as individuals can control.Bare bones situation though... The only reason that China can afford to buy up all of our debt is because of they massive trade surplus they run with us. If we quit buying their goods, they quit financing our debt. Both countries come to a halt. Is that good for America or China?</blockquote>

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