Monday, March 21, 2005
China
Satchel Page, the long ago pitching great, was ruputed to have said, "don't look behind you, something might be gaining on you".
Economically speaking, that "something" is beginning to look like The Peoples Republic of China . A casual stroll down the aisles of your local Walmart will give you a hint as to who's name dominates the products being sold there, whether it be electronics, clothing,
and just about everything else. China has'nt needed to send its armies into foreign lands to establish its power base and exercise its military strength. It is doing so economically and it is doing so at an incredible pace. The trade imbalance between China and the United States is tremendous and the gap grows wider every day. Of course most Americans are aware of this situation, but where there is a growing concern, there is also an ongoing enjoyment of being able to purchase quality items at a low cost.
Ultimately the cost may prove to be more than we bargained for. As China's economy grows so does her need for oil. The United States currently uses more oil than the rest of the world combined. There has been no real attempt to limit consumption by the public and there has been no serious attempts by American companies or the United States government to encourage the development of alternate fuels, despite all the rhetoric to the contrary. At the rate the Chinese economy is growing and its need for oil begins to rival our own, the competition for control of oil sources can become horrific and increasingly dangerous. The sleeping giant
is beginning to stir and we need to pay attention. There's more than one way to lose a war. Ironically, the main products that China buys from us, computers, technological hardware and the like, can conceivably be used against us at some point. On the other hand,
a cheap pair of running shoes purchased from them .....well, you get the picture. We simply have to take off the dark glasses and
broaden our search for ways to lessen our independance on fossil fuels. There may soon not be enough to go around.
George Morin
Auburn
Economically speaking, that "something" is beginning to look like The Peoples Republic of China . A casual stroll down the aisles of your local Walmart will give you a hint as to who's name dominates the products being sold there, whether it be electronics, clothing,
and just about everything else. China has'nt needed to send its armies into foreign lands to establish its power base and exercise its military strength. It is doing so economically and it is doing so at an incredible pace. The trade imbalance between China and the United States is tremendous and the gap grows wider every day. Of course most Americans are aware of this situation, but where there is a growing concern, there is also an ongoing enjoyment of being able to purchase quality items at a low cost.
Ultimately the cost may prove to be more than we bargained for. As China's economy grows so does her need for oil. The United States currently uses more oil than the rest of the world combined. There has been no real attempt to limit consumption by the public and there has been no serious attempts by American companies or the United States government to encourage the development of alternate fuels, despite all the rhetoric to the contrary. At the rate the Chinese economy is growing and its need for oil begins to rival our own, the competition for control of oil sources can become horrific and increasingly dangerous. The sleeping giant
is beginning to stir and we need to pay attention. There's more than one way to lose a war. Ironically, the main products that China buys from us, computers, technological hardware and the like, can conceivably be used against us at some point. On the other hand,
a cheap pair of running shoes purchased from them .....well, you get the picture. We simply have to take off the dark glasses and
broaden our search for ways to lessen our independance on fossil fuels. There may soon not be enough to go around.
George Morin
Auburn
