What? The Darfur Guy?
Oh yea. Nicholas Kristoff is a tool of the ruling class.
In his recently posted times select column, he CRITICIZES DEMOCRATS FOR OPPOSING "FREE" TRADE.
Keep towns like this in mind when American protectionists demand sanctions... Some irresponsible Democrats in Congress would have you believe that China’s economic success is simply the result of currency manipulation...
Oh, and when he says 'towns', he's refering to massive industrial cities in China with populations of about ten million.
It’s true that China’s currency is seriously undervalued. But places like Dongguan have thrived largely because of values we like to think of as American: ingenuity, diligence, entrepreneurship and respect for markets.
Respect for markets?!?
a) the Chinese government CONTROLS THE MARKET (which, FDR realized, ain't a bad idea)
b) America isn't founded on the principles life, liberty and respect for markets. The free market is not god. Many people (myself included) believe that a 'free market' can't even exist! People who have the most money CONTROL the market to suppress competition. They use their influence to export American jobs without consequences.
So, THIS is why the times pays him. He uses darfur to gin up credibility and uses it to oppose fair trade.
His last article was about how single payer health insurance wasn't politically possible. This man is a bullshit, symbolic liberal.
There are plenty of reasons to put pressure on China, including its imprisonment of journalists and its disgraceful role in supplying the weaponry used to commit genocide in Darfur. But whining about the efficiency of Chinese capitalism is beneath us.
This is a completely inappropriate way to frame this issue. Americans should not have to compete with Chinese workers -- unless you want them to have the same living standards and quality of life as Chinese workers.
This man is not a liberal. He clearly doesn't give a fuck about the American worker.
So again, Nicholas Kristof, fuck you.
I had no idea you were such a fucking elitist.