Rational passion and passionate reason
who is chatting on SOLO ChatThe Free RadicalPopular contentWho's newWho's onlineThere are currently 6 users and 15 guests online.
PollWhat should the government do about ailing financial institutions? Nothing, except to back off and get out—as any Objectivist knows, intervention is treating the disease with the disease 83% Intervene judiciously—enough to avert a catastrophe that is otherwise imminent 3% Intervene massively—as it's doing 3% Nationalize the whole economy and be done with it. Bring on the USSA! 1% Something else (specify) 11% Total votes: 80
 Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell
 Economics In One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt
|
SOLO-International Op-Ed: Milk Scandal Hypocrisy Submitted by PhilipD on Sat, 2008-09-27 05:13.
SOLO-International Op-Ed: Milk Scandal Hypocrisy Philip Duck September 27, 2008 HONG KONG (Reuters) – 'Up to five percent of infants in Shanghai could have kidney stones after drinking tainted milk formula, media reported on Friday, as publicity surrounding the scandal was muted by China’s manned space launch.' That the response to the Chinese tainted milk scandal has been muted is true. I don’t think that the Chinese need all the drama of a manned space launch to achieve any quietening though; for such silence the Chinese need only rely on the hypocrisy of the international media, national governments and such bodies as the World Health Organization. China’s Health Ministry numbers the children who have been hospitalized due to consuming the melamine-tainted milk at more than 13,000. So far four babies have died as a result of ingesting the poisoned milk. This Chinese-produced milk has been exported in a number of forms across the world. The Chinese State Government has discovered that the milk distribution company knew of the problem for more than 9 months, yet in a ruthless pursuit of profit the company chose to do, and reveal, nothing. State Government also found that the local government that had jurisdiction over the area where the milk powder was produced also knew of the contamination but covered it up. Presumably they were bribed to do so. This of course is not the first such instance of contaminated foods being produced in, and exported from, China. Similar cases were found only last year as overseas testing agencies discovered contaminated toothpaste, cough mixture, pet food and feces-ridden fresh vegetables. Let us not forget also the huge number of toxic toys and dangerously faulty tires and bicycles that have recently originated from Chinese manufacturers. In reaction to these events the Chinese Government promised a complete overhaul and more transparency in its safety inspection systems, just as they did four years ago when Premier Wen also made an international apology for a government cover-up of the Chinese SARS outbreak. So a private company knowingly distributes contaminated milk products that are ingested by thousands of infants. Four babies die. A corrupt local government assists in the cover-up for months. Such cases happen regularly in China. And the international response is muted. Imagine if you will that the company involved was a western, or more specifically, an American one. Imagine that the company produced the milk in the U.S.A. Imagine that the corrupt local government was an American local government. Imagine that many American companies willfully exported contaminated and unsafe products. Imagine that it was an American company killing babies. Now imagine the outrage. Imagine the outrage from the international press and from private citizens across the globe. Imagine the outrage expressed by governments worldwide and by the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Imagine the universal, unequivocal moral fury. It would hardly be muted, would it? That is how it should be. But that fury would go much further than the condemnation of the American milk company and local government. It would extend to a call for the reining-in of the entire capitalist system and attacks on American ideals and values. There would be nothing less than a sustained verbal attack on the United States itself. But for the Chinese, with their evil government and vastly inferior ideals and values, any condemnation or outrage is rare. Oh, the hypocrisy! Philip Duck thonburi-1@hotmail.com SOLO SOLOPassion.com
( categories: )
|
User loginFeatured BookNavigationSyndicate  The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
 Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
|
PhilipD
You are mixing two issues here.
1. The company sells contaminated product and causes deaths of children. This is criminal act which has nothing to do with the operation of free market and should be punished by law.
2. You implicate that such a company is after profit. If you think that in free or even in semi-free society such a company could be profitable-than think again. The law should punish this company, but that is conditional-you've demonstrated yourself that law, authorities could be bribed, or company could hire shrewd lawyers to get out of the trouble. Free market, however, inevitably will take such a company out of the business, even if few suicidal people continue to use their product-they don't represent sufficient client basis. Majority will find suitable and affordable replacement (not Russian caviar). There is no such a thing as irreplaceable product on the free market. China is not free country. It is totalitarian regime with highly regulated economy and this is a proven recipe to brew corruption.
Gratuitous insults
so all the world is supposed to know the specific merchandising facts of wherever it is PhilipD lives??? Give me a break. And I thought New Yorkers were provincial!
You're only in the center of YOUR life, Phil.
= Mindy
Debauched animals
"... humans will behave like debauched animals without threat[s] hanging over their head. There is a complete lack of acceptance that people can regulate their behaviour, and lake of self regulation demonstrates a lack of morality and self discipline rather than a lack of government regulation."
In a free society, there would still be consequences for this kind of crime: namely, your ass getting sued in a court of law.
Heck, even in an anarcho-capitalist state the company would be doomed by bad publicity and possibly vengeance arson on factories, etc.
Leonid
Creepy.
Babies died. But all is OK because the market punished the company?
Those babies died because of a total lack of morality on those within that company and the local government involved. That's it. Nothing to do with markets free or otherwise. Your idea that the markets' punishment of the company has squared everything away is repugnant. They haven't and should be expected to. Really creepy.
"Are they suicidale?"
Yes, Leonid they are suicidal. Fuckwit.
It's the Chinese products that are available and that they can afford. What do you think they are going to replace the milk with? Russian Caviar?
That's just a fact Leonid, it's no attack on capitalism. Not everything fits your neat boxes.
PhilipD
"What's your point here; that all is Ok because the markets have ultimately punished the company?"
Yes,not only this company,but many others.
" "And who is going to touch any Chinese product now?"
"In my part of the world exactly the same people who were buying them before."
Are they suicidale?
"So,where is this company
"So,where is this company now and how much profit this company currently makes?"
That's, on the surface, an easy question to answer as you know Leonid. The company will be stuffed. What's your point here; that all is Ok because the markets have ultimately punished the company?
The less easy question to answer though is what will happen to the owners of the company? Taken out and shot? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe nothing will happen. That probably depends on how much Yuan they have or who their famiy are.
"And who is going to touch any Chinese product now?"
In my part of the world exactly the same people who were buying them before.
"The ultimate result of shielding men from folly is to fill the world with fools."
-Herbert Spencer
Profit?
"The Chinese State Government has discovered that the milk distribution company knew of the problem for more than 9 months, yet in a ruthless pursuit of profit the company chose to do, and reveal, nothing."
So,where is this company now and how much profit this company currently makes? And who is going to touch any Chinese product now?
Joe Average can't make the
Joe Average can't make the distinction, because like the religionist, they make this stupid conclusion that without the 'powers that be' (be they government or of a divine nature) - humans will behave like debauched animals without threat hanging over their head. There is a complete lack of acceptance that people can regulate their behaviour, and lake of self regulation demonstrates a lack of morality and self discipline rather than a lack of government regulation.
'But will joe average
'But will joe average make that distinction?'
No, it looks like joe average isn't making that distinction.
"The ultimate result of shielding men from folly is to fill the world with fools."
-Herbert Spencer
Philip, I realize that your...
...emphasis in on the MORAL rather than the regulation. But will joe average make that distinction?
"Imagine the outrage expressed by governments worldwide and by the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Imagine the universal, unequivocal moral fury. It would hardly be muted, would it?
That is how it should be."
Yes,
Gregster I thought the point was obvious too. Obviously not!
"The ultimate result of shielding men from folly is to fill the world with fools."
-Herbert Spencer
Not at all
He's highlighting the obvious double standards that sadly apply across the board.
Strange Press Release For SOLO
It seems as if you're endorsing Government regulation as a legitimate form of health and safety control for companies.
Submitted to Real Clear
Submitted to Real Clear Politics go there now to vote for the article. Unfortunately you can't link directly to the SOLO submission, only the "reader's articles" page, so you may need to search for it.
10 votes gets the SOLO submission bumped to the front page and drives traffic back to here.
You need to register to vote, if you haven't already done so you can register here.
The problem is that people
The problem is that people treat China like a special needs child - as if they don't know any better. The worse excuse I have heard is the comparison between the industrialisation in the west and China right now. There is a big difference though - what was done in the past in the west was done in good faith and based on the knowledge of them time. Anything bad done in the past was never done with malicious intent.
The example with China, however, was done with malicious intent - too bad we have numbskulls within the west who are trying to use the above and previous as 'this is why capitalism doesn't work' - the obvious problem is that the vast majority of the populous get sucked into that void of ignorance because of their complete lack of understanding.
Then again, I've said this once, and I'll say it again - all the government regulation in the world isn't going to stop an asshole from exploiting the situation; regardless of the economic policy in play.
KASS
Indeed most timely as the Chinese astronauts are currently sucking on their ration of powdered milk paid for by Western investment towards communism and a new communist space-age.
"Who is John Galt?"