A week without China?

[tango]

Since we already have a thread about going a week without plastics, how about another question.

How long could you last without using (or without buying) anything made in China? If a Chinese coverup resulted in the global chaos we are currently experiencing, what better sanctions to impose than if people stopped buying stuff made in China? We could all support our own economies, buying things that were locally made, supporting local jobs and, for those concerned about such things, reducing the pollution caused by shipping so much stuff around the world.

So how about it? Could you live without buying any new things that were made in China?

 

[psalms 91]

Providing american manufacturing filled the gap because at this point the answer would be no

 

[Josiah]

So how about it? Could you live without buying any new things that were made in China?

Probably not.

Not only are "MADE IN CHINA" products everywhere.... but a LOT of products that say "MADE IN AMERICA" are made from things made in China. The world economy is intertwined SO completely that it's very likely impossible to even know if one is buying something that has at least some connection to China.


It's true of almost everything. That over-priced shirt may proudly proclaim "American Made" - but is the material it's made from? The thread? The buttons? Actually anything in that shirt? It likely only means it was sown here. Even cars. People think "Nissan - Japan!" Actually, Nissan has not been a Japanese company in many years, currently it is a French company. The Nissans you buy in the USA are typically ASSEMBLED here but the parts are mostly not American OR Japanese in origin, they often come from Mexico. As I understand it, THE most American car sold in the USA is a Toyota Camry; more of it is American made than any Ford, GM or Fiat ( called Chrysler here in the USA).


It's very complex. And often the consumer has no clue.


- Josiah




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[tango]

True, sometimes "Made in USA" means that it was assembled in the USA from components sourced from some unspecified place.

It would be really nice if western nations would start to take more control back of their own processes. I remember years ago I visited Gettysburg and had really hoped to buy a US-made souvenir from at least one of the gift shops. Sadly everything was made in India or China so I didn't bother.

If we're not already there I wonder how long it will be before western military powers are rendered impotent because China decides not to sell them any bullets or something. Huawei was recently awarded a contract to build at least part of the 5G network in the UK (last I heard Boris Johnson was considering cancelling the contract because of the coronavirus issue). I wonder what happens if Chinese powers decide to just turn off our communication networks if we don't do as they say.

 

[Andrew]

Plastic can be recycled but other elements are more costly to ship separately, hence why it's more economical for the products be shipped from China.. I honestly wouldn't mind living an early 1900s life or an Amish life, whatever the era the Lord provides.. we could still send telegrams to each other and be good pin pals without the internet and all the gadgets china makes

 

[Lamb]

My laptop was made in China and probably my phone too. So many companies wanted to save a buck and make a better profit so they moved their factories overseas. They need to bring them home like Trump's been wanting to do all along.

 

[psalms 91]

Problem is that they also own businesses here in the USA and they also supply a lot of the rare earth minerals that defense and so many other products need. We have allowed ourselves to be backed in a corner where we need them. I hope that this wakes up the country and we become less and less dependant on them

 

[tango]

I don't particularly want to go back to the 1900s but would like to see a more thriving local economy.

It's the local stores that hire local people, sponsor the local sports teams etc. Chain stores may hire local people but most of the money gets sucked out of the community. The huge faceless chains don't seem to offer anything of much value to a local community. Maybe slightly lower prices for a time but they bring the least desirable jobs, expect people to work all hours just because, and draw custom away from local independent businesses.

I'd really like see more places operate like some European cities. I had a friend who lived in a city there - I think it was Vienna but can't remember for sure - where a local coffee shop got a huge business break by moving into a premises vacated by a failed coffee shop. The coffee shop that failed was Starbucks. They opened up, the local people refused to shop there because they didn't want a faceless chain, so Starbucks had to close down because they were losing money. A local person took the lease, opened up an independent coffee shop and the locals loved it.

 

[tango]

Problem is that they also own businesses here in the USA and they also supply a lot of the rare earth minerals that defense and so many other products need. We have allowed ourselves to be backed in a corner where we need them. I hope that this wakes up the country and we become less and less dependant on them

I suspect this is the sort of thing that will have to be driven by the people. Governments of all persuasions have allowed it to happen and I simply can't believe that governments of both sides, with their armies of advisors and experts, didn't notice what was developing. We can only assume that governments were either incompetent or malicious - it's hard to think of any other explanations. I'm not going to claim Trump is perfect - far from it - but he seems to be the first president in I don't know how long to actually address the issue and look to take back control. And he's hated for it. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[Claraviolet]

Probably yes
It's not going to be easy but we can certainly try