Do you think the next POTUS should take a harsher economic stance with China?

[Drunken Irishman]

Poll question: Do you think the next POTUS should take a harsher economic stance with China?

Or do we continue closely allying ourselves economically?

[LakeSamish706]

1. Absolutely, but the only problem is the money that we owe China...

I guess what happens if they call in the debt?

[Drunken Irishman]

"Wrong number!"

[Drunken Irishman]

2. duplicate

[Bucky]

3. It's contractual. They can't just "call in the debt"

They can't just re-po California if we default.

[LakeSamish706]

7. Yeah, your probably correct on that... But what contracts has the US ...

lived up to in the last 7 plus years?

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. What options does the US have, realistically?

Our manufacturing base is decimated, we don't have the natural resources within this country to support our consumption, we have an economy built on a model of consumerism, and the costs of labour, materials, and production would make this economy non-viable were we to reindustrialise and reverse the offshoring of the past two decades.

Our economic model is insupportable on the basis of domestic production. This is an unpleasant fact that no-one talking about the very real negatives of outsourcing and globalisation mentions.

[Drunken Irishman]

5. It's possible we've reached the point of no return.

Which is fucking scary.

[bunnies]

Yes. Without a doubt.

In fact... I was very disappointed when no one advocated suspending imports when all that lead paint stuff came up. Not to mention the humanitarian reasons for suspending trade with China.

I just dont give a rats ass about wal-marts profits. China policy is not going to change unless we force them to change it.

Too bad they basically own US at this point. It gives us little leverage.

[Flarney]

6. It doesn't have to be harsh, just fair. n/t

[OHdem10]

8. China is our Major Banker. They loan us money to run the War

When you are in debt to a Country at this rate---it seems very
difficult to try to hit them up side the head.

All Candidates who talk tough about China are merely trying
to distract us. This is what they all have been doing for
eons. Beat up on China during a Campaign then they all suck
up to China when they are elected.

[texastoast]

9. And then there's the human rights issue

But I don't think the strategy used in Iraq can work with China.

But, of course, if the U.S. had a snippet of integrity, we wouldn't be doing business with China at all.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. He needs to be harsher on the companies that ship jobs overseas.

I haven't got any ill will for the people of China themselves.

[Drunken Irishman]

12. HE?!? SEXIST!!!111ONE

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Word for the day...

"presumptive."

:D

[pbca]

11. The Problem

Is that China holds so much in US bonds and US currency that by flooding the market with either or both they could at the stroke of a pen drive the U.S. into depression

- Soaring inflation
- devalued currency
- very little demand left for US debt/bonds
- etc.,

China's military buildup shouldn't be a concern - if China gets pissed at the U.S. they won't need a single soldier to do their damage.