I pretty much have shifted to the idea that we won't be fighting a combat typw war with China anymore. Instead, they are well on their way, with out help, to emerging as an economic power partially created by the US. What I don't see is what we will have left to offer to keep us from sliding down the ladder economically. It becomes increasingly difficult each day to find thing in our dailiy life that are not made in China. At work I just watched a pallet of Dell computers being brought around to be installed in a training room and a big, white label proclaimed in thick, black lettering, "Made in China."
I'm curious about what really consititutes a union in China. I saw a brief blurb that the WalMarts in China are unionized now. WalMart in China. Just like the Soviet Union, commercialism/captialism will chip away at communism. But, how that will affect us economically when we have become a nation of game playing, Xtreme entertainment, gotta live the big life types who have a diminished capacity for manufacture and engineering, is what concerns me. The growth, and increase in quality of Chinese products is in large part to our own business practices. Our drive for cheaper products sends our own businesses to China for lower costs and to "satisfy" consumer demand. Another problem is that rather than working towards something, building towards having it all, our society in general feels we should have it all from the start. The attitude of young people even before they are out of school is that they should have a nice, new car, the latest electronic gear, and money to party away on the town. Not picking on young folks understand, but comparing to generations before. In fact every age level, generally speaking, is in massive consumer, live it up mode. Not only do people entering the job market want to work at lower paying, entry level jobs, the feel such jobs are beneath them and they are entitled to have more glamourous, high paying jobs and the lifestyle they believe they should have from the start. Hence, lower paying, traditional entry job markets are always screaming for help because so many say, "Ah, I'm not working for that pay! And especially not that hard."
As part of the immigration debate coverage, the projected heavy job growth areas were in food service, domestic service, and lawn service. We've gotten to the point that we don't feed ourselves, take care of our own homes, or do our own lawns. Again, taking our society as a whole. Even in the higher areas things are still service industry related. I guess when the Chinese are making everything Americans can provide "services" to them.
I don't have a lot because of choices I've made along the way. I'm well situated to give the perspective from the lower income side of things. Spending $60 or $80 on a knife IS a big deal to me. Spending $30-$40 on a knife is something to think about. It hasn't always been that way, but it is now. I toss that in as a matter of perspective.
When everybody "needs" to make enough to sustain a high consumer, image concious lifestyle, you have a nasty cycle. To have workers you have to pay the kind of money that will at least let them go into debt for these things. Then to turn profits and stay in business you have to price your goods and services to pay those wages. This in turns means the workers now need more money to maintain their lifestyle, and in some cases just to buy the basics, and so demand higher wages, or seek employment where they can get those wages. And the cycle keeps turning until American products cannot compete with Chinese products in terms of costs, or in many cases, bang for the buck. Comparing a Steel Warrior (copperhead), Rough Rider (muskrat), a Chinese made S&W (trapper), and several of my Case slippies, fit and finish, blade construction, and sharpness on the Chineese made knives are at a minimum comparable and in a few cases superieor to the Case and Bokers I have. The Chi-knives tend to be a bit weightier and have 440C blades where the Cases and Bokers have carbon steel blades and always feel a shade lighter and better in the pocket. As of now, you can't just pick up the phone and call the Chinese guys like you can Boker USA or Case, or other makers. Also, the Chinese don't make cabon steel slippies that I'm aware of. There also doesn't exist the history and tradition for the Chi-knives that is established for the American and German knives. I can get a good, well made, working knife in a Steel Warrior for very little money if I shop carefully. However, I cannot get carbon steel blades and the many intangibles that I can get in a Case. Case and the other makers need to understand that they have a real strength in the blade steels and the higher degree of finish they can provide on various handle materials. Even though you can get stag on a Chinese made knife, it just doesn't usually have the high level look and feel of a knife made by and established American or German maker.
What does this come down to? Only that certain factors are in play that a handful of us refusing to buy Chinese knives or products will have little affect on in the long run as our own society continues its cycles. Yet, there is something to be said for not going along with the herd or accepting the inevitable and choosing not to buy these products solely on matters of principle. Even as you recognize that what you are doing really won't change the inevitable outcome, you refuse to be a party to or feed the problem.
I have a few Chinese made knives of current production and one on the way. There is a place for them and I pick up one now and then. However, for my personal enjoyment I still prefer American and German knives for their feel, their overall construction (they just feel more like a traditional knife should), the fact I can get carbon steels, and their history as it relates to western world. I prefer to buy American, but it isn't and absolute.
Look on the bright side. So many Norinco and various Chinese made guns have been sold here that should they invade there would be a certain irony fighting against them with their own weapons and ammo. It would be a switch since American military folks have had to endure being shot at by tlheir own equipment that has been sold, or given to that government by us.
Okay, nuff oratin' for now.
