In article heybubNOSPAM@gmail.com says...
> If China or Bangladesh can make something better or cheaper, we should
> encourage them to do so. We both benefit.

China refuses to float its currency so its products can remain cheaper.
This is called dumping. Dumping is the practice of underpricing your
competition less than what it costs to make a product for the sole
purpose of driving them out of business. After you become the sole
provider you can jack prices up again to recoup your earlier losses.

China used this economic tool to close down the American manufacturing
base, thus weakening us. Had China floated their currency like every
other country their products wouldn't be so cheap and the trade
imbalance between US and them wouldn't be so great. Currencies float to
even out trade imbalances. Every month China increases its stake in the
US economy. Their long term goal is to hold us hostage. So far
Congress fears what China can do now if they ever choose to dump their
US debt or US dollars onto the market. The only reason they don't
because they are still building up their empire.

One day they'll buy a high tech military and weapon systems with your
money that rival or exceed ours. Meanwhile, they'll still be able to
manufacture goods and we won't. At any time they can send earthquakes
through our economy destroying more of America than any carrier fleet
loaded with cruise missiles ever could.

> Your complaint is with the buying public, not Walmart or China. The buying
> public has simply voted with their dollars and democracy rules.

Your ignorance of economics is astounding. It's not "democracy," it's
the economics stupid. People don't "vote" with their dollars, they buy
the cheapest goods. In economics 101 they teach you the concept of a
supply/demand curve. The lower the price, the higher the volume that
goes to them.

> The only way to reverse the trend is with government intervention: tariffs
> or outright prohibition of imported goods. Will the public accept the
> absence of DVD players or TV sets? Can you get along without nails, screws,
> or even thumb-tacks?

If China won't float their currency we should have implemented tariffs a
long time ago. It's too late now though. A trade war with China may
cause them to use some of their legal economic weapons against us --
like dumping the US dollar. We can only hope China will be a benevolent
master in the year 2025 or so when their economy exceeds ours.

But you must thank WalMart for this. They pioneered the concept of
building their entire business model around selling out America by
providing us goods for far less than they should be possible. WalMart
made huge short term profits at the expense of the US economy and US
security. Remember one old saying that's still true, "There's no free
lunch." Through conduits like WalMart we've been enjoying a free lunch
through ultra cheap prices. The tab for that bill will come in another
decade or two.

Meanwhile, enjoy your cheap DVD and TV.