A race to the bottom?

U.S. gets rebuffed at divided summit

The G-20 is fighting over who can devalue their currency; the timing of the meeting is awkward for the U.S. because the Fed just pumped an extra $600 billion into the U.S. economy.

China, Germany and other countries were ticked because that essentially devalues the dollar and puts other countries' currencies at a disadvantage in global trade.

Oh, and wasn't it just last month that the U.S. was spitting at China for doing roughly the exact same thing? Namely, artificially stifling inflation to keep exports flowing.

Refresher: A lower-value currency means other countries can import cheaper goods. What's to prevent a race to the bottom? Something to look into...

Chinese are buying GM; should I buy too?

Now that I'm starting to understand the blogosphere, I am starting a narrative of the stuff I find that doesn't fit into my little enviro news niche.

A great excuse to spruce up the old blog, which I see I haven't updated since 2006. I'm also thinking it might help me learn the art of quick and dirty posting. Just get it out there. NOW!

Chinese plan to buy stake in GM

So, after the US spent $50 billion in tax dollars to resuscitate General Motors, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Asian investors could now buy a big share of the company when it goes public next week.

Is this fair? (and should I buy in?) Last I checked the taxpayers got their money back, but at the same time it's unnerving to see major global economic players swoop in to make a profit off a company that has become symbolic of the fragile state of the American manufacturing sector.

Just one of many glimpses into new global players moving in on Western companies, WSJ reports. See also: China Investment Corp taking 9.9% stake in Morgan Stanley in 2007.