Origin XT Blog

In response to a letter a TIME reader sent to TIME in response to the “Dawn of a New Dynasty” edition (which I never got):

“The Chinese Century” convinced me that by buying products made in China I am supporting that country’s political nonintervention policies in areas like Darfur and helping perpetuate a disgusting lack of regard for the value of human life. From now on, I am going to focus on buying American-made products.”

Janet Thurston
Brighton, Michigan

Your response convinced me that by buying products made in America I am supporting this country’s political and military intervention policies in areas like Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and Kosovo and helping perpetuate a disgusting lack of regard for the value of human life (think Iraq war and the tens of thousands killed). From now on, I am going to focus on buying whatever products satisfy me best.

With what hypocrisy and audacity you mutter! Go take a deeper look at all which the US has involved itself with, and the hypocritical and judgmental attitudes with which it views China and the rest of the world. Iraq? That’s a total mess. If you think China’s “human rights abuses” (apparently they think massacring dogs with rabies is a human rights violation. What the hell?) were bad, look at the devastation in Vietnam, Iraq. After submitting a 600-billion-dollar plus military budget for 2007, the US has the nerve to criticize China’s 40 billion dollar budget, which is spread over a population five times larger than that of the US. Hey, China brought 500 million people out of poverty in the past 30 years; what did the US do? Pop out more babies into poverty? That’s right: poverty rate increased, with vital funds being drained by an unnecessary international intervention effort.

Regardless, I don’t think commercial interests should be tied to politics. As the consumer, I just want the best items from the cheapest places; and as a prospective employer, I just want the best and least expensive labor I can get.