A few of our stories and columns are now in front of the paywall. We at The Chief-Leader remain committed to independent reporting on labor and civil service. It's been our mission since 1897. You can have a hand in ensuring that our reporting remains relevant in the decades to come. Consider supporting The Chief, which you can do for as little as $3.20 a month.
To the editor:
One thing that President Donald Trump can be expected to continue ignoring is the role that corporate greed plays in our trade deficit. It's easy for him to blame China.
But white American corporate executives have their products made there and in other foreign countries because it's cheaper than the cost of having them made by American workers. Most American workers are underpaid. But the foreign workers who make products for American companies are underpaid even more.
Richard Warren
9 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
reenjoe
Everyone seems to have amnesia regarding the role the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and corporate CEO's had in shipping American jobs out of the country. Today's narrative is that evil China stole U.S. intellectual property through hacking and other forms of espionage, which is partially true, but ignored is the fact that greedy American businessmen willingly moved their manufacturing processes and expertise to places like China. CEO's exploited tax loopholes, cheap foreign labor and lax environmental rules with one goal in mind - maximize profits, stock prices and dividends.
I have a home full of American-branded products with Made in China labels from companies like La-Z-Boy, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Whirlpool, Taylormade, Callaway, etc. China didn't steal the know-how from those companies, the decision makers in those firms GAVE IT TO THEM.
Tuesday, April 22 Report this
JDonne
"We must learn to live together as brothers, or perish together as fools."
-Martin Luther King Jr.-
Your letter is inconsistent and biased. You assert that President Trump denies the substantial role of large corporations in causing the trade deficit, and that it's easy for Trump to blame China for the trade-deficits. You criticize “white American business leaders” for outsourcing jobs to countries with lower wages. Apparently you are ignorant of the fact that Asian Americans are the most represented non-white CEOs, holding 55% of CEO positions at Fortune 500 and S&P companies in 2024, compared to only 11% for African Americans. The trade deficit is primarily driven by China and a coalition of countries engaging in mutually exploitative trade practices. This underscores human greed and a desire for power that affects “people of all stripes.”
"Human greed knows no limits."
-Andzej Sapkowski-
Tuesday, April 22 Report this
Admin
J. Donne says Asian-Americans are 55% of NON-WHITE CEOs in Fortune 500 Companies. But the majority of CEOs are still white. The old saying goes: There are lies, damn lies and statistics.
Wednesday, April 23 Report this
reenjoe
@Admin,
No real surprise in JDonne manipulating data. In separate posts, he/she claimed:
1. Trump won a majority of the popular vote (which he didn't) by only counting Trump and Harris votes and excluding all votes for third party and write-in candidates
2. used a source for the cost of immigration, the Center For Immigration Studies, that has been discredited by every factchecking organization - Politifact, MediaBias, Snopes, Factcheck, etc.
3. denied the fact that the GOP has suppressed the federal minimum wage ($7.25) for 15 years, so that its' at the lowest inflation-adjusted level since 1956. He tried using NY's minimum wage as proof. Of course, Democrats raised the min. wage in NY with no GOP support and 20 GOP controlled states use the federal min. FYI, $7.25 today would have been 62 cents in 1956 - the '56 min. was $1.00.
I could go on, by why?
Wednesday, April 23 Report this
wpeakes
@JDonne
Richard Warren's comment may be uncomfortable, but it's factually correct if you take into account the history of business and industry in this country that over time has resulted in the current racial/ethnic make-up of the majority of today's corporate governance. It's also absolutely correct that greedy corporate executives are 100% responsible for today's trade deficit with China and many other countries around the world. Many years ago, lots of manufacturing jobs were moved from the Northeast to the South and Midwest to, among other things, save on labor costs and when that profit level topped out, those jobs were then moved to Mexico and from there to China and the Middle East. Each move represented lowered labor and production costs that were used to increase corporate profits. One result is that we don't make much of anything here in the U.S. anymore and we created the trade deficit ourselves as consumers and assemblers-only instead of manufacturers...but I digress. As much as you'd like to get into the minutiae of the ethnicities of today's CEO's, none of that will change the impact over time of profits over people in our current economy; Richard Warren is right.
Wednesday, April 23 Report this
JDonne
Correction: Despite comprising a smaller percentage of the U.S. population compared to African Americans or Hispanics, the most represented “non-white” U.S. CEOs are of Asian backgrounds. In 2024, they held 55 percent of CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies, while Asian Americans made up only 11 percent of CEOs at the time.
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald J. Trump secured an overwhelming victory, receiving 312 electoral votes compared to Kamala Harris’s 226. Trump won 31 states, while Harris only managed to win 15 states. This disparity is the primary reason Donald J. Trump is currently the President, and Kamala Harris is of no consequence.s.
(“I have presented my case; accept the facts and cease your emotional outbursts.”)
Thursday, April 24 Report this
JDonne
Why is it so difficult to accept that Trump won the 2024 presidential election? I accepted Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, even though it was controversial. Let’s acknowledge that facts can and do get manipulated to some extent, especially in today’s political climate. Personally, neither political party aligns with my political values or ethics. I consider myself an independent voter. In my heart, I am an FDR Democrat.
Thursday, April 24 Report this
wpeakes
@JDonne
If your latest posts were in response to my comment, I can only ask that you re-read all the comments again. There is nothing to suggest that anyone doesn't accept the 2024 election results; it is what it is. However, in my experience it's typical for Trump supporters to fling accusations of election denial when they run out of cogent arguments to support their assertions. It's a comfortable place they usually fall back on and although I don't know if you support him or not, your use of this trope is revealing in and of itself.
As for the issue at hand, I stand by my agreement with Richard Warren's original comment. It may be uncomfortable, but I understand the context he is trying to convey based on the history of business and industry in this country.
And to repeat your closing: (“I have presented my case; accept the facts and cease your emotional outbursts.”)
Thursday, April 24 Report this
JDonne
This farcical letter blames corporate greed for our trade deficit. China plays by the rules; give me a break! The “white” corporate executive remark is a "red flag." White" executives adhere to the same rulebook as executives of "all stripes" (profit and loss statements (P&L)). If a company’s P&L is filled with red ink, as Trump would say, you’re fired! The letter was highly edited and pieced together; the letter is what it is.
We’ve both shared our opinions, for what it’s worth!
Thursday, April 24 Report this