03-06-2025, 05:09 PM
(03-06-2025, 04:05 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:(03-06-2025, 02:40 PM)bravado Wrote: The Chinese example is perhaps the best one. They were remarkably poor generations ago, then massive investment brought manufacturing.
Now that their wages and standards of living are improved immensely, the manufacturing isn’t as compelling and is moving away to south east Asia and India for the next captive labour force and cheap resources.
The USA used to be the cheap resources and manufacturing source for Europe too - until they weren’t. It’s a normal cycle - we are all living in it. Trying to nail Jello to the wall and pretend like economics doesn’t apply to us is a fool’s errand.
Admittedly, this is why we are entering end stage capitalism. There are more and more developed countries, and fewer developing countries, which means there are fewer places to offshore for cheap labour. The capitalists are getting antsy about that.
But again, the solution is not protectionism, the solution is a better economic system, along with an acceptance that a bigger SUV, or house, or whatever, beyond a certain point doesn't really make an improvement in quality of life, and that being happy with "enough" is probably a better long term strategy than infinite growth on a finite planet.
A better economic system? OK sure please do tell, but in no way or shape can it affect free market principles, individual liberties and freedom of choice and limited government intervention