Death by China

I am glad that a film like "Death By China" was made, although I sometimes disagree with the film in how they present the problems with the HUGE Chinese trade imbalance. While I think it's a huge problem that practically no one is talking about in the West, the film only makes a partially convincing argument. But at least it acknowledges that there is a problem.

This documentary is narrated by Martin Sheen and is apparently based on a book by the same name. It contends that since China was admitted to the World Trade Organization, unintended negative consequences have occurred. US industries have either gone out of business or relocated abroad, technology has been stolen and China's civil rights abuses continue--all while they fund a massive military buildup. All this is undeniably true and the country has used some unfair tactics to keep this imbalance going (such as government subsidies to industries which, in turn, force their rivals out of business as well as manipulation of the Yuan). And, interestingly, reviews that hated this film completely ignored all of this--particularly the human rights violations. All of this should concern us and is fair game for the film.

On the other hand, sometimes a bit of the film seemed like hyperbole (such as complaints about baby cribs being recalled--recalls of baby products have been occurring very regularly long before Chinese cribs came to America; the same can be said about the false Alar scare). Also the film is quick to spot problems but offers little in the way of solutions--though they are quite right that we in the West are to blame since we are living well beyond our means. Finally, I wonder who bankrolled this film--as it seemed to have an agenda (particularly in its choice of some of the interviewees). Although China is predatory in its practices and is not a particularly nice nation in which to practice free speech, the problem is not this simple and is actually very complex. Americans choose these products, government officials do nothing to reverse unfair trade practices, unions push more for higher wages and are at the same time unwilling to make concessions and corporations are greedy and only care about profits. So, in effect, it's everyone's fault--something this film didn't quite seem willing to say. A very sobering and interesting film but one that seemed a bit disingenuous in addressing the total picture. Still worth seeing, however.

Most of the film were off topic. They threw in anything that is negative about China but they are not related to trade and economy. It feels like the producers has nothing else to back up their claims and just threw in human rights issue and freedom of speech.

Manufacture jobs went away not because of China. They went away because the US companies found more cost efficient alternatives. If not China, it could have been Vietnam, Bangladesh, or other third world countries.

China has some really bad trade practices and that's why I hated Chinese companies and their government. BUT that is NOT the reason why you can't find a job in 2012 or why we don't make printers and fridge no more.

The fact that our income disparity is so great, it's basically inviting cheap products. How else are you suppose to satisfy the majority of low income earners in the US?

Peter Navarro, someone no economist believes has even the most rudimentary understanding of economics, has "directed" this propaganda piece of protectionist fearmongering being promoted under the guise of a documentary. He joins the Dinesh D'Souza brotherhood of conjuring up some notion of the uneducated, ill-informed 21st Century John Birchers and spins it out through illogical pearl-clutching interviews with others of his ilk. These "experts" are reminiscent of the "experts" on Secrets of Ancient Aliens and Bigfoot Revealed! on cable network TV shows. Shame on Martin Sheen for lending gravitas to this POS by agreeing to narrate it.

The documentary can best be described as an hour long infomercial for the UAW.While there are some valid points as to the loss of U.S. manufacturing due to uneven trade with China the past ten years the film fails to focus on NAFTA passed during the 90's and even farther back during the 70's,80's time period when the term "Rust Belt" came about as manufacturing disappeared. Both the U.S. and China are cheating when it comes to trade within the World Trade Organization. The United States gave tens of billions to GM and Chrysler in rescue funds,$500 million loan to bankrupt Solyndra, and billions more to companies like Boeing and General electric all of which China views as illegal Government subsidies. China could make an hour long movie titled Death by America which demonstrates how the U.S. is in violation of fair trade. I do believe that a revival in U.S. manufacturing is possible, but it will in no way resemble the manufacturing that are Dads and Grandfathers knew....

Suppose I am manufacturer, a factory, my workers are all UAW members, the Union controlled everything, working behind to hustle the workers for higher pay, higher benefit, shorter working hours, longer vacation. If I don't agree or refuse these unreasonable conditions, the UAW would encourage the workers to sabotage the factory, delay the production lines, encourage them on strike. Suppose my products are way too high due to the higher wages, higher benefits, higher raw materials from other American suppliers, my expensive products got no market, nobody wants to buy my expensive stuff, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Suppose I am just a American consumer, suppose I couldn't afford the high priced merchandise, the appliances, the groceries, the sundry items for my home all Made in America, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Suppose I am a Chinese manufacturer, I made lot of goods, I bought a lot of raw materials from all the cheaper resources from other countries in order to make my products cheaper; and my employees, my workers, they don't have the UAW to manipulate them. The living standards here in China are cheaper, and my government, even it runs by the Chinese Communist Party, but it encourages me to Make China Great Again, so they support my factory and my business every way they can. My products are at lower prices than those Made in America, so suddenly, lot of American buyers, American importers, including those 99 Cents Store, Dollar Tree Store Chain, approached me and wanted my products. Without the American buyers or American importers, no matter how cheap, how competitive if compared to those Made in America, without American buyers and importers, I still can't sell or ship my products to America without their orders. Without American buyers, importers and customers, China and Made in China goods won't be able to export to America. America ordered from China, then China manufactured and shipped. The the quantities exported from China were all ordered by the American buyers, the importers. The Chinese cannot force the Americans to buy their products, market prices decide everything.

When the American factory owners could easily get what they usually manufactured at much cheaper prices or costs from China, what they did is reduce their production lines, lay off more trouble-makers workers manipulated by UAW. When such measures caused more workers on strike, what they do? The either closed their factories or moved their factories abroad.

So without China and without Chinese products, how could Americans Make America Great Again? It's you Americans spoiled yourselves by over-valued American Dollars that caused higher living cost in America. It's UAW, the Unions in almost all the manufacturers, companies, even schools caused American people, the American consumers have to pay the highest prices almost for everything. Without the help of the Chinese goods, the average Americans won't have affordable daily products for their homes, their wives and their kids. The first step to Make America Great Again is stop blaming China and the Chinese, ban the UAW, lower your Dollar value. And stop blaming Vietnam, India, Bangladesh...when your America importers, American buyers started to consider the Chinese goods' prices too high and decided to order cheaper goods from other south Asian countries and Bangladesh, the next wave of cheaper products are coming from these countries now. Blame yourselves, because America and all the Americans are spoiled by their own extravaganzas of living standard. Lower the Dollar value for more competitive export and markets. Blame your government, because they spent so much money on their Defense Budget instead of rebuild America's run-down and shabby infrastructure; blame the Republican Party, since they only support the big enterprises and those big companies; blame the Democratic Party, since they are so stupid to waste American tax payers' money in those stupid welfare programs, the stupid food stamps for those lazy American parasites and the illegal immigrants; blame every city in America that has higher sales taxes but do nothing!