[smallpox]

That's a slap on the wrist for any crime that results in loss of life.

Again, the goal here is not punishment and seeing people suffer. It's pointless, barbaric and a waste of money.
Focus on preventing crime, even if that means not killing people and victimizing their families.

This is why the death penalty is debated so often, but that wasn't my point, was it? Don't switch this to a death penalty argument. YOU started the thread, and it wasn't about the DP, it was about China executing this man as a way to look good in the eyes of the US. Strawman indeed.

I didn't start this thread.....
And the death penalty is half of the debate. If you would not like to debate this side of the debate, then don't answer my posts.

"For all we know" is a weak argument when discussing specifics. Did they or did they not kill this man to gain favor with the US?

Not the US, but world wide. The Chinese depend strongly on export to support their economy and that has made them very cautious about their international image. Look at all the measures they took against SARS, even though the disease had a 98% survival rate. If only they'd do that for mine workers. "For all we know" is not even an argument, it IS all we know unless you provide more information.

We might, if the Chinese government was responsible. These tainted food examples are hardly representative of China's total output to the US. If the Chinese government says they are cracking down on these practices we will take them at their word unless it continues. THEN you'll probably see some boycotts at least.

It's funny how we use to have the exact same worries about Japanese made goods.

For starters, the CIA factbook says so, plus THIS site and this Wikipedia article. Since we can't even agree on what type of government China has, I'll leave you to your opinions. There is nothing to debate here.

Think for yourself. What is communism? Abolition of classes, absence of the market economy, and absence of the government. China has classes, a HUGE market economy and a very present government. Type of communist? You mean Maoist? Have you ever heard of Deng Xiaoping? They call themselves communist.....North Korea calls itself a democracy.