Econ Cha-Cha Opponents Have No Choice Because Foreigners "Unfairly" Own the Means to Produce Equipment?
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| Bulatlat |
In 2022, I wrote an article about anti-capitalists having no choice because the capitalists hold the means of production. Recently, I've been raising the issue, "Are you sure your gadgets are all imported?" Instead of falling into silence, they throw the mockery, "Oh no! Not the gadgets question again!" They would go as far as to say, "We have no choice but to use imported equipment because foreigners own the means to produce foreign equipment!" Oh, that's a very brutally honest answer!
They might say that buying imported equipment isn't exploitative. Then I say, "If you can have a MacPRO and an iPhone, why don't we let Apple do more than open Apple stores. Why not let Apple have a factory in the Philippines?" They might shout out, "You're letting foreigners do business here, run away with the profit, and leave us poor? Only they will get rich (read rebuttal here)!" They'd throw in as many childish insults, hoping I'd get mad, and when I lost my cool, they'd play the poor innocent victim. I could explain that if Apple produces its goods in the Philippines--buying an iPhone would be cheaper because of lower costs. They'll still argue that MNCs are invaders (read rebuttal here). They'd say they have no choice but to use the shiny new iPhone (as if there aren't other alternative brands and nobody is forcing them to buy it) to tell people that MNCs are exploitative, that they'd run off with the profit, enslave Filipinos, and that economic charter change means selling the Philippines to foreigners.
The logic fails on many levels. Buying these imported equipment from MNCs empowers the people they hate. It's often allegedly said by Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin (who ironically introduced the New Economic Policy) that the last capitalist they'd hang is the one who sells them the rope. However, Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP) which introduced a state-controlled free market, which may have been the basis for Doi Moi in Vietnam. Today, Vietnam uses Doi Moi where the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) attracts FDIs. Why would they buy equipment from the one whom they intend to hang? Shouldn't they just steal their equipment or make their own equipment? This makes you wonder if opponents of FDI have their own agenda? Just think that Atty. Teodoro A. CasiƱo was last seen with an iPhone. Rosario Guzman uses a MacPRO laptop. If I were leading a revolution--why would I buy equipment from the same person I hate? I would rather steal the equipment or make my own equipment!
One must ask, "Why did they purchase an iPhone and a MacPRO?" If they participate in capitalism simply to survive--they need to answer that. They have some choices between the more affordable models and the luxury brands from Apple. If I were them, I'd preferably purchase any non-luxury phone and laptop over Apple. I might purchase Huawei, Samsung, Sony, or Xiaomi laptops and phones instead of Apple. They must answer if Apple ever forced them to buy Apple products when there are more affordable brand choices. In capitalism, they have a choice between Apple and other non-luxury brands.
This statement may have caused Nguyen Duy Cong aka Doi Muoi (who died in 2018) and Deng Xiaoping to turn things around. Maybe, one day Do Muoi and Deng found out, "Shoot! We can't keep up with this? Why not invite the manufacturers of imported equipment to manufacture in our country instead?" Deng went to the USA and said, "China is now open for business." Do Muoi introduced various reforms. It's because they've had enough of the contradiction. True, China and Vietnam still operate under a Communist form of government. However, their progress under the two great leaders was because of pragmatism. Doi Moi reforms and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics were clever economic plans, despite being set by Communist governments. They did the right thing by inviting those foreigners who made the equipment into the country.
The results of letting foreigners who own the means to produce equipment, invest in one's country became better. It's because FDIs are still regulated by the state even if they don't need a local partner. For Vietnam, there's a more flexible joint venture in some areas such as agriculture where an investor can start with 30% and own more than 50% of the capital - as long as it teamed up with a state enterprise. Vietnam allows other FDIs to own 100% of their shares in most industries. That makes me ask the question of when will opponents of economic charter change see their own hypocrisy? Maybe not if all they care about is feeding their ego.