U.S. Bridges and Roads being built by Chinese firms and Chinese workers (Page 4)

davidk14: .

Amnesty International notes that China “has the largest recorded number of imprisoned journalists and cyber-dissidents in the world.” The offences of which they are accused include communicating with groups abroad, signing online petitions, and calling for reform and an end to corruption.



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OCD_OCD: We understand that you see only that which you wish to see. You have also made it abundantly clear that your views are attached to your bank account and your abundant ego.

OCD_OCD: abundant, abundant, abundant.

Serabi: I have a question. By appointing Chinese companies to undertake huge projects in the USA, does that mean that the USA government condones the Human Rights atrocities in Tibet and Burma??

As the watchdog of the world, isn't this contradictory to its 'credo'?

With decision making more transparent than the rest of the world, what do the free thinking citizens do about this, boycott the products, companies, etc?

Comrade_: Serabi, the USA can't stop trade with China or some other countries that "contradictory to it's 'credo'" because they need them, can call it being hypocritical or 'trading out of necessity'... choose your pick.

But Serabi do you support capitalism and free-trade?

hmm on a side note: it's easy to look down and say China manipulates it's currency but both US & China plays games with their money...those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Serabi: I do support Capitalism and free trade, I also support morality and promises made. Are the two compatible? I don't know, but we do not buy cheap T-shirts from China. We buy only clothes, shoes, etc, made in SA. Over Christmas, a call went out to support only SA based companies for presents. Everybody I know heeded this and, subsequently, we are a lot more conscious of our spending patterns.

Our government trades with China but it is an immoral government anyway. Promises to boost our textile trade fell flat on its face when we were prompted to buy Rugby and Soccer jerseys to show our support for our country and then found out that the SA flag was upside down and the "MADE IN CHINA' labels were still on the inside.

If confronted with a moral dilemma, I think citizens should take the lead. People can make a huge impact once apathy has been overcome.

Comrade_: Trading based on morals? May I ask which morals will you be judging on? and who do you think will be affected by such?
If you single out China, will you also single out the oil rich countries who might fail to meet the moral expectation?

Edit: I do agree that we should all first support our local products and business, I always up to buy local good than foreign goods that flood the market regardless if its US or Chinese products. Maybe that go against capitalism idk.

OCD_OCD: Its called making a choice between supporting your own economy or the economy of one that you disagree with their political policies. Serabi still has that choice and she exercises it. I do the same. I also choose which American products I buy because I will not enrich a company that I completely disagree with.

Comrade_: Who are you addressing that comment to? or was that your open statement...I see nothing relating to what I posted since I never said what she can and can't do, I thumbed up her post because I agree to parts. The questions was directed to her so I'd get to know her viewpoint.

Comrade_: Keep in mind that China has private companies, they are capitalistic in nature. Will you also stop buying products based on another country's political issues (example oil-rich countries) when the Government of that country will not be affected but the company itself will be. It's kinda difficult to draw that line between affecting a government and affecting the lay-man who owns the company, etc. I don't know if you understand what I mean but it goes back to the question on who do you think will be affected.

what I stated above is based on the trading (buying & selling) based on morals & Political policies of another country, not on preference trading to support ones fellow countryman's products. (just to clear that up)

OCD_OCD: Whoa! Robot Butler killed de Wabbit.

Serabi: This one is for you Jack! I'm in a very difficult moral dilemma!!!!! My husband and I are immigrating to Malawi, We have plans to build our own Igloo home. We will also build these domes as a part of an affordable housing scheme for Malawians:- Safe homes to withstand severe tropical storms. Doing our homework on the Internet, the ONLY companies who can make 12m, 9m and 6m diameter heavy duty inflatable domes, are in China. Brick making moulds, we can buy here is SA. Most of our other requirement we can also source from SA and Malawi.

Now, what do we do? Order from China and weigh the pros and cons? We can build approximately 40 houses around one plastic "bubble". Is housing 40 families worth trading with a country that I have serious problems with? The problems I have are not just political, I have issues with treatment of animals, using powdered Rhino horn as an aphrodisiac and 'sweat-shops' with underage children.

This is the reason I didn't give a definate answer in my posting above. Things are not only black and white, the are so many shades of gray. Go figure, I just don't know, I think that the pros outweigh the cons.

OCD_OCD: I think they have those here in Texas, Serabi. Give me a few and I'll try to find them for you.

OCD_OCD: http://castlerockdd.com/ <----One in California
http://www.mortarsprayer.com/thin-shell-construction/lloyd-turner/ <----info on shell construction with links
http://www.monolithic.com/ <----here's the one in Texas

Comrade_: Serabi, are you trading with a country or a company? Do you understand where the difference lies?
The company that you are trading with use powdered Rhino horns or sweat-shops?

OCD_OCD: Of course she understands the difference, Jack. She is educated and astute. I kind of take exception to you asking her that.

Comrade_: It was a question to think on, you can take offense by it though none was meant to Serabi.
Trading with a company means free-trade and support of capitalism, that company has nothing to do with it's government policies. That trade will put finances to the workers. There is a difference between the two entities.

OCD_OCD: She obviously has issues with where the company is located AND their practices.

Comrade_: I directed my comments to her, not you, because I don't want to assume what her issues are. Hence I asked if the company she is referring to is doing the wrong or if she is generalizing everything based on a country.