[quote]Originally posted by evldave:
my 2 cents (or is that 1/6 RMB?)
I studied Chinese history in college, have gone there on business 5 times in the last few years, was project manager to outsource some of our admin work to India (scuttled that), and have a lot of friends that are Chinese (in China, not Chinese-American).
I've also toured manufacturing plants in Korea, China, India, and the US (likely more than anyone here). None in Japan (see F5fstops rant, I completely agree with that).
Here's the difference: There is PRIDE in the work done in those mfr plants overseas. They hold us up as a model (see WWII), and continue to work hard to be like us, not beat us. Unfortunately, we have gotten fat and happy (too much talking about WWII instead of making sure we can win WWIII). I hear a lot of talk at US manufacturing plants about 'buy american' and some people do, but mostly when it's convenient or cheap. Instead, we sit around and talk about how good the good ol' days were and bit*h about these other places where it's cheaper to make stuff.
And I'll say this, in general, I wouldn't trust someone from China for much of anything. Their culture allows and even promotes reverse-engineering - not as theft but as triumph. They'll steal every good idea we have, then partner with Korea to make it better (and Korea's darn close to our equal in hi-tech development). And once the government finally realizes things like TPS, LEAN, Six-Sigma, and all those other mfr-line quality and efficiency programs work, you can kiss large-scale manufacturing in the US bye-bye.
And you can gripe about China, but we should all be looking at Africa and Central America (not Mexico). There's been a slow but steady increase in movement of hi-tech manufacturing out of Taiwan/Korea/China to places like Nigera and Costa Rica. One problem with a peaceful world is that there are lots of people out there willing (and getting more able) to do more work cheaper. China's just the tip of the iceberg.
QUOTE]
I don't agree at all with this being some work ethic thing. Go tell the good folks in Shreveport or Indiana that on a lunch break at the Hummer factory, if you dare.
The Chinese are completely unethical, as you point out. They are not bound by environmental compliance. They are not bound by OSHA rules. They are not bound by law suit induced nonsense. They are not bound by copyright lawas (well, they are, but again, they completely ignore them) Their quality control standards are, as you point out, nowhere to be seen. (I'll believe the Chinese following ISO standards and instituting Six Sigma programs and the like when I see it).
Korea partnering with China? Maybe the backwards, produce nothing idiots in NORTH Korea, I hardly think you'll see the day of a large scale South Korea (where the manufacturing is taking place)/ China co-op.
COST is just the tip of the iceberg.
It's just like this nonsense that white kids suck at school compared to the Asians. Hardly.
Do people WISH the US to be inferior? They're not. The people aren't.
We're up to one trillion dollars in trade deficit with China. Pretty soon, the Chinese will call the marker and own large tracts of the US and the war will be on.
China's whuppin' our tails because we're letting them. They sell us stuff for insanely low prices and we buy it. It's cheap because the reasons stated above. The playing field isn't level and our elected representatives obey the corporate lobbyists (been watching the headlines?) and anyone who says differently is labeled as a protectionist idiot. The lawmakers allowing this insanity claim that by an unfettered market, we'll sell more stuff. Hogwash.
Here's the problem. We have the money, but not for long. We BUY the stuff, but not for long. When that pendulum swings, it's gonna get ugly. This is not sustainable.
The container ships are leaving empty and coming back packed full. Visit Alameda and Long Beach California and watch. Here's a picture I took under the Golden Gate Bridge of one leaving empty.
Again, if I hear one more time how the Chinese are doing it better as a work force, I'm gonna scream. It couldn't be further from the truth.