Blame China

because blaming Canada, is simply not enough now

Last year I spent two and a half months in the US. It was right before the election and the presidential campaign was getting really heated.

Normally I don’t get too caught up on politics, but after watching ads after ads of both candidates blaming China for the US economy…I couldn't help but feel offended.

I wasn't offended because I’m Chinese. I was offended because I couldn't understand why China is to blame when the decision of off-shoring was made by Americans themselves. I was offended because it was okay to have product made in China when the economy was good and companies made lots of money out of it, but when the recession hit, it became China’s fault that production have moved.

And most of all, I was offended to hear people bashing about things that are made poorly in China but keep buying them!

Did you know that US companies aren't just importing from China these days. Try Bangladesh,where wages is a quarter of that in China. Or try Jordon and maybe Lesotho, where duty is exempted for garment import to the US.

Manufacturing jobs are moved away because companies want to make the maximum profit possible. Another way to make more profit is to increase the chance of your customer returning. How? By making product of poor quality with low price. “oh, its just ten bucks, I’ll just get a new old if it breaks.” sounds familiar?

Who do you think benefited the most out of all that? Why do you think the Walton family is the richest family in the world? Without China, (and other low cost manufacturing countries), do you think they can still be where they are today? But China alone did not give Walmart their success, Americans did too. The millions of Americans shopping at Walmart getting their ‘everyday low price’ did.

Consumer attitude have changed in today’s unsustainable economy. We want cheap product, yet at the same time we complain about where the goods we buy are made. The federal minimum wage in the US is $7.25 per hour, in China it’s about $1.44, and in Bangladesh it’s $0.32. If people want to support domestic businesses,expect to pay more. Can’t afford it? Try buying less, think about it when you shop, do you really need it, or you’re simply buying it because it’s cheap. The money you saved can be used to purchase product that are domestically made.

If people truly ‘hate’ China that much,I recommend them try voting with their wallet and live a life “without China” like Cynthia. Or boycott companies that shift jobs oversea. I myself have been buying and eating local when possible anywhere I go. It’s a small act, but it’s definitely more useful to the US economy than just blaming China.