Blaming China For US Poverty And The Broken American Dream

In 2001, China joined the World Trade Organisation, with America's support. The US' belief was that free trade with China could create more opportunities for Americans.

However in the past 20 years, almost 5 million manufacturing jobs in America have been lost, as factories moved overseas, creating Rust Belt de-industrialisation, a surge in poverty levels and anti-China sentiment.

Dayton, Ohio, home of the Wright brothers, was once known as “The City of 1,000 Factories” and the Silicon Valley of its age. From 2001 to 2007, the city lost almost 23,000 jobs, as factories such as General Motors shut down. Ironically in 2015, Chinese glass-maker Fuyao set up a factory in Dayton employing 2,300 workers - the subject of the Academy Award-winning documentary American Factory.

But how much is globalisation, and China in particular, to blame for America's deindustrialisation woes, and how much the one-percenters and unequal distribution of wealth? America's GDP after all has grown by some US$11 trillion since 2001.

[Editor's note:  At 1:59-2:13, 2:46-3:00 These are not scenes of Dayton but Detroit and Los Angeles.]

ALSO WATCH:
How Americans Are Losers In The US-China Trade War

Why US’ Joe Biden Can’t Go Soft On China

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[christianstewardship]

I remember in the 80s, US did the same blaming on Japan. But instead of finding ways to improve on their product quality, they started smashing Japanese cars in the public and demand japan to do something. Now we are seeing the same treatment to China. If manufacturing is moved to India, blaming is going towards India.

[sladesurfer]

Thats the American way, Blame everybody except themselves

[royalmontpark]

You spend so much money on wars in stead of infrastracture which will create jobs, that is why!

[default]

2015: Blaming China
2045: Blaming India
2065: Blaming African Federation

[harrytse]

Chinese way of fixing problems: identify the core domain and get it fixed.

American way of fixing problems: divert blames to someone else and reiterate the same lie a thousand times.

[LKelz]

I can relate

Ever since I graduated college . I struggled to find a stable job, i been working in retail for 2 years . Each new job i had they cut my hours . Made me end up working 12 hours a week per job and never able to move out from my moms basement .

So China is the problem that I am poor ? No!! I am poor because the American coporate is greedy, does not respect employees hard work and value, they mass hire and never give people full time so they dont have to pay health insurance . They cut hours when store not busy so they dont have to give pay roll. They CEO s are rich and they have multiple chains in the country and very little regulations from the government about workers rights.

Millions of Americans are experiencing the problem i experienced . But yeah... Blame CHiNa!!

[anonymousanonimity]

blaming china will make americans feel relieved for their own failure

[swiftkill]

Ah yes. Taking credit for other country's achievements and efforts, all the while blaming others for their own self-inflicted damage is very typical coming from America.

[eggheadegghead]

The most ironic part is in the US, the 10% owns 90% of the nation’s wealth. However, nobody dares to talk about this and that 90% is actually ok with it. This is the irony about US poverty.

[zyx]

I lived in China for seven years and all I can say from what I saw living over there was the children truly value their education. The adults work hard at their companies or other places of work. They don’t have reality TV shows and other nonsense we have that distract us from doing the right thing

[rooowtwx]

"You can't blame China for how the pie is being cut and distributed in the US ."

(That's quite a nice quote)

[Amadeus]

America: "Does nobody take responsibility for themselves anymore?"
Also America: "Our country sucks and its all everybody else's fault!"

[geopaulet]

We Americans are good at blaming but never solving

[singstar]

Here is some statistics:
After joining WTO in 2001, growing of China GDP = 13 Trillion. The medium income of Chinese wages increased 8 times.
Same period of time, growing of US GDP = 11 Trillion. The medium income of US wages DECREASED.
Think about that. The two society basically have generated comparable wealth during similar period of time. One has distributed the wealth to benefit the vast majority of its people. Another has benefited only the privileges.
So shall we really blame our failure on China, or on the top 1% who have greedily taken American's wealth?

[studynotes]

Let’s blame Japan yesterday, blame China today, blame Vitenam tomorrow.

[MrThomas]

American dreams : to be YouTuber traveling all around the world..easy money easy life

China dreams : have their own company

[charttrakarn]

The top 5% controls 95% of wealth in the US. Who are you to blame when the distribution of wealth is so lopsided?

[ansonmao]

"You can't blame China for how the pie is being cut and distributed in the US ." Exactly !

[sandeepnegi]

There are 3 reason why every business choose China.
1. No unecessary protest.
2. Stable policy.
3. Advance and dedicated work force.

[sixthfloor]

I don't think you can blame a people for displaying smarter ideologies, plans, technologies and having great forward advancing goals. You can envy, be jealous and hate it but don't blame someone's greatness for your failures.