by B. R. GOWANI
US consumers are victims of corporate scams and extreme profits
legislatures don’t act much; they get bribes called campaign contributions
by overcharging and hidden fees, normal services now have extra charges
as for meals, choosing seat, checked baggage, etc. in airlines
checked baggage used to be part of the bought ticket
in 2023, airlines charged over $7 billion for checked baggage
(worldwide, US & other airlines charged $33.3 billion in 2023)
(Southwest Airlines, and globally Emirates & Air China are exceptions)
the baggage fee was to save taxes on 7.5% airlines pay to the US govt.
American Airlines has increased $30 per bag to $40; others will follow suit
(in 2010, Irish Ryanair wanted to charge customers for using toilet
but in the wake of heavy criticism, it had to rescind the idea)
in the US, and now globally, corporations have liberty to rip-off customers
Amazon too indulges in “inaccurate list prices” but doesn’t suffer much
consumer advocate Harvey Rosenfield
“People know that the civil justice system is broken.” “In their daily pocketbook struggles they’re completely vulnerable. Most Americans have no rights or remedies.”
… and they have no time or means to fight giant corporations –
work, travel, children, grocery, … suck up a person’s energy & time
is President Biden trying to make life any easier for the customers?
nope …
6/11/2019: presidential candidate Biden criticized President Donald Trump
“Trump doesn’t get the basics. He thinks his tariffs are being paid by China. Any freshman econ student could tell you that the American people are paying his tariffs.”
China retaliated with its own set of tariffs which affected the US exporters
US collects tariff but it is customers who are paying – through high prices
once in power, Biden not only kept Trump’s tariffs but is now levying more
Chinese automaker BYD’s Seagull (EV) has a price tag of about $12,000
a smaller version of BYD’s (Build Your Dream) Seagull is under $ 10,000
Bill Russo, the Automobility Ltd. consultancy founder in Shanghai said:
“The Western markets did not democratize EVs. They gentrified EVs.” “And when you gentrify, you limit the size of the market. China is all about democratizing EVs, and that’s what will ultimately lead Chinese companies to be successful as they go global.”
Volvo’s Asia-Pacific chief Xiaolin Yuan put it wisely:
“We believe that technology should be measured by its utility, not just its novelty.”
Biden imposed 100% tariff on Chinese EVs – electric vehicles
Trump, running for president again, proposed 100% tariff in March 2024
there are two reasons: to protect fat US carmakers & to hinder China’s rise
Dylan Matthews, writing in Vox, has nailed it when he writes:
“Biden is acting like he hates the Chinese more than he likes the climate.”
he further says,
“The Chinese EV case is a good demonstration that however motivated the Biden administration might be by climate concerns, it is much more motivated by a desire to help American automakers, to win Michigan’s electoral votes this November, and to escalate a brewing cold war against China.
“It has proven shockingly willing to sabotage its own climate policy if it gets to stick it to the Chinese in the process.”
damn be the US consumer who will now not have access to cheap cars
about 75% people use cars for work due to poor public transport system
car prices are up 40% since 1991, repair prices have shot up twofold
David P. Goldman agrees with Trump about Chinese investing in US
Trump said:
“If they want to build a plant in Michigan, in Ohio, in South Carolina, they can, using American workers, they can. They can’t send Chinese workers over here, which they sometimes do. But if they want to do that, we’re welcome, right?”
this, Goldman says, will raise the standard of living for the working families
writer Han Feizi says
“If you’ve never experienced 300 Mbps download speeds, you won’t question AT&T marketing 100 Mbps as 5G. If every student goes $40,000 into debt to pay for college, it’s not considered a burden on America’s young.”
the tragedy of US consumers:
they’ve been given things without their choice and
pay a higher price for a lesser product than the Chinese
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com