In the name of thousands of cats, PLEASE BOYCOTT THE BEJING OLYMPICS!!

[Jessika]

Again I ask why make this boycott of the olympics and import tons of stuff from China? Does that make sense, my coffee cup, my phone, my picture frame, all things within my reach on my desk are made in china but everyone decides to put a dark cloud over the olympics...it makes no sense at all to me.

I agree 100%. If you want to really "hit China where it counts", boycott any and all products in China. YES this will be hard to do, and more expensive, but not only will you be hurting their government you will also be promoting your own economy by buying products made in your own country

[Lady's Human]

It's impossible to boycott all products made in country "x". The computer you go online with may be made in the USA (Not bloody likely, except for some really high end machines) but even if it has a US flag on it, there are inevitably parts sourced from other countries inside.

Buy a GM car and buy American?

GM makes engines for their midrange SUV's in China.

Ford has various cast iron assemblies made in China, as do most automakers.

The LCD on your "Made in China" laptop? Highly likely that the glass for that display came from upstate NY, as the biggest producer of glass for LCD's is Corning, Inc.

If and product states that it's made in the USA from domestics parts, labor and materials, I'm more likely to think "Prove it" than buy it.

The reason the Olympics draw the protests is that they are a high profile event internationally, with 24/7 television coverage.

[Jessika]

I didn't say it would be easy not to; in fact I even said it would be hard and pretty expensive. But believe it or not there ARE some companies based solely out of the US. Buy from and support those companies /shrug Of course you won't have the convenience of availability or cheaper prices, but if you're really against China I think boycotting the olympics is the wrong way to do it, because once the olympics are done do you think they're going to care? Do something more long-term

[Lady's Human]

Companies based solely out of the US? Absolutely.

HOWEVER.....

Do we count products made in the US from foreign parts as US made? What about products made in Malaysia from US materials and parts? Boycott either one and the US job market suffers as a result.

Where do they get their raw materials?

source chips? (Hitachi and Samsung control most of the memory chip production)

subassemblies?

Tracing where what comes from becomes a near impossibility.

Embarrassing China during the Olympics brings many, many ugly things into the daylight, and will cause them to lose face. The Free Tibet movement has been ongoing for years, but has gotten more attention lately because of the noise about the olympics.

[Jessika]

Embarrassing China during the Olympics brings many, many ugly things into the daylight, and will cause them to lose face. The Free Tibet movement has been ongoing for years, but has gotten more attention lately because of the noise about the olympics.

OK Now we're getting to something that I do agree with. Bringing things to light DURING the olympics... OK that is another right way to go. Not necessarily boycotting the olympics but using the media coverage to shed light on important issues. This I do agree with

[RICHARD]

Projecting into the future?

What is going to happen when a bunch of protestors show up at a venue?
Outside the Olympic village?
In front of the media centers at the different venues?
In Tianneman Square?

That is where the rubber will meet the road.

You'll have international networks, the protestors and tons of tourists....all armed with the latest video and cell phones.

That is going to be an interesting two weeks. How will the Chinese gov't. react?

Beating the crap outta citizens in front of the world ain't a good idea!
If they let the demonstrators march, there may be heck to pay afterwards.
The world wide coverage lends some sort of protection for them after, but you can never tell with that country.

It's a disaster no matter for China no matter what. The only question is how will the Chinese citizens suffer in the aftermath?

[caseysmom]

It's impossible to boycott all products made in country "x". The computer you go online with may be made in the USA (Not bloody likely, except for some really high end machines) but even if it has a US flag on it, there are inevitably parts sourced from other countries inside.

Buy a GM car and buy American?

GM makes engines for their midrange SUV's in China.

Ford has various cast iron assemblies made in China, as do most automakers.

The LCD on your "Made in China" laptop? Highly likely that the glass for that display came from upstate NY, as the biggest producer of glass for LCD's is Corning, Inc.

If and product states that it's made in the USA from domestics parts, labor and materials, I'm more likely to think "Prove it" than buy it.

The reason the Olympics draw the protests is that they are a high profile event internationally, with 24/7 television coverage.

The Chinese own so many United States government securities that they could bankrupt the US if they called them in, they have us by the balls basically. Why doesn't anyone protest that?

[moosmom]

Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Bejing a COMMUNIST country???? WHY are we holding the UNITED STATES SUMMER OLYMPICS in a communist country?

[jackie]

Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Bejing a COMMUNIST country???? WHY are we holding the UNITED STATES SUMMER OLYMPICS in a communist country?

Beijing is a city, not a country.

It is not the UNITED STATES SUMMER OLYMPICS, The US do not own the Olympics, it is an international event. The host cities are elected by the International Olympic Committee.

[caseysmom]

Beijing is a city, not a country.

It is not the UNITED STATES SUMMER OLYMPICS, The US do not own the Olympics, it is an international event. The host cities are elected by the International Olympic Committee.

My thoughts exactly! This is an international event, nothing american about it!

[Vela]

Like the two above, the Olympics has never been a US event....it's a worldwide event and that's the reason it's held in many different countries....=x