Scotty,
China has been experiencing a myriad of problems of late. Suppressing free thought through expression, newspaper and TV images in China give only a very polar view of the world. The Chinese have always been xenophobic so it is easy for the gov’t to portray the USA (or religion, or Tibetan people, etc) as the enemy. And yes it threatens Taiwan, but surprisingly backed down after the last election when the Taiwanese did not elect the candidate that China wanted, in fact did just the opposite.
But the rumors that China bought the Panama Canal are false. Though SSA would like too!! The Panamanians are experiencing a new sense of Nationalism since the repatriation of the canal.
But China has labor strife notably now with miners and farmers in western and southern China. Millions literally are losing small tenet/existence farms to make way for what is the largest dam project ever undertaken. No one is being paid and the Chinese standard of living has dropped considerably lately. Most of the young people that I talked to along the Russian/Chinese border do not care about worker rights, the environment, etc., they want cell phones and walkmans the latest backstreetboys CD’s just like 90% of the young people everywhere I guess.
But I disagree with those in the Labor movement that believe this “China bashing” as I have heard it called is a betrayal in the fight with the WTO etc. It is all the same fight. As a matter of fact I believe the fight to keep China out of the WTO is the most important fight right now with the WTO. Those that support the WTO are looking at China opening its markets so they can further drive down the price of labor and use the threat against Unions of relocating factories in China. So if China entrance is somehow stopped it will be a great victory for Labor.
As for the AFL-CIO and its officers. They are politicians not working people. And the same holds true for most Union leadership these days. Why would our (the ILWU longshore division) leadership negotiate a contract with benefits knowing full well that some in its membership could not enjoy these benefits?? For the greater good?? Union leadership has to show that they are qualified to lead this fight and so far they have not. And certainly not from the AFL-CIO, though they are coming around a bit. They even came out for undocumented workers rights which is a big step from their old policies. The fight against the WTO is being lead by those not in Unions, we just kinda tag along and hope we don’t get lost in the march. We (meaning Labor) has the same problem as China. Were too xenophobic for our own good.
As for the nuclear/military threat that China has been bandering about lately. Perhaps we should ask the Israelis to stop selling them sophisticated weapons. We give Israel billions of dollars every year for a so-called stabilization in the Middle East, i. e. access to oil. Yet the Israelis sell weapons to everyone. So not only are we making a buck off the Chinese, nor is it only the democrats. Our fight as I see it is with the rich. Whether it is Feinstein’s husband (who is very rich), George W, Bush, who is the rich’s frontman, or the unseen forces behaind the WTO. And you will find that same crowd at the world bank meetings in D. C. now. The enemy is the same, all that changes is our ability to see him.
Tim35181
Scotty had written on 7 Apr 2000
Tim,
The Chinese threatened the USA with nuclear war if we the USA interfered with their takeover of Taiwan. Also I heard that Senator Diane Feinstien’s husband who has a different last name has millions invested in China which would explain Senator Diane Feinstein’s reluctance to vote for any sanctions against the Chinese in the Senate also President Clinton has received millions in campaign funds from the Chinese government which leaves him owing their favor which is why he votes the way he does, and I may be mistaken but doesn’t the Chinese own the Panama Canal now and if they do couldn’t they bring nuclear weapon’s into that area and be within easy striking distance of the USA. Wasn’t that the reason President Kennedy threatened Cuba with war if the Russians did not get their nuclear weapons out of Cuba. Even though the Chinese doesn’t have nuclear weapons in Panama if they own the canal couldn’t they bring the weapons there?
This area of politics is not my expertise I am concerned about the Chinese being recognized and given the ability to join in any agreements until they free all political prisoners including all the Christians that they have locked up in their country.
Frats,
Scotty
