Malaysia Miracle

[Martin Hash]

Kuala Lumpur 1.JPG

Middle America seems downright parochial compared to parts of SE Asia. I've lived in NYC, Miami, Seattle & Los Angeles, and the reality is these places are cobbled together illusions, more Las Vegas than London. I wasn't really concerned about America's top-of-the-heap status until traveling through Malaysia. How could folks, who a generation ago grew rice using water buffalo, mature into the set of a Vin Diesel movie? How could their Infrastructure, automobiles, factories & neighborhoods all become modern marvels? And why can't States, cities even, in America do the same thing.

Penang 1.JPG

Where are these people getting their money? I suspect it has something to do with off-shoring & "Free" Trade. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to connect America's Middle Class stagnation to SE Asia's miraculous rise in status & opportunity. Seems like if someone ran on that issue they'd have a good shot at becoming president.

[Smitty-48]

Some guy buys a GT-R in Malaysia, therefore, trade is a zero sum game? Derp.

You don't even have free trade agreement with Malaysia and you never have had one, so what free trade are you even prattling on about?

Never mind the fact that the guy you just elected President says he is PRO-free trade and willing to sign bilateral free trade agreements all over the place, the only thing he says he is opposed to is multilateral deals, he has said that he will agreesively pursue bilateral agreements to make up the difference, so you actually voted for free trade not against.

[Martin Hash]

Some guy buys a GT-R in Malaysia, therefore, trade is a zero sum game? Derp.

You don't even have free trade agreement with Malaysia and you never have had one, so what free trade are you even prattling on about?

Dude, do you even have any idea how trade works? "Free" Trade agreements are just contrivances for the 1% to get all the money.
U.S. Trade with Malaysia

p.s. And look at those fucking Trade Deficits! Jesus Christ, all Malaysians should be driving GT-Rs.

[Smitty-48]

Trade deficit with NO free trade agreement, you tariff Malaysia, and yet the tariffs don't prevent a trade deficit, because they don't, and never have.

Just because you pull out of the TPP, that doesn't change the status quo of having NO free trade with Malaysia.

Your fucking trade deficits is because you consume 25% of the worlds goods and services and have the most valuable currency by a huge margin, it has nothing to do with free trade with Malaysia, because you don't have any free trade with Malaysia.

[Martin Hash]

Trade deficit with NO free trade agreement, you tariff Malaysia, and yet the tariffs don't prevent a trade deficit, because they don't, and never have.

Just because you pull out of the TPP, that doesn't change the status quo of having NO free trade with Malaysia.

I can tell I've got you when the circular logic starts.

Of course, trade is usually a good thing, and so is cocaine, but when it's bad, it's horrid.

p.s. Those numbers aren't even including the off-shoring to Malaysia.

[Smitty-48]

The Malaysian trade deficit is not offshoring, Malaysia's biggest exports, that which is making them richer, is crude oil, refined oil, and petroleum gas, so as usual, you have no idea what you're prattling on about. The amount of oil and gas they exported to the US, is almost exactly the trade deficit.

Exxon Mobil is running multiple oil and gas field in Malaysia, after Petronas, America is the biggest exporter from Malaysia, through your oil company.

[Martin Hash]

1. Electronic equipment: US$59.5 billion (29.8% of total exports)
Medical/technical equipment was the fastest-growing among the top 10 export categories, up 15.4% in value for the 5-year period starting in 2011.
Top 10 Exports

Because Malaysia naturally manufactures lots of electronics & medical equipment for its own needs.

"Given Malaysia’s population of 30.5 million people, its total $200 billion in 2015 exports translates to roughly $6,556 for every resident in that country."

[Smitty-48]

Number one importer of Malaysian electronics and manufactured goods? Not America; China.

$59 billion is their total worldwide exports, not their exports to the USA.

[Martin Hash]

As for off-shoring to Malaysia:
1. Intel
2. Western Digital
4. Dell
7. National Semiconductor
9. AMD

Top 10 U.S. Companies that Manufacture in Malaysia

So just about our entire microchip industry.

You know, fuck "Free" Trade & off-shoring.

[Smitty-48]

From the same website, Malaysia exports;

1. Singapore-$33 billion
2. China -$28 billion
3. Japan- $25 billion

4. USA $19 billion; only 8% of their total exports.