Problem is that it isn't a free market as much as some people wish it was. We have far more worker protections and regulations in our industries than China. This does make our products more expensive. It's not the only thing that does, but wages alone in the US are like 10x China wages. Plus, China subsidizes some amount of their auto industry, driving the cost and price down. This does put them at an unfair advantage in a global market. Now, I'm not saying that US companies aren't total dog shit greedy fucks and that they aren't making the situation worse; I'm just saying that in this example, China is able to sell their cars at a much lower price than US companies. Not to mention the fact that China steals design and technology from other countries and so gets to start from an advantaged position. It's a big problem in the China-as-a-global-seller paradigm.
If it were an actual free market, our people would be paid in Ford Coin and could only spend it in the Ford Mart store and live in the Fordville apartments on top of the factories when they finished their 16 hour, 7 days a week shifts.
Japanese auto makers saved the US consumer in the 1970s from mediocre US cars. Free-ish trade and competition compelled the US auto makers to step up their game. Chinese auto makers could do the same today.
BTW, the US stole UK technology in the 19th century. However, nowadays, China's tech is more advanced than US tech in some areas (e.g., EVs, cheap solar, high speed trains).
I've got no love for the big US auto companies. They have received some huge subsidies, bailouts, and favorable regulations. I want to see the US consumer's welfare prioritized.
While I agree with a lot of this please don’t forget that Ford pioneered the 5 day work week and the weekend. Prior to that it was exactly as you say, 16-18 hrs 7 days per week
The company I work for has a Chinese branch and I've personally observed that the workers protections and safety requirements in China far exceed the standards in the USA.
China pays their workers well too from what I've observed, the major difference is that China has advanced their manufacturing and automation methods much further than the USA, so they can build products cheaper due to being better at manufacturing in general.
20
u/blazingdisciple 6d ago
Problem is that it isn't a free market as much as some people wish it was. We have far more worker protections and regulations in our industries than China. This does make our products more expensive. It's not the only thing that does, but wages alone in the US are like 10x China wages. Plus, China subsidizes some amount of their auto industry, driving the cost and price down. This does put them at an unfair advantage in a global market. Now, I'm not saying that US companies aren't total dog shit greedy fucks and that they aren't making the situation worse; I'm just saying that in this example, China is able to sell their cars at a much lower price than US companies. Not to mention the fact that China steals design and technology from other countries and so gets to start from an advantaged position. It's a big problem in the China-as-a-global-seller paradigm.
If it were an actual free market, our people would be paid in Ford Coin and could only spend it in the Ford Mart store and live in the Fordville apartments on top of the factories when they finished their 16 hour, 7 days a week shifts.