Here is my evidence:
While many consumer goods are being made in countries like China, Obama said that the United States needs to make sure that it is in a position to manufacture its most essential products.
"It's one thing if China is producing our Barbie dolls, it's another thing if China is producing our silicon chips," Obama said. "We have to have some sense strategically of what are those things that are vital to our national interests and national security. Those need to be manufactured here."
News flash: Barak Obama is just another typical pandering politician.
Are you freakin' kidding me? The old national security argument for protectionism? Trotted out for no particular reason and in response to no particular demand for protection by domestic chip manufacturers that I am aware of? Just a knee-jerk innate reflex.
On to the facts. (1) I am pretty sure China is actually a net importer of silicon chips. As of 2004 at least, they imported upwards of 80% of the chips used in the country, though their production capacity is growing rapidly.
(2) Silicon chips are made all over the world; it's hard to imaging a scenario where we would be hostages to Chinese chip makers.
(3) Is China our enemy? Do we expect them to refuse to export to us and start bombing us anytime soon? Aren't they content with bombing us with Barbie dolls and hoarding T-bills?
(4) As evidenced by the incredibly fast growth of the Chinese chip manufacturing sector, its pretty easy to build up a domestic chip industry. If all the countries housing chip manufacturers declared war on us at once, we could get a sector up and running pretty quickly.
Will we ever again have a president in this country who both rationally processes information and doesn't habitually and deliberately lie in public?
2 comments:
Ever again? I am curious to learn who you think was the last one...
Speaking of which, how did you feel about Clinton back then? And how do you feel about the Clinton years now?
(I for one was rather critical of Bill back then, but boy, the current incumbent makes me almost miss Ol' Bill).
Good point, I guess Jerry Ford fails on the rational processing, but he seemed at least a straight shooter. I probably should have omitted the word "again" at the end. I was really trying to point out that Obama ain't some prototype of a "new" politician.
I always liked W.J. Clinton, it was H. Clinton that gave me the heebie jeebies back then.
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