Comment Re:It's our arrogance is why others hate us. (Score 1) 874
We have the biggest trade deficit of any country in the world. Sorry to interrupt your rant with facts...
True, if you look at the value of goods imported/exported. However, that is not what matters: the value chain makes it interesting. In "old times", importing goods meant profits gained in another country, and loss of money in the importing one. Today, profits/money/capital travel also - if the foreign low wage manufacturing site is owned or controlled domestically, the profits flow back (and they are higher: low wages, low environment protection costs...). And that's the point: The US has the trade deficit, because its corporations manufacture seemingly domestic goods outside the US, for lower manufacturing costs, and "import" them => a "trade deficit" resulting from exploitation.
And regarding McDonalds, it's a franchise, so when a McDonalds exists in another country it's generally because locals own it and because locals eat there.
McDonalds is not a franchise. It offers the franchise model, but at least outside the US there are more McDonalds corporate owned than franchised. And even franchised: what difference does it make? The profits are even guaranteed for the McDonalds corpartion then, even if they are less, and guess where they end up?
True, if you look at the value of goods imported/exported. However, that is not what matters: the value chain makes it interesting. In "old times", importing goods meant profits gained in another country, and loss of money in the importing one. Today, profits/money/capital travel also - if the foreign low wage manufacturing site is owned or controlled domestically, the profits flow back (and they are higher: low wages, low environment protection costs...). And that's the point: The US has the trade deficit, because its corporations manufacture seemingly domestic goods outside the US, for lower manufacturing costs, and "import" them => a "trade deficit" resulting from exploitation.
And regarding McDonalds, it's a franchise, so when a McDonalds exists in another country it's generally because locals own it and because locals eat there.
McDonalds is not a franchise. It offers the franchise model, but at least outside the US there are more McDonalds corporate owned than franchised. And even franchised: what difference does it make? The profits are even guaranteed for the McDonalds corpartion then, even if they are less, and guess where they end up?
