It is not right to consider China a developing nation in 2009 and beyond.

This was the case when I first started doing business there. An example from the past.

Once, on my first morning in Ningbo, China, I got up early (jet lag can be a real *&@%) and found that there was no electricity and no water.  I walked down to the front desk and was told that electricity and water were always turned off between 10pm and 7am.  Now, that was a developing nation.  But it was also twenty years ago and times have changed.

Chinese leaders love to play on their ‘developing nation’ status.  Gives them credibility for all the social/political and economic decisions they make without any real debate.   You can’t say twenty-first century politics are involved because all critical decisions are made at the top by leaders who have no higher authority (the people) to worry about.  That’s the beauty, if you care to call it that, of Communism in its Chinese form.  Decisions are easily made, quickly implemented and subject the decision makers to few if any consequences.  But those decisions often violate human rights and economic fairness.

It works for them, but because of generations of communist policy the Chinese leaders can’t effectively relate to America or Americans.  And we don’t really understand them all the time.

For example, once I was met with a high-ranking local Communist party official (with his cadre of about 10 ‘assistants’) to discuss ‘terms’ for making my patented products in their fine city.  Turns out he was also was the President of the local factory that wanted to make our products for us (where me met).   This was a dingy dickensonion kind of place that just didn’t feel right to me.  No heat at all in the conference room of the executive building.  Nor was there any heat provided on the factory floor.  And can’t even bring myself to describe the toilet facilities.

Boy was I naive, I learned later that the factory was owned and operated by the Red Army.  It ‘employed’ people who were housed in dorms on site (8 or ten to a room), worked 12-14 hour days seven days a week and apparently never left.  The big iron gate was always closed and guarded and the ten foot high brick fence around the factory and related property was topped with a three foot section of barbed wire that would have scared away Brer Rabbit).  Draw your own conclusions but mine was all about ‘forced’ labor.  No wonder they could offer prices that were a fraction of those in Taiwan or Hong Kong.  And the profits went to the military, no doubt.

This local leader began by joking that if America believed China was abusing its people then we should let more of them emigrate to California (a place most Chinese think is like heaven).  He suggested we start with two or three hundred, then he smiled and added million.  Three hundred million?  Yes, he replied.  Then he added that they wouldn’t even be missed in China.

Boy did that give me some perspective.

The factory’s idea of quality control was something that barely worked.  Mine of course was something that worked well, was made of really good raw materials and looked real good.

We never could get together.

I hope this is giving you a sense of the enormous divide that separates our two nations . . . philosophically, economically, politically and socially.

Yet, in spite of all the immense differences China should NOT be considered a developing nation and should NOT be given the free rein developed nations allow those who are disadvantaged.

China must be held socially accountable — and this goes double for economic and military issues.

Their refusal to float the Renminbi (the ‘peoples’ money’) or Yuan (the name of the currency denomination that is equivalent to our dollar) provides an unfair trading advantage.  It increases their exports (because good are cheaper) and decreases their imports (‘cuz our goods are more expensive) thus contributing to the incredible trade imbalance between China and America (think in the neighborhood of half a $trillion per year–or one good Obama stimulus package).

China’s defense of such unfair practice?  “Oh, but we are a developing nation.  It is necessary for us to level the field.”

Tiresome to our diplomats.

How does one measure developed and developing nations anyway?  Putting the gross economic issues aside (average wages, for example), how about the availability of consumer products and especially luxury items.  Think cars, cell-phones, TV’s, computers and such.  This measure sure reflects reality in places that lack such (we consider) amenities.

And so the news last week that China has passed the United States as the biggest market for cars.  Chinese sales are expected to be 12.7 million in 2009, while U.S. sales are forecast at 10.3 million.  Oh, and by the way the Chinese total is an increase of 44% over the previous year!!  Cell phones?  China has more in use.  Computers?  China.  Students in technical Universities?  China.  Miles of high-speed rail?  China (by thousands of miles).

But this car deal is big.  Think of the implications to fuel usage, the cost of oil, pollution, green house gases, steel and other raw material costs.  Huge, baby!  And then there are the jobs, factories and suppliers to make all that possible.  Wow!

Developing nation?  Baloney.  China’s military power is second only to ours.  China’s technology is third to the U.S. and Russia.  China’s population is first (4 times the U.S.’s).  China’s economy is first right now in every meaningful way, with near double digit growth and holdings of  more than $2 trillion of other nations currencies (yes they have a surplus — something other ‘developed’ nations can only dream of right now).

The infamous G7(or is nearly irrelevant now (the largest economies in the world — i.e. Global 7).  The real decisions are at the G2 level and those two are China and the U.S.  No other nation is really close.

Developing nation?  Baloney.  We, and the rest of the world have to stop even thinking about China as a developing nation — they are not.

China has put men into space, has nuclear weapons and the delivery systems to drop them anywhere in the world, a military (in terms of soldiers) the size of Russia and the U.S. combined.

Drop the pretext.  The four or five  most developed nations in the world today include China in just about everybody’’s reckoning.

China has to be taken seriously, held to developed nation accountability and treated as the most powerful ‘partner’ of the United States (remember Obama doesn’t want to think in terms of enemies or friends — not such a bad idea really).

Oh, and by the way, Russia is devolving under Putin (and his puppet Medvedev).  The first of what I will call undeveloping nations (although Cuba probably sets the standard there).  I don’t think they want to be anybody’s ‘partner’ and that egoistic and Machiavellian approach is part of their problem.

Thanks for the photo to flickr’s francisodiez

Can these TV talking heads be wrong?? Ya got me there bro.? These guys must know what they are doing and saying, right?? Wrong, baby.? They only want to sell books and drop-kick the ratings.? Once again they are NOT doing or saying what is best for the country or the world . . . just themselves and their networks.? To be frank, I can’t stand to watch the ‘blindered’ idealogists and I wish others would stop too.? It would be a better world.

Oh, and by the way, need I remind you that the left-wing whackos are not any better (is MSNBC really owned by GE?? Ahh, I almost forgot the GE’s CEO Jeff Immelt is an Obama supporter and of course who could forget how many contracts GE has, or is bidding for, with the government or that the stock has fallen up to 80% under Immelt’s apt management?? Oh, crap there I go again, forgive me what was I talking about?)

How about Cuba?? I have written about this before (even used the same great picture of the ‘revolutionary’ leader) and advocated to normalize relations with our neighbor then (in early January, a? few months before Obama’s ‘invitation’).? I am encouraged now.

I think it is great that our President does not seem inclined to flex his muscles (speaking metaphorically here–I mean gosh he is skinny and couldn’t possibly bench more than 50 pounds).? Only the bullies in my old nieghborhood ever had to prove themselves by pushing the little guys around.? The really confident ‘players’ had no problem being friends with everyone.? If you are confident and right, well you simply don’t have to be threatening.

America is strong (the most powerful military might in the world), we are influential (virtually every other nation wants our attention/money), we are wealthy (even in these difficult times are GDP is much greater than any other nation), we are educated (with the best Universities in the world–where doctoral candidates from other? countries come to be educated), and we should be confident and not arrogant.? Right more often than wrong.

I applaud our President, even though I did not vote for him.? Overall he has my vote of approval so far.? No President will succeed in every venture.? No President will fail all the time either (though? I must admit it seems the late President Bush certainly pushed the envelope in this respect).? So, I will accept Obama’s mistakes (i.e. the first 60 days of his handling the financial crisis was abysmal) and concentrate on his successes.

One of these is his relatively humble (focus on the word relatively here) and non-confrontational approach at the recent summit of the Americas.? Of course Cuba was not invited and hasn’t been for years, but Obama seems to recognize the insanity of this decades old policy.?? Cuba is our neighbor.? They are not a threat and could easily become our friends (or at least our associates in capitalism– don’t forget the great communist ‘threat’ of China is a super-duper supporter of our style of capitalism).? Twenty years ago, who would have thought we’d be buying stuff at COSTCO that comes from Vietnam today?

How can anyone really take Fidel Castro seriously?? Look at the picture above.? Is that the picture of a bully or a retired bull-rider (after being thrown and trampled far too often)?? Come on you right-wing idealogues, Cuba has only 11,000,000 people for crying out loud.? There are only 4 million men of military age and most of them have to work too hard for a living — if they aren’t underemployed (not unemployed–thier government’s ‘official’ stats show an unemployment rate of only about 1%!).? Thier GDP of around $100 billion isn’t much more than a few times California’s budget deficit this year. Should we really worry about Cuba you nut cases?

Cuba needs our help, our example, not our mistrust or abuse.

I’m glad the President is making travel and remittances easier for Americans with Cuban connections.? He needs to do more.? Unilaterally.? The more Americans there are visiting Cuba, the more Cuba’s people will find out how nice we can be, how well we are doing compared to them and how democratic government can free up resources.

That goes for other Latin-American countries too.? The more inviting we do, the less threatening we are, the more aid we can provide (without conditions), the less strident we are in our political rhetoric . . . well the more doors will open.? Works in my neighborhood, works anywhere (did someone wise like Goethe say that?).

Thanks, for not being the bully, Mr. President.? Thanks for not acting like you have to ‘lord’ it over our less fortunate nieghbors.? Thanks for extending the hand of friendship.? Thanks for not sticking your chin out and taking offense at the trivial words of leaders who don’t know any better.? Pretty soon they will all learn that they don’t have to deal with that Bush guy or his combative ‘posse’ anymore and will start to trust you.? Man, do I look forward to that day.

End the embargo, NOW!

Viva, Cuba!? Can’t wait ’til the beaches there are opened to ALL Americans!

Can the 51st state be far away?? Whoops, that’s going way to far.? Or is it?

thanks to flickr’s factor for the photo

To start , he can make a change right here in our hemisphere without spending untold taxpayer $$.??It?would be?easy and it is the right thing to do.

Give full recognition to Cuba.?? OPen the doors.? Welcome the neighbors.

And do it now.? Tell the press and the world.? Even?before he takes office he can?get the change ball rolling.

Communists?? Who cares?? Socialists?? Who cares?

We deal with China, Russia, Uzbhekistan, France and Canada don’t we?? Some are communists and some are socialists and some are both — but so what?? We’re all capitalist today it seems (China is, Russia is, maybe even Iran . . . but don’t let me leave the impression they are democratic ‘cuz they aren’t).

Our good island neighbors to the south have suffered too long due to the archaic policies of a failed past.? Give the?deserving people of Cuba a chance to see what democracy and openness can do for us and they will want it for themselves.? Treat them like good nieghbors (my apologies state farm) and make some new friends.

The people in this country aren’t afraid of Cuba.? How can the government be unless they are completely and totally out of touch (oh, I forgot . . . of course they are).? Do it Obama-man help them and help us.?

This big step?will?change lives for?the good…for?millions in Cuba.? It will help millions here? in the U.S. too, those who want what Cuba has to offer like: Cuban cigars (though iIpersonally don’t get the appeal of smoking), or carribean food (everything but the crazy spicy stuff), or (and here is my favorite ) the great beaches we have been denied from enjoying for as long as I can remember.

Maka Fidel a happy many before he passes on.? Give him some props Obama, after all he was an incredible leader for his people (at least a vast majority of them practically worship him).?

Think of what the rest of the world would think of us if we did.? They might even start liking us again — you know, the ‘we are all God’s children’ thing.? That makes us brothers and sisters.? The choice is easy.

Change could start right now with the stroke of a pen, a simple invitation, a cup of

thanks to flikr’s factor for the photo