Jamess posted about what the leaked tapes reveal about Romney's attitude to his kids and children, but the part that intrigued me was his comments on China:
I'm very concerned about what the nation is gonna be like over the coming decade or two. And I really do. As I said in my remarks earlier, I see these two very different scenarios. One is as America really powering the world economy, with an extraordinary economy here, with China working with us, wanting to see stability in the world, and a very vibrant America, with freedom and prosperity for the great bulk of the American people. On the other hand, I really do see something like Europe. And I think that's the path we're on right now.
I think this is a very telling passage about Romney's values.
Note how in the quote above, Romney conflates America and China's pursuit of "freedom and prosperity" in a single breath. That's like conflating the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs as both proudly pursuing World Series glory. (Sorry, Cubs fans.)
But, more importantly isn't Romney's stump speech all about being more confrontational with China than President Obama has been thus far? Romney's campaign rhetoric is not only totally inaccurate, it also has some people worried he'll start a dangerous trade war with China.
"President Obama has spent 43 months failing to confront China's unfair trade practices," said Romney in a statement. "I will not wait until the last months of my presidency to stand up to China, or do so only when votes are at stake. From Day One, I will pursue a comprehensive strategy to confront China's unfair trade practices and ensure a level playing field where our businesses can compete and win."
Now, behind closed doors he's telling his swank One Percenter donors back in May he sees the future as working with China? Which is it?
Does he want to take China on or work with them?
Now, granted, from the Democratic world view, there's no inherent contradiction. We can and do work with our "enemies." We consider diplomacy, treaties and mutual agreements the cornerstone of foreign policy.
But from the Republican/Neo con/tea party perspective working with a rival is tantamount to treason. It's as bad as compromise. The only way to work with a rival is to tell them it's our way or the highway. Romney is sounding awfully soft.
Ultimately America will be tasked with balancing a recognition of China's nascent economic power with what is in America's interests. And by America, I mean 100 percent of America, not just the corporate puppet masters.
It is clear in the past Romney favored America having unfettered access China's cheap labor and China's cheaply produced goods flooding America's marketplace.
In previous snippets he is heard excitedly telling of his great expedition on behalf of Bain to purchase a factory in China. He marvels at conditions that most people would find ghastly. Workers sleeping on bunk beds, 12 in a room, in the company's dormitory, locked in virtual prison with guards and barbed wire fence.
In the original quote above, Romney juxtaposes what he sees a China's success as the evil and horribleness of Europe.
But the average European's standard of living was ranked in 2011 by the United Nations as being "very high" while China's is ranked two classifications lower at "medium." The vast majority of European countries rank in the top 20 or 30 in the world on the Human Development Index, indicating a high standard of living. China is ranked 101.
Human Development Index map, a measurement of relative standard of living in the globe. (
United Nations)
But Romney warns us we're headed for being like Europe. Oh no! How awful, with its universal health care, and good schools and public transportation, and bargain baguettes.
Of course some European economies are facing challenges right now, just they have many times in the past. This foreboding is Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine rearing its head again; use the fear of the immediate problem, probably a passing one, to entirely dismantle the system. We hit a snag, let's call the whole thing off! It is the defeatism that is at the core of the Republican message these days, that Europe and the United States are empires in decline, all we can do is have a fire sale now.
Mitt has seen how the average employed person in China lives, and thinks it marvelous. And as a numbers guy he's well-aware the average hourly pay in China is 80 cents an hour.
So, the question is begged, who is the Chinese economic model benefiting? Demonstrably not most of the people in China. But Romney holds it up as some sort of ideal the United States should be shooting for.
Romney, and the entire right wing, by writing off the European economy (like the 47 percent) are ignoring the European economy is working for a lot of people. Certainly far more people than are currently benefiting from the Chinese economy.
And by people I mean the average citizen. The commoners as Mitt might say.
But the metric of standard of living for the commoner isn't even a consideration for Romney. First of all, obviously the United Nations is not a credible source to make such a judgment, so enamored of things like scientific research and studying as they are. Who are they to say the average European enjoys a better standard of living than the average Chinese person? The Chinese look happy when Mitt tours the factory.
Secondly, this is more evidence it just never crosses Romney's mind exactly HOW the unwashed masses live. It doesn't occur to him that super-fantastic Chinese factory where people sleep 12 in a room shouldn't be a model for the 21st century economy of America.
In truth, Romney really sees the fault as laying in Americans who aren't as grateful as the Chinese to take jobs for 80 cents an hour. You know, those layabout 47 percenters who are dragging America down making it harder for people like Romney to collect their hundreds of millions of dollars in year end profits by daring to demand benefits and living wages!
Team Obama smartly does see the opening here, telling a crowd of supporters in Cincinnati, "
We don't need folks who during election time suddenly are worrying about trade practices, but before the election are taking advantage of unfair trading practices."
And of course has hit Romney in several ad spots.
I'm not really a fan of politically demonizing China, or anyone for that matter.
And I'm not thrilled with the Democratic agenda on international trade either. I think they could certainly be more aggressive about standing up for the American working class' interests (the decimation of our manufacturing base should make that self evident, right?). But I guess we know where their reticent there is coming from.
But that said, our country's leader will have to learn to manage the inevitable leveling effect participating in a global economy will have. And they will have to advocate on behalf of the American standard of living. And be prepared to defend it as it is today (or was, decades ago). They'll have to dismiss the Republican/corporatist frame that the problem is Americans are too spoiled to accept less.
The president will be tasked with finding a way to influence the leveling effect such that it favors raising the Chinese standard of living more than it favors forcing American workers to match the current standard of living in China.
Romney ain't that guy. No way in a million years is he even going to consider what effect global economic policies have on the average factory worker in America.
We know the metric he will use to determine his trade positions: Will it help the corporations? Will it help their bottom line on the stock market? What do his friends at the $50,000-a-plate dinners want?
That is exactly why he traveled to China to purchase that "small appliance" factory. To pink-slip Americans and fatten Bain's bottom line by employing labor that makes 80 cents an hour.
It defies all reason to imagine he's now suddenly seen the light and going to prioritize protecting paychecks and living standards of working Americans. That isn't what he's ever done and that isn't who he is.
And even Romney did have the desire to broker the U.S. to a mutually beneficial trade relationship with China, as is obvious by the #RomneyShambles tour of Europe, he has none of the skills or finesse required to bring it to fruition.