Once again it is time for some Random Musings On Current Events from the mind of a quiet, unassuming (at least in my own opinion) person observing the ramblings, rumblings, rants and revelations in the media from behind the front lines of a purple state. I present these ramblings, rumblings, rants and revelations in a sort of stream of conscious journal format and, yes, there may be some sarcasm thrown in.
I do not know why but out of all the headlines that caught my attention around President Trump’s tariffs is titled “Nike Stock Plunges as Low-Wage Factories in China, Vietnam, Indonesia Face Trump’s Tariffs” by Bretibart’s John Binder. Certainly I am not sure Mr. Binder’s sources but reading the article I have to say that I was shocked at the magnitude of Nike, Adidas, and Puma supply that exists in China and to a lesser extent in Vietnam and Cambodia. According to the article Nike alone has 117 factories in China employing nearly 108,000 and 130 factories in Vietnam employing 460,000. I understand why Nike is using these countries considering the average yearly salary in China is $10,000 and in Vietnam it is $9,500 vice $67,000 in the United States for comparable workers. Yes, it makes good business sense but does it really?
I ask, “Does it really make good business sense?” for the reason that what are the unintended consequences of this “business decision”? Sure it helps the Nike stockholder but at what expense? We all know Portland, Oregon, the home of Nike, is a leftist breeding ground where the rule of law no longer exists. In fact, it seems more and more like a third world nation in which the few have all the money and power while the rest of the pols slip closer to poverty. This is a city that saw its own leaders allow leftists mobs attack government buildings for days during the summer of 2020 love. A city that, in fact, allowed the leftist media to completely blow out of proportion a small minority’s actions in order to further its leftist agenda. I have to wonder if some of this leftist infection did not ride in on the Nike management that worked in China, Vietnam and the US? Who knows has Nike and other companies been infected by CCP covert agents whose sole purpose is the destruction of the United States and what it once stood for? I know a bit hyperbolic but certainly within the realm of possibility.
Then I had to ponder if the average wage in these Asian countries is 1/6th to 1/7th of what American workers make is it any wonder why the NBA is in reality now the Nike Basketball Association considering the shear amount of profit Nike and others must be making. It also makes sense why NBA stars can say nothing negative about totalitarian communist countries while the United States burns, it is bad for business. They really do not fool me and I guess I will just have to continue my own boycott of the NBA, Nike, Adidas, and Puma which does not leave me too many options.
So to sort of sum up what I have been thinking I would say that it would be easy to corrupt many Americans with cheap bling much as the Europeans did when offering beads etc. to the native Americans during the European conquest of North America. Only this time the CCP could easily be using companies like Nike, who are making obscene profits using cheap almost slave like labor, to ride into American culture like a virus whose intent is to corrupt, bankrupt, and convert its host. Quite honestly, I really do not care one whit how much of a hit Nike and others like it take as a result of President Trump’s tariffs.
I have been hearing about and listening to what I thought was a conspiracy for a long time and this has to do with geo engineering and, in particular, cloud seeding using chem trails. I have heard much about this overtime, going back decades and really did not pay too much attention to this story thinking no way it could be true on a grand scale. However, recently as more information is coming to light and it seems the light is dimming a bit in my own part of the world I am starting to wonder if there is some truth to this? It seems that Robert F Kennedy Jr. even joined a leading expert on this practice on a pod cast recently which lends further credence to chem trailing is an actual operation that has been undertaken for quite a while. Just another thing that the forces of evil on this planet are doing to us.
God bless America and all her citizens and residents, no matter whether they are enemies, not enemies or somewhere between. Additionally, forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me.
Interesting read, as always! The author really captures the complexity of global business decisions and their local impacts. It’s shocking to see how much of Nike’s workforce relies on low-wage countries, and the ethical implications of such practices are hard to ignore. The connection between these business strategies and the societal issues in cities like Portland is particularly thought-provoking. But what exactly are the long-term consequences for communities like Portland if such business models persist?
It is my opinion that Portland and other cities will become much like the rest of the world in which a few have the most, will be devoid of a thriving middle class, and the rest will live in abject poverty.
Interesting perspective on the impact of global business decisions. The focus on Nike’s supply chain in low-wage countries highlights the economic trade-offs companies face. However, the connection between these decisions and Portland’s political climate seems exaggerated. The critique of media portrayal also raises questions about objectivity. Do the benefits of offshoring production outweigh the broader societal costs?
That is an excellent question and I am glad you asked it. It is my opinion that the question is not being asked in a broader sense is part of the problem. The Nike headquarters is located in the greater Portland area if not in Portland itself. Being one of the major businesses located in Portland and no doubt one of the larger taxpayers either directly or as a result of its employees in the Portland area I would imagine that it has a say in the regions politics. What I would like to investigate, though I will admit time is limited for me personally is how much influence it has and what sort of influence its employees and executives have on the local government? As for the benefits of offshoring production costs if we lose our identity as a nation of free enterprise, free thought, free speech and self sufficiency then is it worth it?