Spehro Pefhany wrote:

On 21 Nov 2003 10:31:08 -0800, the renowned
(steve) wrote:

Gunner wrote in message So if it were allowed to float free, a Chinese machinist would have to
be paid the equivalent of $1.30 an hour instead of $1.00 an hour to
make the same amount he is now making. That's still far below the
$15 an hour a US machinist demands.

Gary

But what is the buying power of that $1.00 as opposed to the US
machinists $15?

Gunner

Well that's a good point that never seems to get addressed, food, for
instance, in the US cost more then anywhere else in the world except
the artic, I suppose. You go to a typical store in the US and its
$3/pound for lousy tomatoes or almost a dollar each for those big
apples or $4 for a box of cold cereal that has 12 cents worth of
corn/sugar in it. $1/hour isn't that bad when you can buy a bushel of
apples for 32 cents.

I think basic food is pretty cheap in the US and Canada. Many people
can afford to pay a lot for "premium" products so you get yer perfect
unblemished hothou$e tomatoes, beatifully packaged basmati rice,


Those hothouse things are not tomatoes. They are a styrofoam facsimile with some sort of acidic liquid added, along with some
red dye. They do not belong in a food store, but rather someplace that gag gifts are sold.

michael



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany