A message from our bankers

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-05-2005, 05:00 PM

First, I want say "thank you"

to all our New Right friends for helping to make all this happen. What's that, you say? Perhaps you missed the statement that the Chinese Foreign Ministry released yesterday, July 4th. Here's an excerpt regarding China's bid to purchase Unocal:

"We demand that the U.S. Congress correct its mistaken ways of politicizing economic and trade issues and stop interfering in the normal commercial exchanges between enterprises of the two countries."

So, what do we say to the people from whom we are borrowing $2B every day so we can go play in the sand?

What do you say to your bankers who are DIRECTLY dictating our foreign policy.

Since when do the Chinese get to tell the Congress to stay out of foreign commerce issues?

Before you respond, please note that we also have a record $162B trade deficit with China. Oh, and did I mention we need their money to keep our "strong economy" afloat?

So, guys, really, any response would be great.

lendaddy · 07-05-2005, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa

your bankers who are DIRECTLY dictating our foreign policy.

For a minute there I thought you said DirecTV, that was close. I don't know about you, but I couldn't make it without WE and Lifetime.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Xie xie ni!

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-05-2005, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
For a minute there I thought you said DirecTV, that was close. I don't know about you, but I couldn't make it without WE and Lifetime.

Did Fint get your log-on? or are you that far in denial? I thought we had made real progress the other day. Perhaps it will take the Chinese refusing to loan us any more money when the Republican Congress gets a spine. But then, you'll never know Len, this story is nowhere to be found on Fox.

vash · vash's Garage

see swoy do neye? = where is the bathroom?

nay mo cheen. = you have no money

may kock, hi ngow nuy jeye gouw = the U.S. is my beotch!

and for the health nuts:
ngow juy yee caffee fan, mmm gouw = i would perfer brown rice, please.

lendaddy · 07-05-2005, 05:41 PM

Shaun, you wouldn't be lamenting the price pressures of your Chinese competitors would you? Torn between profit and ideology?

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-05-2005, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
Shaun, you wouldn't be lamenting the price pressures of your Chinese competitors would you? Torn betwenn profit and ideology?

LOL! No Len, we dropped the Made in the US long ago. It turned out that it was impossible. Here's a quick breakdown:
50% of apparel: made in US
30% of apparel: made in Vietnam
20% of apparel: made in Honduras

100% of designs: made in US (we can get them in China, but quality was poor, did an ROI against our target market purchasing habits and clearly if you are buying a $24 T-shirt, you want it look and wash great. No brainer.

100% of charms handmade in Austin, TX by a little old lady. At $.65 per charm delivered and we sell them for $3, not much cause for China.

100% of purses: made in China (impossible to get inexpensive purses made in this country)

100% of stationery: made in US (lag time too great in China)

100% of Spiroglo pens made in China, overnighted, we handle customs.

So you see, we are global where it makes sense. And I have no problem with anything made in China, I have a problem with our Admin supplicating our country to China, a communist country, that is now dictating our foreign policy.

Hey Len, if that statement released by the Chinese is OK wtih you, I know exactly where you stand. And I think you should stand somewhere else.

lendaddy · 07-05-2005, 05:57 PM

I know, I know, Bush made you do it?

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-05-2005, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
I know, I know, Bush made you do it?

dude, give it up here. You've made a really good debater in the past and this is clearly beneath you.

No, no one made us do anything, we made a "choice of free will." Look into it.

Honestly as a side note, if we hadn't changed up our line after the February MAGIC show, G9Girl would be G9Gone! And I'd be starting a magazine on how to do business in China. From ad and edit perspectives, it's a 100% sure thing, and Pat McGovern (google) was willing to back it.

lendaddy · 07-05-2005, 06:05 PM

I don't get it, even a staunch idealist as yourself cannot resist the temptation of the orient. Yet you rail against Bush and his ilk for allowing you the freedom to do so? You see no irony there?

Moneyguy1 · 07-05-2005, 06:07 PM

len

THis is a new era..a global economy. We had all damn well get used to it.

lendaddy · 07-05-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
len

THis is a new era..a global economy. We had all damn well get used to it.

I agree. I just found it odd to hear someone complain about it so vigerously whilst stuffing his matress with the proceeds of such. But that's just me, and I'm weird like that.

Moneyguy1 · 07-05-2005, 06:13 PM

You? weird?

Never!!

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-05-2005, 06:15 PM

Len, there's no irony because you've changed the issue. You've seen all my past posts on Bush and China, you've seen my rationale, my story, and gee, this release just strengthened everything I've said about borrowing money from the Chinese to use in Iraq and how there's no ROI on those $. Couple that with the Chinese aggresively building a military and buying up American marketing/brand assets with a massive labor force willing to earn $.30 per hour as well as buying up natural resource companies to ensure it's economic growth and ultimate domination of world markets.

I've never railed at bush for allowing me the freedom to do business with China, rather the above.

Len, please man, step it up, go back to cigarettes, anything, but this is not fun. I enjoy good debate for debate's sake. this is just dumb.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-05-2005, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
I agree. I just found it odd to hear someone complain about it so vigerously whilst stuffing his matress with the proceeds of such. But that's just me, and I'm weird like that.

Two mattresses actually.

Good attempt at trying to twist the issue, well, a lame attempt, but you tried. You get an award, like everyone else on your team who tried.

928ram · 07-05-2005, 06:20 PM

I guess it's easiest to blame Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan....

Sorry, but the blame falls on the US consumer and the US worker. Tiffany wages and Walmart prices is what they want, so that's what they've got.

Now all there is to do is to roll with it and let the chips fall where they may, or go for a policy of isolationism.

lendaddy · 07-05-2005, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
Len, there's no irony because you've changed the issue. You've seen all my past posts on Bush and China, you've seen my rationale, my story, and gee, this release just strengthened everything I've said about borrowing money from the Chinese to use in Iraq and how there's no ROI on those $. Couple that with the Chinese aggresively building a military and buying up American marketing/brand assets with a massive labor force willing to earn $.30 per hour as well as buying up natural resource companies to ensure it's economic growth and ultimate domination of world markets.

I've never railed at bush for allowing me the freedom to do business with China, rather the above.

Len, please man, step it up, go back to cigarettes, anything, but this is not fun. I enjoy good debate for debate's sake. this is just dumb.

Ok, what do you want? Go back and read the horror stories of the 80's regarding Japan. Guess what.....the same will happen in China. They will not work for $0.30 an hour much longer, the riots have already started. Here's one for ya. Believe it or not, but the spread of Capitalism in China will do more for human rights and poverty in that country than any amount of humanitarian aid ever could. See that's the difference, I actually BELIEVE in the system. They will soon need us the same way Japan does.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-05-2005, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
I agree. I just found it odd to hear someone complain about it so vigerously whilst stuffing his matress with the proceeds of such. But that's just me, and I'm weird like that.

Len, where's the irony? BTW, did you get the deluxe "You too can be Karl Rove" kit? Just wondering.

I posted this on 6/29 here: Chinese Companies Buying US Companies - Okay?

Also, I'm not saying we should play dirty, I'm saying they do and our illustrious president is doing nothing about it, in fact, he's helping them! We need a strategy against their "dirty pool" that doesn't include Chinese purchasing of American companies so that 1. only a few prosper, i.e. C-level execs; 2. they can dominate markets using the brand equity built by American companies at production pricing unmatched by any other country in the world.

forget about the politics of Iraq, here's the economics of Irag and the pickle he's gotten us in. We are borrowing money from China and burning it in Iraq. There is no ROI on these $ borrowed. Quite simply, we are borrowing money to invest in a Ponze scheme. Where are we going to get the money to pay them back when our economy is being devastated over the next 5-10 years by the people we are borrowing money from.

Again, Where are we going to get the money to pay them back when our economy is being devastated over the next 5-10 years by the people we are borrowing money from. When China buys Maytag and Hoover, companies with significant brand equity, do you think ANY of those American jobs that haven't already been outsourced, will stay in this country?

I'd be all for borrowing if it meant that our economy was growing as a direct result, so for instance, we were pouring those $ in education or infrastructure. Did you know that the Japaness, Chinese, etc. have broadband infrastructures that are 60 times faster than ours at the same price? On a consumer level, that means you can download a song in 5 seconds. On a business level, it means massive exchanges of information faster, and information flow is the new driver of our economy.

The ROI on education and infrstructure? Many multiples across several dimensions over time. The ROI on borrowing money to fight in Iraq? Patriotism and dead American soldiers.

Face it guys, our country is f*cked in the long-term because of Iraq. We've squandered over $200 billion and gotten nothing in return, and never will. The worst part is we're borrowing from a developing economic powerhouse that is actively destroying American jobs.

lendaddy · 07-05-2005, 06:28 PM

I don't get you Shaun. What do you want? Build a wall around America? Good luck.. The sooner we get China in full bloom Capitalism the sooner they cease being a threat. Like I said, I believe in the system.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-05-2005, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
I don't get you Shaun. What do you want? Build a wall around America? Good luck.. The sooner we get China in full bloom Capitalism the sooner they cease being a threat. Like I said, I believe in the system.

Just point me in the right direction of your successor. RoninLB?