Commentary: Learning to Speak Chinese
by Rev. Michael S. Piazza

When I was growing up conservatives were always ranting about the threat that Communist China posed to the United States. In the wake of the Korean War and in the midst of the war in Vietnam, China loomed as the biggest threat to the American way of life. Apparently, all of that is forgotten now. Richard Nixon went to China, and, while he was there, he apparently sold them our country … or at least our soul.

Actually, we shouldn’t blame poor Nixon. The current administration took office with a budgetary surplus. Thanks to almost unlimited spending with Halliburton, and the increasing military/industrial complex, and tax cuts to the richest Americans (Did you get yours?), we now have record deficits. Did you ever wonder who holds the note for all the money that we are borrowing? Actually, China is our primary creditor and now owns more debt than any other lender. How much money do we need to owe them before they are the ones controlling our economic future?

And speaking of conservatives … has no one noticed that the right-wing company based in Bentonville, Arkansas is stocking its shelves almost exclusively with products made in China? That is because in that country they can get away with paying slave wages. Conservative economists wring their hands over the increasing trade deficit, but only the liberal media reports that Wal-Mart alone accounts for 10 percent of that deficit. In small towns, you used to see signs and bumper stickers that said “Buy American,” but no more. You don’t see them any more because they aren’t sold at Wal-Mart.

When my daughters ask if they should take Spanish or French in school, I’m going to tell them neither. They should take Chinese, because their government is selling their future to China. You can buy it cheap at your local neighborhood Wal-Mart.

Related Links

Foreign Countries Buying Foreign Debt: Statement from Rep. John Tanner
Wal-Mart’s China Price