Is it too early to start blaming Wal-Mart for forcing everyone in the supply chain to cut costs in order to be 'allowed' to do business with them?

I'd like to take ownership of that concept right now before someone running for President steals it...

Okay, that's disgusting.

Justin,

Think what we're seeing is a booming manufacturing economy from a country with third world standards. I'd be very very leery of anything ingestible coming from China. Read your labels folks!

The gains we Americans have made in human rights, healthcare, fair pay, benefits and enviornmental controls are being thrown away by capitolism run wild. What should be an equitable tool for civilized trading with profit an honorable goal is being corrupted by greed, WalMart leading the charge. Don't like the unions? Move to China and see how things work without an orginized labor force.

I'm definitely buying American (or at least not Chinese) on anything that goes into my mouth or my child's. Thank goodness we have safety regulations and a tort system that compensates consumers who are harmed by such practices!

"Move to China and see how things work without an orginized labor force."

I thought the Chinese were communists. Aren't Communists all about Workers Rights?

Greg's on the right track, Michael. A communist system obviates unions. It's essentially the union made government. (The "soviets" were unions.)

H'mm, yet China is not exactly a model of workers' rights.

Not too mention the fact that Aspartame is a neurotoxin.

So it's okay to mix in metal shavings?

Susan,

Is that really what you got from reading that?

Why did we all roll meekly over and allow Beijing to host the Olympics next year? I anticipate the answer being "It's not Caracas," but I need a little more.

PDM, it was certainly one interpretation. Did you mean it as a more general comment, separate from the content of Justin's original post?

Rhody, ya got me. The country that reclaimed the record for worst human rights and due process abuses after the Taliban was deposed in Afghanistan, not to mention their treatment of the environment, of private property rights, of even dogs at one point was given the privilege of hosting this high profile, gracious event which was started in the birthplace of democracy? I've thought it was outrageous all along.

Communism in it's purest form might actually work, however, nothing is pure and communism was doomed before it got started, thankfully taken down by human nature. Human nature, in my opinion anyway, is what will be the downfall of capitolism. Too few have too much, whether earned or inherited. The system as we know it is destined for collapse, maybe in our lifetime.

So communism and doomed to fail and capitalism is doomed to fail.

What's your third option, Michael?

Worry

Okay then. We're in agreement. I'll stockpile the guns.

lol