August. 30 (W), 2023 Randomly picked social events videos: Water-Fish-Salt, Sexual Trades in the Politburo, and Politics

      Unofficial alternative media/小道消息:             

                            1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tObltPqR2q0

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvPTsnMbceQ

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqHKg6qpvmE

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvXsiWu8KYA

Aug. 31 (Th), 2023 Being humble 謙遜

 

Aug. 31 (Th), 2023 豬 與 虎 ( Pigs and Tigers)

Aug. 28 (M), 2023 Cultural Capital/Social Reproduction

今天, 偶然發現一個令我訝異的視頻. 台灣有人用有趣的科普方式, 從事與我教的社會學中的階層階級化的理論與實際 (social stratification, social class and global stratification ): 社會學中最重要的成份之一, 有相互呼應的效果.  Today,  I browsed through some youtube sites, an unusual video appearing on a non-academic channel,  probing into the Social Reproduction in Taiwan , that, interested me very much, for it touched on the core ingredients of sociology.
 
由於離開臺灣有一段日子, 並且個人所教的學院, 不具有專門研究的部門, 也不怎了解臺灣的社會學教學相關單位, 對臺灣社會階層化的教研進展狀況, 所以, 才會有對所發現的視頻, 備感親切與驚喜.  Due to having left Taiwan for a while, and the college that I served, mainly focusing on teaching. Research part, is up to individual instructor's interest and time. I found myself quite unfamiliar with the research progress relating to the social stratification in Taiwan. Thus, this discovered video quite opened my eyes.

社會階層化理論中的課題, 著重在不同社會的階層化模式 (caste system/種姓制度, class system/階級社會, and the mixed system/estate system/混合型社會,), 和它們的正 , 反, 潛在功能, 與衝突論, 以及形象互動論等的分析. 階層化涵蓋幾個重要概念, 例如, 文化資本財/社會階級複製 (cultural capital - including, mainly, both visible-n-invisible, positive-n-negative:  financial capital, social capital, and psychological/emotional capital / social reproduction,) 生命的機運 (life chances,) 社會流動 (social mobility: horizontal-n-vertical social mobility, intergenerational-n-intragenerational social mobility, and structural social mobility,)  唯能主義的迷思 (the myth of meritocracy,) 社會階級的產生與定義 (social class,)  以國際階層化 (global stratification,) 的來龍去脈與理論 (colonialism, neo-colonialism, multinational corporations, modernization theory, and dependency theory) 現象等等, 運用微觀與巨觀的角度, 使學生了解階層化的結構與功能, 以及可能的轉變, 也提供給決策者, 有關社會導進的研究成果與相關訊息.

每當教到這三章為一個單元的時候, 腦中總是浮現小時候的原生家庭, 社會狀況, 文化傳統氛圍, 與息息相關國際局勢, 倍感親切有趣, 教起來特別有勁, 也頗受學生的歡迎. Each semester, when I taught this unit of stratification, it always took me back to the memory of the society where I grew up : the family of origin, the social ambience,  the cultural milieu, and the relating geo-political condition hanging around Taiwan. It connected to my heart tightly. This closeness made me teach in a more dynamic, interesting ways, and students showed no less enthusiasm in learning than that of my teaching.

以下是本篇標題兩個詞彙的簡要定義: (其他相關用語與理論的界定, 會在下面上課時用的PowerPoint 裡面出現). The following slide was about the general definition of the two major terms shown on the title.  The relevant sociological concepts, terms, and theories, will be introduced in the following  PowerPoint used in the classroom).

A. Cultural Capital: including both visible and invisible financial capital, social capital, psychological /emotional capital. Can be positive or negative capital. 

B. Social reproduction refers to pass on of social inequality across generations. The upper class has more advantages than those of lower social classes, which provides various type of resources, opportunities and privileges to get ahead. The opposite is true for lower classes, where with less money, there are fewer resources.

Here is the video I found today on youtube channel. 以下就是今天在網上發現的視頻:

 
以下是這個單元上課的教學輔助工具. 主要是根據 Dr. Macionis 的教材, 加上視頻, 以及視覺設計與改編 and converted into a video 以方便讀者參考 (有些統計資料需更新). The following is a part of teaching materials mentioned above on the Social Stratification topic:

The following video is an introduction to social stratification (This is an old version).

The following is "Social Class, 1957" - a classic video relevant to this Unit learning.

Part One

Class 1957  Part Two:

The British version of a longitudinal study on Social mobility

Social class intersects with race and gender

                                       A short version of  social mobility:

                            

由於今天的發現, 也使我聯想到過去所寫相關的一些看法 (尤其是用通俗話與故事化的方式來表達, 是件相當有趣的事,) 發表於我的部落格. 挑出幾篇, 貼於下面, 提供參考. 敬請不另賜教. 謝謝.
When watching the video found today, reminded me of some articles or posters that I designed or wrote to enhance teaching and learning, published on my blog http://ci8395.blogspot.com. I selected some, attached below. Welcome input. Thanks.

1. Poster style:

The double whammy of gender stratification in the bottom social class
(The intersection of gender and class)

2. Short stories/non-academic writing relevant to social class

第二部分是用社會寫實故事, 或短篇文章, 來淺解社會階層化議題:

Jan, 20 (Th), 2022 The snail without shell  (有巢氏, 你住在哪)？https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2022/01/jan-20-th-2022-politico-melodramas.html

Oct. 10 (Sn), 2021  A literate butcher (北大屠夫 )   with a sociological perspective
https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2021/10/oct-10-sn-2021-literate-butcher.html

Aug. 9 (M), 2021 Shadows of Gold (追金)
https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2021/08/aug-9-m-2021-identification-defense.html

May 6 (W), 2021  Implicated privileges
https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2021/05/may-6-w-2021-implicated-privileges-and.html

Nov. 22 (F), 2019 Canine, Feline, and Social Class (貓貓狗狗, 也被階層化了…)
https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2019/11/nov-22-f-2019-feline-and-social-class.html

June 15 (Sa) 2019 A sociological imagination on a $20 bill (20元中的社會學想像)
https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2019/06/june-15-sa-2019-sociological.html

June 15 (Sa) 2019 A classic video is embedded with Cultural Capital
https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2019/06/june-15-sa-2019-classic-video-is.html

Jan. 5 (F), 2018 How fascinating?  Life Chances and Life Opportunities (命 and 運)?
https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2018/01/jan-5-f-2017-how-fascinating-phenomea.html

Feb. 26  (F), 2016  How to have a tiny home...
https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2016/02/feb-26-f-2016-5-vs-95-how-to-earn.html

March 8, (Sa), 2014 The stories of three women
https://ci8395.blogspot.com/2014/03/march-8-sa-2014-crystals-serendipitous.html

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An extra info - the Matthew Effect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAlIup87Aso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAlIup87Aso

---------------------------------------------------------------

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whLPInwBLKA
youtube.com/watch?v=AP4VFcwBRfw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQMjRTo7wvg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2XFh_tD2RA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHACox2UamQ (1957 1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhI9V1fAHrY (1957 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpJlTaL5IV0 (UK)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX_Vzl-r8NY  (Structural)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1FdIvLg6i4

Aug. 26 (Sa), 2023 A special song for today

 思念故鄉

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkSwiqfdmxw 

To: Lona

思念故鄉 Taiwan Folksong - Miss Home
作曲：楊三郎
作詞：周添旺
Sung by Xena LCH #201

----------------------------------------------------
我騎水牛你來飼鵝　山頂食草溪邊縮
談情說愛好七逃 為何 心情真沉重
可愛的故鄉 可愛的山河 今日離開千里遠
啊．．何時再相會　啊．．何時再相會

我來播田你來擔秧　秧仔播落心頭酸
春來秋去日頭長 為何 懷念心頭糟
可愛的故鄉可愛的田園 今日離開千里遠
啊．．何時再相會　啊．．何時再相會

Aug. 26 (Sa), 2023 尋誠 Searching for sincerity

Aug. 26 (Sa), 2023 The Interlocked Sociology / 錯綜複雜, 環環相扣

Aug. 15 (T), 2023 Help the quasi-monarchical autocratic regime?

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The heart-mind-soul fun pics picked for this week on facebook:

Aug. 13 (Sn), 2023 工作文化差異下的龜兔賽跑 / How to balance the race of the work-culture between the rabbit and the turtle

Aug. 14 (M), 2023    工作文化差異下的龜兔賽跑/ How to balance the race of the work-culture between the rabbit and the turtle

昨天看了一項有關臺積電在美亞利桑那州設廠的報導. 由於對於對此事件的盤根錯節與來龍去脈, 了解不深. 只能根據我教學的經驗與觀察, 寫下幾點看法. 文章尚在修改增補之中, 若有不適之處, 請多提供見解, 並指正. 謝謝.  (I read an article yesterday regarding the leading semi-conductor manufacturing company /TMSC of Taiwan building a new fab in Arizona, and now some ramifications are appearing... I jotted down some thoughts regarding this event based on some sociological ideas.... Still in the first draft stage. Welcome input. Thanks.)

Since the CCP-China was allowed to join WTO in 2001, this country has grasped the tremendous opportunity, added by the business expertise and resources from Taiwan and Hong Kong as the catalysts, turning herself into the world largest worker concentration camp. From Q-tips, cellphones, appliances, to cars, boats and the rest, MIC (made in China) inundates into every corner of the world. Within two to three decades, the rise of its middle class, the national pride, and patriotism tell its people that it is high time to show who is the real Big Uncle, and destroying the democratic Taiwan to legitimize its dictatorial regime must be done.

Taiwan, located in the first Island Chain of the west Pacific Ocean, situates in the world busiest international water way. Her geo-economic-political significance is immeasurable. She stands on the front line of the democratic camp, challenging the values of the autocratic system.

Then, the various warfare of the US. and the CCP intensifies the importance of the chips as the most strategic weapons of the world.

As the homebase of the world largest chip manufacturing company, Taiwan Semi-Conductor Manufacturing Company/TSMC) produces over 60% of the world's semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced ones, Taiwan, constantly walking on the geopolitical tight rope, is sandwiched between the odd couple. Like oil, being the global strategic material, in the digital era, the chip, is the essential red cells in the blood vessels.

Then, the U.S. federal statute enacted the CHIPS and Science Act by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 9, 2022. The act provides roughly $280 billion in new funding to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors in the United States. The act includes $39 billion in subsidies for chip manufacturing on US soil along with 25% investment tax credits for costs of manufacturing equipment, and $13 billion for semiconductor research and workforce training, with the primary aim of countering the CCP-China.

Before the Arizona plant, due to the risk of the CCP’s invasion increasing, in the beginning of the 2020, TSMC has expanded its operations outside the country in Japan. (A new update - another fab contract in Germany is almost done, but again, the issue of union can be even more thorny). As the world is gradually aware if the CCP’s launching the war against Taiwan turned into reality, the global economy, in particular, any things related to chips, from cell phones to satellites, would lead to unimaginable disasters. In November 2020, through shuttling discussions, officials in Phoenix, Arizona, US., worked out with TSMC's leaders to build a $12 billion chip plant in the city.  (Note, the decision to locate a plant in the US. was also related to the previous administration’s warning about the issues concerning the world's electronics made outside of the U.S.).

Recalling I got the news that the chip-factory-in-Arizona became reality, immediately the image of Walker, Trump, and T. Guo on a photo of the breaking ground Ceremony in Wisconsin, popping into my mind. (Surely, they did not intend to produce CHIPS.  Now, the business turned into obliviousness- 擺拍作秀, 迎合選戰口味之後, 似乎也就不了了之了).

I thought of a plant being built in Japan, or other similar countries, that was not a big deal for a second thought. But, in the US. creating jobs inside the country, obviously, is one of the most important tasks of a national leader. However, the intended and unintended consequences may last more than one or two presidential terms. Recalling the outsourcing and offshoring trend beginning in the 60s and 70s as large corporations transferred their manufacturing processes to lower-cost countries, General Electric was one of the pioneers of outsourcing at the time. Those of the days, labor unions still worked out deals with the managers and bosses.

The event reminds me that in one chapter of sociology about work and government, “Roger and Me” was a supplementary ( released in 1989)  learning material related to outsourcing, offshoring and downsizing operation of big corporations riding with the globalization tide under the ideology of Capitalism. The film was used to analyze the manifest functions, dysfunctions, and latent functions of that trend. I would not deny that some people argued that the film was tinted with the left wing ideas.  But, didn't it also present the reality, if not, with 100%?

A brief of the film. Journalist, filmmaker Michael Moore demands answers when General Motors suddenly closes the doors of all its auto plants in the Flint, Michigan, the city where he grew up. With over 30,000 people out of work, Flint, used to be the paradise of working class, turned into a rat population more than residents. The economic devastation was beyond words. Moore questioned that companies changed their business plans or operations, usually aiming at solving the crisis. But GM was in its pink and hot stage, making too much profit and then, moved factories to Mexico where workers were paid 17 to 50 cents per hour while the average local worker paid around 20 dollars per hour. GM took the profit to reinvest on military relevant big business for even more profit. Therefore, Moore aims to track down General Motors CEO Roger Smith to make him answer for his actions. While on the search, Moore also chronicles the emotional effect the closings have had on his family and friends, while violent crimes begin to skyrocket in Flint. Here is the film, if interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDl6Bt6uO5c 

So, maximizing profit is the core value of capitalism, and the rest of issues, such as, unemployment, lowering the living standard, even poverty, crimes, and the external cost of the environmental damages, are not business' business as simple as that! Seemingly the famous statement of the Senior Rockefeller (John D.) -  Business is not charity. What the US. need is worker, not thinker  - reincarnates again and again in the business battlefields.

In the documentary, from the filmmaker’s family background and perspective, standing and speaking for the working class was the overt tone, and critiquing the unrestrained capitalism and deregulation of business was its covert theme. General speaking, there were some short-term positive and latent outcomes of the globalization, such as cheaper products for most non-rich people to enjoy, leading workforce to upgrade skills and knowledge, the rise of middle class of the developing or the under developing countries, such as the CCP-China and so on. Surely, the negative consequences, now, no one can escape:  overconsumption, artificial and conspicuous consumption, extreme climate change, various types of pollutions, accelerating the extinction of plants and animals, the unmanageable garbage, and more unpredictable pandemics, diseases, and the skyrocketing cost of health care and resources…just to name a few.

To the Arizona Project, I shook my head at that time, being skeptical how to accomplish such a big economic-political “mission possible,” between a big nation and a country, like Taiwan. What I concerned was not the hardware part which needed hands-on, but the software part - the work-culture that lay a bridge too far. Yet, I still nodded with painful best wishes....

These two money-power-business complexes shared similar political calculations amid the election season, with a minor difference - the former may lead to a much bigger problem, if the CCP China is not now, wading through a troubled waters of house-real estate bubble, wide-spreading financial crisis, declining in investment, import and export, the rising unemployment, and the on-going economic contraction.

To say the least significant phenomenon is that the chip industry is not only much different from other commercial businesses, but also with an overwhelming challenge, that is the aforementioned the working-culture-gap between a typical American employee and a Taiwanese worker (even Japanese, Chinese etc.). Most people are aware why the first, second, third, up to current wave of globalization which is still going on rampantly. Seeking cheap labor force and raw materials, low environmental protection restrictions, weak/corruptive governmental nature etc. are the main incentives of the multinational companies and entrepreneurs with high capitalistic zeitgeist. Making profits is everything, and behind the profits is the political power.

Though the voice and power of unions is much declining in the US. particularly when the Republican Party gains momentum in elections. Now, the union has the stance under the Democratic leadership to be sonorous against a trapped country, yet importantly involved in two major presidential elections and a big enemy- the CCP regime.

The theories and practices of union in most parts of Asia or the Far-Eastern countries are quite different from those of the US. After WWI and WWII, through the ruthless western globalization processes, the Capitalistic spirit penetrates through these nations, making them the best vassal states of the big business Brother - the US. The operation of unions, either insignificantly "cooperated," or symbolically exists, and most of them are "absorbed" into the conventional "Confucian Ideology" of obedience, diligence, respecting the powerful etc. authoritarian characteristics. It presents different approaches in dealing with workers’ rights and the companies’ profit seeking. In this sense, some might think of the collective vs. individualistic mindset or consciousness among these countries. For example, the workaholic pattern is a typical mannerism in the corporation environment. Being effective and efficient, agile in responding to emergency, devoted to the job and company is necessary for one’s survival and development as well as sustain companies’ growth. From a perspective of some “advanced” societies, this phenomenon is not encouraged. Thus, fairly to say, work-culture playing an impactful role is undeniable.

The above symbiotic relation is deemed as more beneficial than through power struggle. In reality, where there exists power, there needs some sorts of struggle. It seems presenting in most human societies. For example, the CCP-China, openly declares the importance of such thinking and behaving, while other cultures or societies, exercise it, gingerly or clandestinely. But, when rendering the non-zero-sum game, managing to have the cake and eat it – not only is possible, but can be worked out pretty well! Many stories were told about the relationships between employees and bosses in Japan’s corporate companies under a hybrid of the state capitalism concerning the wellbeing of the employees and making the optimal profit for the company.

Taking on the extra job through the nights or over weekends is part of the responsibilities. Surely, TMSC pays their employees well compared to other jobs in Taiwan. Thus “no union is needed” – perhaps, was part of what TSMC’s founder, Dr. Chang meant? But such a statement may be easily to be interpreted (typically, taken out of the contexts) as a capitalistic mindset of the old-fashion entrepreneurs in the early era of the US. industrialization, such as that of John. D. Rockefeller, or Andrew Carnegie. Here is a documentary, touching on this topic. See attached.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU74-CFRNbEv

 A similar version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6KVqIFTKh8 v

Thus, a popular stereotype goes this way: “You know, these Asian cheap coolies know nothing about life except work, work, and work. They deserve to be enslaved…”

In the US., most workers without the union’s voice and proactive deeds, they may easily become the disadvantaged groups, or so called – the exploited. Outsourcing, offshoring, or hiring undocumented workers, especially, the AI development making many low-skill jobs diminishing, are some approaches of the business owners to counter the union’s stance. On the other hand, the corporate company needs to run the risk of business growth or decline in investing and management to answer the investors’ questions and feedback to their expectation.

The culture of workers whether the working class or the high-tech employees between Taiwan (including Japan and other Asian countries) and those of the US. exists a big chasm. For example, in the US. most working class with a stable income can enjoy similar to the middle-class’ lifestyle. They value their personal time, family time, and leisure time. Indeed, no more other accurate word to describe the value of TIME in this country than this - "Time is money, and money buys time".  The price of asking them for the extra work with a quicker pace - is extremely expensive.

Furthermore, such a big and resourceful country through dominating the world over a century, people , even the working class, have cultivated a much more "modest" ("elegant" for the upper class?) pace in their living environment compared to that of some fast-growing Asian countries. Many Asian immigrants in Canada and the US. can sense the “slow tempo” in rendering business. There are not so many instant services available, except, such as the fast-food restaurants or shopping in the mall or supermarkets. Making an appointment to meet the need in a few weeks later is a common practice. So learning to be patient is a good policy.

(總之, 人家做起事來, 就是悠哉悠哉, 從容, 淡定, 名之為文明的曼妙步履. 天塌下來了, 有別人會扛. 用不著著急. 那像我們, 個個像個急驚風, 拼命三郎三娘…)

I found some comments on the following article interesting and thought provoking. Some criticized the US. workers “being lazy,” “scrolling cell phones during working hours,” “lacking professional expertise,” and so on. which tend to see the tip of an iceberg, for, as mentioned above, they are part of the " work-culture phenomena".

The planned schedule of the sucked-into-無底洞 Arizona fab to be accomplished in 2024 had to be postponed to 2025. So far, TSMC has spent US$40 billion on the Arizona fabs, doubling its original investment of US$20 billion and the cost is still perpendicularly rising. The leaders of TSMC have been discussing with the US. counterpart to bring in some skilled workers from Taiwan to help the process. This event provoked the local workers and unions to stop such a thing to happen. They argued that TSMC intended to take over the local jobs replaced with the "reasonably priced" labor force from Taiwan. These arguments seemed playing an echo chamber for the previous leader’s populist ideology to against the current leader… Some other complaints attribute to the lack of union, or with a weak awareness of worker’s rights in Taiwan, and so on.

But, the elephant in the room scene is that the global stratification of countries, which enables the big countries to have “better mannerism” over the smaller ones.

Job, job, job, transforms male into man, female into woman. Workers, unions have even to fight against the fast development of AI’s potential tsunami engulfing. The private sector pursues efficiency, effectiveness, maximizing the biggest profits to reify the spirit of capitalism which is prevalent all over of the world to prevent the welfare socialist ideology from ruining the great idea of the “logic of growth”. Taiwan, is no exception. Unfortunately, the geo-economic-political reality sandwiches her into this hard transaction. And this, could make the CCP regime quite happy...

Are there any better approaches available to the dilemma? TSMC leaders guaranteed that the workers from Taiwan would only work within a specific timeframe. After job is done, they will go home. Some suggested that the deployed experts from Taiwan train the local workers as an ideal solution. Good recommendations have been thought over and over.

On the table, indeed, there are still some feasible tactics that can be used. As to the smaller country, there are not without specific strategies available to do the check-and-balance game. This is why the opposition Parties, particularly, like those of Taiwan, are the cards that can be played with by the relevant stakeholders. These cards are embedded with many latent functions which are not always bad for Taiwan’s democratic development. In short, the multiple Party system can be messy, but, in the long run, it seems, better than the One-Party domination.(只要不做賣國通敵的勾當, 反對黨的存在, 有助政黨政治的健全發展).

As to the practicality, it might face how to mitigate the gap of the work-culture backed by a global power-structure.

Thus, it takes time - perhaps, indefinitely.

俗話說, 殺頭生意有人做, 虧本生意無人做. 真的嗎？

(For this, I could offer one of my teaching experiences regarding how students argued or negotiated the amount of assignments and projects or relevant learning activities in the name of consuming their precious time.  Though, homework and learning are never significant enough, compared to making paychecks).

以下是有關這個事情的報導原文: (The following attached was the original article that I read yesterday).
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A feud is heating up between Arizona workers and the world's leading chipmaker after the company claimed the US doesn't have the skills to build its new factory

Jacob Zinkula
Sun, August 13, 2023 at 4:15 AM CDT



U.S. President Joe Biden walks with CEO of TSMC C. C. Wei and Chairman of TSMC Mark Liu during a visit to TSMC AZ's first Fab (Semiconductor Fabrication Plant) in P1A (Phase 1A), in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. December 6, 2022.REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

TSMC says the opening of its Arizona chip factory has been delayed due to a shortage of skilled 

workers.

The company says it needs to bring Taiwanese workers to Arizona to get construction back on track.

An Arizona union says US jobs are being threatened — and is urging lawmakers to deny the workers' visas.

Who knew that building a chip factory in Arizona could be the source of so much drama?

To get the construction of its Arizona chip factory back on track, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) says it needs more workers with the expertise and skillsets that Americans don't have. Since June, the company has been in discussions with the US government about receiving accelerated non-immigrant E-2 visas for as many as 500 Taiwanese workers.

Not everyone's happy about this potential development.

The Arizona Pipe Trades 469 Union, a labor union that says it represents over 4,000 pipefitters, plumbers, welders, and HVAC technicians, has started a petition to urge US lawmakers to deny these visas. The petition claims that TSMC has deliberately misrepresented the skillset of Arizona's workforce. By approving TSMC's visa requests, a union website says lawmakers would be laying the groundwork for "cheap labor" to replace American workers.

The dispute marks the latest development in the US's race to build a presence in the semiconductor chip industry — something that's become a major priority as the world gets more reliant than ever on the devices that need chips to run. That means everything from smartphones to televisions to refrigerators and washing machines. And should the US ever enter into conflict with China — something that looks increasingly possible — it wants to be self-sufficient when it comes to making chips.

Last summer, President Biden signed into law the CHIPS Act, which included over $52 billion in semiconductor subsidies to boost chip manufacturing in the US and create American jobs. The legislation is among the reasons TSMC, the world's leading chipmaker, announced plans last December to build a second factory in Arizona.

But construction of TSMC's first Arizona factory, which began in the Phoenix area in 2021, has run into some hiccups. Initial plans were for the factory to open by late 2024, but in a July earnings call, the company said this would likely be pushed back to 2025.

The reason: US workers weren't cutting it.

"We are now entering a critical phase of handling and installing the most advanced and dedicated equipment," said TSMC chairman Mark Liu. "However, we are encountering certain challenges as there is an insufficient amount of skilled workers with those specialized expertise required for equipment installation in a semiconductor-grade facility."

Liu said the company planned to get construction back on track by "sending experienced technicians from Taiwan to train the local skilled workers for a short period of time" — these workers would join the undisclosed number of Taiwanese workers already in Arizona. But to do this, TSMC needs the US government to approve worker visas, something the Arizona union is trying to stop.

Given that TSMC is seeking billions of dollars in US subsidies via the CHIPS Act, the union says American jobs should be prioritized.

"Replacing Arizona's construction workers with foreign construction workers directly contradicts the very purpose for which the CHIPS Act was enacted – to create jobs for American workers," the petition says.

TSMC, however, has maintained that the incoming Taiwanese workers would not be a threat to any US jobs — and would only be there to support the construction process.

"They will only be in Arizona for a limited timeframe for this specific project and will not impact the 12,000 workers currently on-site every day nor our US-based hiring," the company said in a July statement provided to Arizona's Family.

The degree to which American workers can get the job done without additional assistance is up for debate. TSMC and the union did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Other factors have contributed to the heightened tensions between TSMC and union workers. In June, The American Prospect spoke with workers who said injuries and safety violations were common on the construction site.

"It's easily the most unsafe site I've ever walked on," said Luke Kasper, a representative of the sheet metal workers union.

TMSC has denied these allegations.

When President Biden announced in December that over 3,000 union workers would be helping to build the Arizona factory, TSMC founder Morris Chang reportedly said that this was "a little painful" to hear. In 2016, Chang said one of the keys reason companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook had been successful was that they didn't have unions.

The controversy in Arizona has even picked up steam back in Taiwan. On July 24, a Taiwanese Youtube channel with nearly three million subscribers posted a video accusing the Arizona workers of being lazy, according to Kevin Xu, the author of a bilingual newsletter on tech, business, and US-Asia relations. Insider was unable to contact the administrator of the YouTube channel.

Aub. 8 (T), 2023 烏紗帽

The Venus Project - Global

https://www.facebook.com/TheVenusProjectGlobal/posts/pfbid0ZzETU11Tria7KeGvnD14WzckBJDYtdBJBiAovEShLNG7MQNFLnTQLo9Kb1mL2gYyl?notif_id=1691509933814337&notif_t=notify_me_page&ref=notif
------------------------------------------
The Venus Project -

" Be informed. Knowing and understanding our proposals is vital to your decision-making. Learn about the socio-economic system we call Resource Based Economy. Don’t knock it before you’ve studied it.
History reveals that great social change has always been accompanied by great human suffering. The Venus Project hopes to mitigate that suffering through education. First and foremost, learn more about us through our website, books and DVD’s. If you identify with our proposals you can help promote this direction in any way you are able. Speaking to others about these ideas, fund raising, grant writing, helping with publicity, promoting lecture tours, or helping to produce promotional materials will all help. There is a lot to do and we need the help of many people in bringing these ideas to the public.
If enough people find the proposals acceptable and choose to join with us in this new advocacy, they will help form the nucleus of an organization to carry out our aims. The challenge that all cultures now face in this technological age, some more than others, is to provide a smooth transition towards the introduction of a new way of thinking about ourselves, the environment and the management of human affairs."
Explore A NEW VISION FOR HUMANITY:
https://www.resourcebasedeconomy.org/
A Global Holistic Solution, RESOURCE BASED ECONOMY:
https://www.thevenusproject.com/resource-based-economy/
VIDEO: Paradise or Oblivion (2012)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KphWsnhZ4Ag
Detailing the root causes of the systemic value disorders and detrimental symptoms caused by our current established system, this video presentation advocates a new socio-economic system. Paradise or Oblivion introduces the viewer to a more appropriate value system that would be required to enable this caring and holistic approach to benefit human civilization.
VIDEO: The Choice is Ours (2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb5ivvcTvRQ
This documentary explores the determinants of behavior to dispel the myth of “human nature”, demonstrating that environment shapes behavior. It illustrates how our social structures impose our values and behaviors demonstrating that our global monetary system is obsolete and increasingly insufficient to meet the needs of most people.
VIDEO: Future by Design (2006)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1IXWnS6vwk
Future by Design is an intellectually and visually engaging documentary following the life of Jacque Fresco. The documentary portrays a single man’s vision of the future where war is obsolete, there’s no lack of resources, and our focus as a species is global sustainability and the preservation of the environment. This documentary presents a potential future—with actual and workable alternatives to our present paradigm.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
https://www.thevenusproject.com/faqs/
If you ever seriously THINK, WONDER and CARE about the future, then this BOOK should be in your personal library:
BOOK:
https://www.thevenusproject.com/.../the-best-that-money.../
e-BOOK OPTION:
https://www.thevenusproject.com/.../the-best-that-money.../

Aug. 6 (Sn), 2023 車, 房, 與生態 (2 decades' massive house compounds, cars, and the Ecosystem)

 brief translation:

The connived massive house-compounds, business buildings, and cars produced since the beginning of this century have constantly made the Earth coughing, headachingly...

Note:

When first time visiting the US. in 1988 tailgating a political campaign around the east, west coats and the Midwest areas, I was aware that most of the buildings were in low skylines except some big cities' skyscrapers.

In the central part of the US. houses, business buildings were broad in base, but not in height. Later, I understood that the frequent tornados and other storms kept people in "low key" being a good policy - was a major reason. Another observation during those days was that the house compounds for the low income families tended to be broad, and the height was in high fashion. Fully utilizing the size of the land could be a concern?

In the "sudden" or fast growing countries, the height of the building tends to be a symbol or an indicator of the "super developed" success. Recalling when I was a kid in Taipei, if any friend lived in a house being 2, 3 floors or higher, that got to be from a rich or powerful family (住樓啊子厝).

Now in this region, having a big and well-manicured lawn and yard, surrounding a wide flat living area dotted with swimming pool, boat, yacht is quite a basic success.

I red several reports that some rich (but not the super rich) immigrants from Asia in Canada purchased houses attached with big garages, yard and lawn.

Such valuable spaces used in the empty way were deemed as "uneconomical", thus they transformed the spaces into another rooms or living areas to avoid being "wasteful". No green spot is needed.

Space, in art (other elements of visual design: line, shape, volume, value, color, texture, ) is the toughest concept to convey.

Enjoying or owing own space, is, indeed, a luxury, particularly,  to some suddenly rich people.

????  Why did this happen?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Rqe0c9YI4

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https://www.yahoo.com/news/explainer-why-northern-china-ravaged-085913176.html

Aug. 5 (Sa), 2023 5.5-point Likert Scale Earthquake shook Shandong Province around 2 am. (Local time: August 6, 2023)

 ????  Why did this happen?

Aug. 5 (Sa), 2023 德不配位 - 必有災殃

Aug. 5 (Sa) 2023 老神在在

Wondering how their leaders and government heal and compensate such a heart-wrenching loss...
救災, 防疫, 療癒, 重整家園, 身心補償...

A brief translation: The Powerful vs. The Obedient

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https://img1.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhBnVbFbcVI

August 3 (Th), 2023 人在做, 天哪, 有在看嗎？

2分天災, 8分人禍... The value of life is "severely" stratified - this time, through water...
The death toll - like covid19, another secret, as usual.
Seemingly, the rescue actions are gradually on the way...

Hope more lives can be saved.

Krystal LC Huang
Hundreds of citizens were drowned to death. Some videos sent out from the flooded areas found dead children hanged on tree tops, after the water recessed. (Now, the network was not available to stop the sufferers sharing information through cellphones...)

Highways exposed hundreds of dead bodies captured by videos, but the regime claimed only a dozen death toll of the vast flooded provinces, cities and farms...

While millions of people are helplessly and hopelessly struggling on the death lines, the emperor and the proteges are heading to Bei Dai He for the annual summer vacation.
Who can say - out of sight, out of mind - is not a great policy....

Krystal LC Huang
After the US. and the rest, supported the CCP joining WTO, the regime grabbed the unprecedented opportunity, insanely tossing its cheap labor force into undergoing an alternating the Earth giant projects - digging mountains, clearing forests, mining ores, coals, minerals, burning materials, manufacturing gadgets, emitting smog, polluting rivers, killing animals (not including raising covid viruses)...like what happened in the "advanced West" during the last century. 

One is hard to deny (even envy...) the "effectiveness" of the autocratic regime's One Party power in mobilizing the huge population to obey what the regime wants...

Voila, within 2 decades, the regime being proud of its rapid growth, displays its shiny skyscrapers, tall housing compounds, and big military investments to suppress the US.'

Then, many countries happily enjoy its cheap, shoddy stuff, and now is confronting the end of Climate Change era to face the new stage of the Sizzling Earth's whimsicality.

Krystal LC Huang
A couple of overpopulated countries are quickly following the CCP's footstep.

Krystal LC Huang
Who is not an implicated culprit of the apocalyptic-like inferno?

------------------------------------------------------

August, 4, F, 2023
The devastating messes...

????  Why did this happen?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UFVD7DLH3k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVuEt4Fo3Gg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm6Lpy3QooI 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKrPpeqvOZY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na0L0N4kEl0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hewYJE7bN84

無數子民求救哀嚎...
皇上太鑑,
眼不見心不煩, 北戴河度假納涼去了!

The CCP's citizens are hopelessly and helplessly in suffering, while their emperor and the high rank-n-file are heading for Bei Dai He for summer vacation. Isn't - out of sight, out of mind - a good policy?

-----------------------

Reuters, the most update:

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-hints-leaders-started-annual-seaside-vacation-flood-hit-province-2023-08-03/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-hints-leaders-started-annual-115411160.html

----------------------------------------------------------------

The Heart-Mind-Soul fun pics picked for this week on Facebook:

August 2 (W), 2023 以鄰為壑/ Pass the buck

2分天災, 8分人禍...
Hope - help is on the way...

Krystal LC Huang
The death toll - like covid19, another secret, as usual.
Seemingly, the rescue actions are gradually on the way...

Krystal LC Huang
The value of life is "severely" stratified - this time, through water...

Krystal LC Huang
Hundreds of citizens were drowned to death. Some videos sent out from the flooded areas found dead children hanged on tree tops, after the water recessed.
Highways exposed hundreds of dead bodies captured by videos, but the regime claimed only a dozen death toll of the vast flooded provinces, cities and farms...
While millions of people are helplessly and hopelessly struggling on the death lines, the emperor and the proteges are heading to Bei Dai He for the annual summer vacation.
Who can say - out of sight, out of mind - is not a great policy....

Krystal LC Huang
After the US. and the rest supported the CCP joining WTO, the regime grabbed the unprecedented opportunity, insanely tossed the cheap labor force undergoing an alternating the Earth giant projects - digging mountains, cutting forests, mining ores, coals, minerals, burning materials, manufacturing gadgets, emitting smog, polluting streams, rivers, killing animals (not including raising covid viruses)...

One is hard to deny (even envy...) the power of the regime's One Party system's mobilizing the huge population to obey what the regime wants...

Voila, within 2 decades, the regime being proud of its fast lane growth, displays its shiny skyscrapers, tall housing compounds, and big military investment to suppress the US.'

Then, many countries happily enjoy the shoddy stuff, and now confront the end of Climate Change era, facing the Sizzling Earth's whimsicality.

Krystal LC Huang
A couple of overpopulated countries are quickly following the CCP's footsteps.

Krystal LC Huang
Who is not an implicated culprit of the apocalyptic-like inferno?