Should we boycott the distributors of goods produced in the PRC?

Question

I have no philosophic difference with Walmart or any other retailer. Nor am I a racist. But I think we should boycott goods produced in the PRC because the Communist government is a totalitarian regime. Nobody is making any money exporting to the PRC, they are building military force specifically designed to fight the United States, they threaten American allies, they support dangerous regimes, and their products have proven to have defects or come from questionable origin. The only thing we get from the PRC is cheap stuff and every pair of tennis shoes we buy produced in the PRC builds their industrial base at the cost of America's industrial base. Would you have bought goods produced in Nazi Germany before WW2?

Sageands adds a good point. American farmers export $55B in the last reporting year and we will probably increase this number.

In 2006, the PRC exported $287B to the US in finished goods.

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/product/enduse/imports/c5700.html

Answer 1

Stage 1 = Boycott the PRC goods at the supplier, and be sure to tell someone there you are NOT gonna buy them !

Stage 2 = Give it 30 days...if they persist in stocking those items, then let them know you will buy somewhere else. At least give them the chance to make some changes.

Answer 2

Are you talking about American Corporations, like Mattel, that is sending the toys that have lead paint and are recalled? Much of the stuff we get from PRC is from American Corporations that have left the USA to find cheaper labor and more profit for the greedy ones at the top. Besides all of the reasons you mentioned, there is also the fact that Americans lost jobs as a result of the Corporate flight. I'm all for a boycott and am already on board!

Answer 3

I have mixed feelings about this.

I do feel we need to reduce our dependence on Chinese goods, but at the same time I would like to see us improve our ties with the Chinese people, most of whom don't like their government any more than we do.

We need to take a serious look at what is happening to manufacturing in the United States. Whether we import our goods from China or Costa Rica, our dependence on imported goods is robbing us of abilities we could need at some point in the future, not to mention draining our national treasury.

Unions--if they continue to exist in the United States--should look at ways they can partner with manufacturers to help make American manufacturing more competitive not only at home but on the world market. Their continuous push to increase wages and decrease work output is hurting the American economy and--in the long run--their membership.

We will most likely see cars manufactured in China imported into the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. That would disturb me a lot.

I don't generally favor protectionist policies, but I think pulling the trigger for someone who is holding a gun to our head is dumb.

A boycott could be a good start.

Answer 4

Nobody is making any money exporting to the PRC???? What planet do you live on?
2006 exports from USA to PRC totalled over 55 billion dollars, nearly double the 2003 figure. Sure it is less than we import from them but still makes your statement look silly.
Why would you not call for a boycott of distributors of goods from Saudi Arabi - a far more brutal totalitarian regime.

Answer 5

Already do. Buying goods from China just helps expand China's military. China spends countless billions on making its military grow instead of China helping its estimated 900 million extremely poor people (65% of China's population).


" War With US 'Inevitable' Say Communist Chinese Defense Minister "
http://www.rense.com/politics6/warwithchina_p.htm

In 2005, a communist general threatened to nuclear bomb the U.S. (with U.S. designed nuclear weapons).
" Chinese general warns of nuclear risk to US "
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1529754,00.html
"A senior Chinese general has warned that his country could destroy hundreds of American cities with nuclear weapons if the two nations clashed over Taiwan."

In 2006, China threatened to nuclear bomb Japan. The president or premier of China said it in March 2006.
This was one of links to communist websites in China that carried the story. China removed the story after it got so much attention.
http://bbs14.xilu.com/CGI/viewbbs/emas/154162.html

Answer 6

Yes. If I see "Made in China" on a product or its packaging, it stays on the shelf. I know we can't avoid it completely, but if you refuse to buy when you have a choice, you are helping America.

Answer 7

I honestly do not think that it is possible at this point.

I believe we have let our manufacturing base slide to the point that it might be difficult to get through the day without using Chinese goods.

Answer 8

I like it. At least you think about taking steps that would have Impact.

Answer 9

I just think we should boycott WalMart. BOYCOTT WALMART!