charlese wrote:Yes, Tim, we are still friends! Good ones at that. Just like most in this Shopsmith Family. Kinda reminds me of Thanksgiving dinner around a great big table. Don't really want to push your buttons, but am going to mention a few things I think I have learned.
Many of the greatest U.S. inventions came from foreign sources. Albert Einstein was born abroad, so were the rocket propulsion guys. When they came over from Nazi Germany, they brought the technology with them. There are quite a few more, but I'm not going to strain my memory.
Let's go to China. When the Mongol hoards invaded China, the Chinese invented the crossbow. Later they invented gun powder, then cannons and guns. Don't know where rifling came from! Whatever kind of Governing body the Chinese have had, the people have remained very resourceful. My Chinese friends, here in the U.S. are very proud of their ancestors and relatives in China. Although they don't agree with Communism, they are proud of their people.
In addressing all of the inexpensive manufacturing from China, we might as well bring up the fruit and vegetables imported from Central and South America. The U.S. used to be able to supply all of those food stuffs. Wonder what happened here?
To be honest, I really dislike the whine- "it's not fair" - when addressing economic stuff. We in the U.S. didn't worry about "what's fair" when we were top dog in all things economic. The only ones I heard about crying "It's not fair" were unions that wanted MORE! They got much of what they wanted - not all - or they would cease to exist. Now that the worm has turned - we hear the cry!
I hear what you are saying. Technologies come from all over the world. The US are knot the only ones to invent. I wood like to reiterate from an earlier post, I am not against any people. Ethnic Chinese that are American citizens, are Americans, as all American citizens are, from where ever in the world they came from. I do knot want to seem picky, but the people that you brought up, the rocket scientists and Mr. Einstein, came to America and became citizens of this great country. I do not consider their work as that from another country.
Your Chinese friends, I assume they are US citizens, have every right to be proud of their ancestors and relatives, but, as I see it, their
people are Americans, not Chinese. My ancestors are from a mix of European countries, not the least of which are the Irish. When I think of my people, I think of my fellow Americans, regardless of their ancestory, I do knot think of my people as the Irish.
I am glad that you brought up the produce that we get from South America. In my neck of the woods, much local produce is available for a great portion of the year. There are times when things are out of season, and there are items that just do knot grow here. These items are imported from those South American countries, as they are having summer when we are having winter. But importing/exporting with those countries is a little different then with China. It is "trade". With China, it is a one way street: Their product comes here, our money goes there. And China uses that money to our detriment.
On the thing about the unions, I have previously posted how I feel. And you do not seem to want it discussed. I will leave that as that.
The only item that
I am crying "It's not fair" about, is the Most Favored Nation status that our government has given to a country that has publicly declared us their enemy. They are using, and will continue to use, American dollars to build up their war machine and when they are ready, will use it against us. The Chinese have loooong memories. They are still at war with us, albeit, not an visibly active one. To my knowledge, they have knot agreed with our country on a peace plan]edit: BTW, I wood be oakay with [/I]
TRADE with China, I just do knot believe we have that.