4 ms·
> Despite Collison’s example, most CEOs probably won’t take that risk on their own; they will be too afraid of being undercut by less scrupulous competitors who
by creato 6y ago
> Despite Collison’s example, most CEOs probably won’t take that risk on their own; they will be too afraid of being undercut by less scrupulous competitors who retain their access to China’s markets and manufacturing prowess. So on this Fourth of July, it falls to the American public...
This is the weakness of American individualism. Some form of organization is necessary to achieve anything meaningful here. This is a job for regulation/trade policy. Attempting to shame individual companies or "the public" is at best pointless, and at worst a distraction from a real solution.
There's a pretty funny example here from the tech world: web search, google, and microsoft. What has been achieved by google abandoning the Chinese search market? It sure as hell isn't respect for that decision. Far more vitriol (even at the level of US congress) has been directed at google over this than microsoft, who operate bing in China!
Don't get me wrong, google deserved the criticism over dragonfly. But where is the outrage over microsoft operating bing under China's censorship policies? This is why organization/regulation is required: people are really bad at maintaining a coherent position even in the absence of market pressures, which are massive in the case of trade with China.
- anon5774787557 6y ago“Out of our regard to them we gave them Bing, two Blankets and an Handkerchief out of the Small Pox Hospital. I hope it will have the desired effect.” — William Trent, William Trent's Journal at Fort Pitt
- systemvoltage 6y ago2017 - I remember when Trump had initiated the trade war, it was such a taboo to support it. I am not a fan of trump but the progressives in the Silicon Valley would abandon me in a mob mentality god forbid if I said something I like about Trump. I had pretty unpleasant pushbacks during lunch breaks and then I stopped discussing things all together. Living here in the valley, I wonder what’s the difference between aggressively progressive places and aggressively conservative places like a small town in Arkansas? To me, they are both intolerant of opposing views, don't think for themselves and subscribe to extremely strong stances. Being a centrist, I feel like I am exiled in this country by all sides. The stronger one's view, the more burden is on them to prove their view with data, successive chain of logic and reasoning. I am constantly wary of my own views because either circumstances change, my understanding improves or new data is available. This is the HN way.
- crunchyfrog 6y agoTrump's trade war was an attempt to pressure China to reduce the trade deficit and help him in the 2020 election. It had absolutely nothing to do with human rights. If anything, Trump admires dictators who violate the human rights of their citizens. There absolutely nothing logical about supporting a policy that superficially looks like a policy you support but has entirely different goals.
- systemvoltage 6y agoWho's talking about human rights? I was talking about economics of trade, which is what this article is about. > Trump's trade war was an attempt to pressure China to reduce the trade deficit and help him in the 2020 election. Yes, I support this view, although I don't support his re-election. > If anything, Trump admires dictators who violate the human rights of their citizens. Agreed, this was absolutely reprehensible and don't forget Russia. I honestly have no energy to debate anymore. And this is not something I want to get into right now, the point was about being tolerant to other's views and try to understand why they think that way.
- refurb 6y agoIndeed. The tactics and intolerance for different opinions is pretty similar on both ends of the political spectrum. I think the US would make a huge leap forward if different political opinions we're viewed with "I disagree with you" versus "your beliefs mean youre a bad person".
- 11thEarlOfMar 6y agoIt was inconceivable to me even one year ago that American citizens could be beaten in public for supporting the president. This is not rational in any explanation.
- 11thEarlOfMar 6y agoDownvoters: describe your rational explanation for beating an American citizen in public because they support the president.
- mr_toad 6y agoSanctions will hurt factory workers and their families. And they’ll hurt US consumers. But Xi will still be grinning. If you really want to give the finger to China, dispense with the one China policy.
- rdlecler1 6y agoCollision could have looked at it very mathematically. It’s unlikely they would ultimately succeed in China, but if they take a stand, I’m willing to bet they win over more customers and employers. Call this a cynical view but if the majority of their revenue was from China I don’t think we would have seen that comment.
- lefstathiou 6y agoSaid differently, it doesn’t take courage to take a stand on a position that costs you (your employees and their families) nothing.