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This Recession Will Be Neither Short Nor Shallow

Simple Simon,
I just tried to buy a paint brush made elsewhere than China in one of my local large American stores. Couldn't find one there. Previously I also found very limited products available in certain other categories, if they weren't from the People's "Republic" of China. For the time being, businesses are doing just what we want them to, turning a profit, all in the name of "winning", making the most money. We need a profit at any cost. I've got to read the book _A Year Without "Made in China": One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy_. I suppose, if that family did it, I can learn to do better in my attempt to "buy American" or Canadian or Mexican, etc. It can be done. (Probably we have to buy many things in rummage sales--objects that are vestiges of when the U.S. was a manufacturing giant.) Our government needs to expect more rights for the citizens from the Chinese government. (Poor Tabet!) As consumers we need to support manufacturers in countries where the dignity of the people governed is respected by those in power. If we don't, as investors we will eventually lose overseas holdings to unscrupulous governments, such as China (Venezuela, Russia?). Perhaps Russia did not "bury" us, as Khrushchev prognosticated, but economically China is eating our lunch--afterwords it will have stolen all the high-end technological knowledge the American companies are taking over there. They are technology pirates. Meanwhile more Americans are lining up for unemployment. A proper minimum wage here would assure that everyone in our country has a chance to live in decency. As capitalists, let's make our profit, but share appropriately from the production of goods and providing of services with the men and women at the lowest levels. It's the right thing to do. Indeed, there are some American companies flourishing in doing so. Yes, in China there is slave labor. We should enjoy the fireworks purchased in part by sales to us of goods made at the expense of slaves. China has some enslaved laborers. The Olympic opening spectacle was not ennobling. We sold our souls to the highest (=cheapest) bidder, China. Thanks, Nixon.

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

Quote from your text above: "On Sunday, the great engine war between GE (GE) and United Technologies' (UTX) Pratt & Whitney begun." (Mr. Hoffmann, sorry, I don't know how to email you personally. "Begun" should be "began."
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