China fears unrest – with good reason.

Chinese riot cops.

As much as I dislike China, more specifically the Chinese government, I have to admit they’ve been pretty consistent and candid about one fact:  They have to keep GDP growth at at least 8% or risk facing wide-spread social disorder.

In an article on the McClatchy News site, Tom Lasseter notes the unease Chinese officials and other observers are feeling:

 

Lots of export factories will be shut down, and a lot of migrant workers will lose their jobs,” said Ma Yang, the director of a Beijing-based migrant workers advocacy group called On Action.   Ma paused and considered his words: “If the government does not provide assistance to help them through this economic transition, it will create a lot of social problems.”

 

As a side note, this weekend I was in an REI store (not by my choice) and I happened to notice that all of the products on offer were made in China.  ALL of them.  At last, I found a flashlight made in the good ol’ USA, albeit with a caveat attached:  “Some” of the parts “might” be imported.  SIGH!