”unscientific, irresponsible and contradictory”. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/791437e6-1abb-11dc-8bf0-000b5df10621.html Is how the Chinese Gov't describes the FDA's advisory on Chinese toothpaste. Many places, from NZ, Central America, and even Hong Kong is banning sales. Considering China's record with numerous spotty goods - often dangerous to consumers health - being exported in mass numbers and causing problems abroad - should goods imported from China, particularly food related items, be more closely regulated and controled?
wnes I would like to hear whether or not you agree with your new best friend New Yorker on this issue. Thx............in advance.
Hmm, I am not sure NewYorker and I are necessarily friends just because I happened to agree with him on a couple of sound posts he made in another thread. But hey, shouldn't he also be yours by the same token? On the topic at hand, I had used toothpaste made in China for two dozens years and never had any problem (apparently neither did a billion other Chinese, in case you wonder). But the unchecked rampant capitalism in China in recent years is a cause for concern, to be quite honest, and I think more government control should be in high order. On the other hand, I sure feel more alarmed by the fact that some TB-infected lawyer was running amok half way around the world ...
Well, I hope that guy was brushing his teeth with Chinese toothpaste... it just might have saved the world from an epidemic!!! D&D. Replicant Democrat.
Yes, because cheap goods will always have a market, sometimes more by necessity than choice, and because the American consumer assumes that the government is looking over us on issues such as sanitation and health. I would change my mind if China released higher quality control standards and it was verified by an independent study group.
LOL, looks like no one wants to be called a New Yorker's friend. It's understandable though because New Yorker's stance changes more often than women's fashion. You can't befriend someone who has no consistent stance on any issue.
Cheap chinese goods isn't anything to die for. If any of their import goods is going to be life-threatening, then h*** yes, we should have some pertinent regulations on import goods. However, we cannot isolate it to China, I believe the toothpaste was imported from South America where it was made from Chinese material.
How much cheaper is Chinese toothpaste? A regular tube of American tooth paste costs about $1.99 and lasts about two months. For something that lasts so long, I don't understand the appeal of nickel and diming your way to get a cheaper product. But regarding trade, China's policies are mercantilist and predatory. It is designed to benefit China even if it harms its trading partners. The logic of free trade is that comparative advantage ultimately benefits everyone, but China is doing the opposite of this and depressing its trading partners. But as long as China is funding our budgetary deficits by buying US Treasury's, I guess the White House doesn't complain. Furthermore the Federal Reserve doesn't mind cheap Chinese goods since it has kept inflation in check for the most part until fairly recently.
I love how they warn you about a "Poisounous toothpaste" that has killed "scores of people," but you have to pay to read the rest.
Certainly we have to consider that the FDA can only inspect a small portion of products made IN the US, and a lot of stuff we consume probably has some nasty sounding stuff going on (SLIME IN THE ICE MACHINE!). But I have to admit I started passing on stuff in the grocery store that was imported from China.
yes, i'm sure that unchecked rampant capitalism is to blame for the poison in the toothpaste. last night i had some bad chinese food. damn you adam smith!
its a combination of greed and lack of oversight IMO. Much as I hate big government, sometimes thge libpigs do get it right
China right now is a lot like the US in the early 1900's. All the business owners care about is making more money. They are not too concerned with protecting the consumers. The federal regulating agencies such as FDA and EPA are established by the government to protect us. However, people like Bush and many of his supporters think they are just a hindrance to doing business. China is slowly developing the laws and regulating agencies, how long did it take the US to setup the system? I think China has been doing this for less than 15 years, I think they will get better as time passes.
thats an interesting point. There is an opportunity there for people to make some money for themselves and some simply will not care how they go about doing that. reminds me of the The Jungle. But it doesnt just get naturally better there has to be some effort from the govt. to get the ball rolling. the FDA and EPA can be a hindrance and a benefit as well.
sure but china's progress and speed is unprecedented so expectations are similarly incredibly high. interms of ppp china's economy is closer to the US than japan. and given technology and news today. the pressure on china will inherently be a lot more to fix up its act.
I think that's very true. In a sense, what's scary isn't getting Chinese toothpaste that's poisionous....it's wondering what the Chinese are consuming on a day-to-day basis. Question is, does China have to go through this, is it a price to pay for any nation to industrialize? Does a nation have to be wealthy to put in consumer protections?
