Why China Isnt Happening Yet

As far as chinese audio equipment goes, I have to agree with those that have observed that it is a mixed bag. Some components, such a the Antique Sound Labs pieces I've handled have been very cheaply manufactured and poor values in my opinion. On the other hand, the Cayin stuff that I've played with is very well made and an excellent value.

As far as "worrying" about China's future in world commerce, etc., I have to agree with Danlib1. China has shown a greater historical propensity for self immolation than any other nation in human history. The Chinese developed technology and social structure that predated similar western developments by hundreds, to over a thousand years, and yet turned inward and regressed. The nation has done this more than once, and could easily do it again. The fomula is in place for just such an occurrence as it is run by a small authoritarian group that will tolerate the newly "liberalized" economy as long as it doesn't substantially threaten its hegemony. As money buys power everywhere, I don't think it will take long before some neuvoriche industrialist oversteps the tolerance of the regime. Recent events in the Russian energy industry may be particularly instructive. We'll see, I guess.

Jea48, do you only buy consumer goods that are manufactured in the USA? You should, otherwise, don't hate on others for someone else's decision. Building factories in China doesn't help the US worker, but it helps the US consumer. But again, it's not the Chinese who negotiated with American owners to move their factories, it's usually the other way around. And Chinese manufacturing will continue to improve.

I am aware that China just regained control of Hong Kong. What's your point? Why is my example a bad one? In the early years after 1997, mainland Chinese could not travel to Hong Kong that easily. Hong Kong businesses also never catered to the mainland Chinese. When the Chinese government made it easier for citizens in China to travel to Hong Kong, combined with businesses starting to cater to Chinese tourists, their tourist economy revived.

If you study economics, you might understand (not saying you have to agree), the benefits of globalization. Like many things such as communism, the theory in itself is good IMO, what gets in the way is selfish human nature.

To relate this back to audio, many of us here started with very humble systems. If those knockouts or whatever you want to call them, get many people started on this hobby, I say all the power to them. (my first instrument was probably a no-name plastic jingle). You have to make do with what you have. And when they find that they enjoy this hobby, they'll probably look for something better. And if American manufacturers offer products that offer better value than what Chinese manufacturers can come up with, they'll purchase American gear, unless they, similar to you, refuse to buy American gear for fear that Americans would suck away all their money.

China is a "communist" country in name only!

In reality, China is a right-wing "facist" dictatorship much like Hitler's Germany and Mussolini"s Italy.

Like Germany and Italy, China is now a corporate state (a term coined by Mussolini). The fianicial interests of business and the political goals of government essentially merge at the expense and influence of the common citizen.

Under the current administration, the USA is heading down the same road. The Wall Sreet crowd submits its wish list to the President and Congress. By and large, they get what they want. We get higher Medicaid/Medicare premiums, fewer student loans, less child care subsides to pay for the military-industrial complex and its policy of continuous war. Viet Nam morphs into a Reganesque spending frenzy. The hoped for "peace dividend" when the communist system colapses never materializes; instead, we get a so-called "war on terrorism" that seeks to redraw the geo-political map to the interests of business.

We can spend hundred of billions of dollars on a war but somehow it's not in our national interests to see that every American has medical coverage.

"What can a poor boy do..." says Jagger/Richard. I don't know. I guess I'll go into my listening room and turn up the volume to drown out the surrounding madness.

Just a couple of thoughts...

to describe human nature as "selfish" is not unlike calling an elephant large. What we call "selfishness" is simply a basic human trait. Sure we try to rise above our base instincts, but they are in the end an inseperable part of human beings. That's why every attempt at idealized "egalatarian" socities has failed. These systems ignore the fact that you don't get gold from cow shit.

Western style democracies with free market economies approach the subject from the opposite end- acknowledge this "selfishness" through respect for personal property rights and personal freedoms. Yeah, it can be ugly in some respects (lopsided distribution of wealth, etc.) but it at least recognizes the basic traits of human beings and attempts to channel these traits productively.

Now, as for this term "right wing facist"..

Germany and Italy, as "AXIS Powers", were National Socialists. In National Socialism, private parties can own the means of production but government determines what is produced and the quantities thereof. According to Marx and Engles, National Socialism is NOT "right wing"- it is in fact a stepping stone toward the "true communist state".

China, and the USSR, have never really been communist. They have always been subject to rule by party personalities with no term limits, who ruled with absolute power until they died. The "common citizen" in China is no worse off than he was under Maoism, and far less likely to die at the whim of the party leader.

What will be interesting is how China will control it's citizenry's desire for prosperity. It won't be easy, given our selfish nature :)