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Hu Jintao-One of the Worst

Worlds_worst_dictatorI commented on the ethics of sending jobs to China when we could be working harder on keeping them here.  A couple of you responded that well  it’s cheaper.  Well, now comes Parade Magazine’s Annual Worst Dictator Issue.   Turns our HI Jintao is ranked fourth worst in the world, amid some pretty tough competitors for this distinction.   Click on my hyperlink to read the article.  Parade reports the US Sate Dept has identified 22 areas of human rights abuses.  Last year citizens were executed (that means killed by the government) for nonviolent crimes including bribery and stealing oil. 

Again, is Jack Welch proud of leading American business to such places. Should they be rewarded with the Olympic Games?  Ladies if you want a lesson in leadership generally and female leadership in particular, pass on It Takes a Village and try Margaret Thatcher’s Statecraft . Thatcher says we have to get right in the Chinese collective face and tell them we will not tolerate such activities from trading partners. She warns that too many politicians get caught up in the photo op of the moment and don’t draw a line on ethics.  Indeed, if we keep sending them money in the form of business and don’t make such demands, when will they stop?

Human capital is at least as important as financial capital, and decency to humans should drive the reward of the latter, not just cheaper manufactured goods.

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3 responses to “Hu Jintao-One of the Worst”

  1. Jason Raper Avatar
    Jason Raper

    Thatcher was also dealing with the Chinese at a time when Communism was at its highest peak. What was the saying back then? The idea back then was that the communists only understood one thing….power, and you had to stand up in their face if you wanted to get anywhere with them politically.
    However, to answer your question of do we do business with the Chinese even if they are violating human rights? I think yes and no. Lets continue to move them in the direction of free enterprise and democracy; we already are doing this today. Then once we get them there either one of two things will happen:
    1. The gov’t will be overthrown.
    2. We give them such a good taste of the good life that they will be forced to listem to us on social issues….
    I am quite sure that once the dictators of the world have a taste of the the good ol’ USA’s trade….they will get to the point that they can’t funtion without us. Just as the Middle East knows that we can’t hardly function without their oil…..we go to war over it! Ha ha!

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  2. Kimi Pope Avatar
    Kimi Pope

    I think it is extremely unethical to be aware of the human rights violations going on in China and still be active traders with them. Our goods are being bought at the price of human life. I think we could do without some of the toys, etc that come from there until their leader starts treating his nation with some dignity. As far as outsourcing goes, we outsource jobs to other places than China, India for example are where many of our financial call centers are headed. I do not see a problem with the outsourcing of jobs as it helps our prices to decline somewhat and makes us more efficient. As well as provided jobs to part of the country where the economy may not be as productive as ours, we are creating and building international relationships as well as putting the effort in to improve their economy. But if the leader is committing such heinous acts, we should definately not be sending jobs there!

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  3. Kimi Pope Avatar
    Kimi Pope

    I think it is extremely unethical to be aware of the human rights violations going on in China and still be active traders with them. Our goods are being bought at the price of human life. I think we could do without some of the toys, etc that come from there until their leader starts treating his nation with some dignity. As far as outsourcing goes, we outsource jobs to other places than China, India for example are where many of our financial call centers are headed. I do not see a problem with the outsourcing of jobs as it helps our prices to decline somewhat and makes us more efficient. As well as provided jobs to part of the country where the economy may not be as productive as ours, we are creating and building international relationships as well as putting the effort in to improve their economy. But if the leader is committing such heinous acts, we should definately not be sending jobs there!

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