> 1. Run other companies outside of China out of business

Why?

> 2. Keep people employed even if what they produce is worth less than their labor and energy/materials input.

Why don't they have them do something with positive utility, like sweeping streets or providing elder care, or a myriad of other jobs?

> Why?

Are you asking why they’re doing it?

> Why don't they have them do something with positive utility, like sweeping streets or providing elder care, or a myriad of other jobs?

They do, but they need people to be working in manufacturing facilities too, otherwise the gig is up. You can’t have millions or tens of millions of people sweeping streets all day - better to give them the illusion that the future is better by having them build and ship products.

If people are buying it voluntarily, who are we to judge?

Ice cream also only lasts a single use and is gone afterwards, and no one complains.

> Are you asking why they’re doing it?

Sorry, I should have quoted more.

> because they need to 1. Run other companies outside of China out of business,

Why do they 'need to' run other companies out of business? What need do they have?

> They do, but they need people to be working in manufacturing facilities too, otherwise the gig is up. You can’t have millions or tens of millions of people sweeping streets all day - better to give them the illusion that the future is better by having them build and ship products.

Maybe. Sweeping streets was but one example. There's lots of other positive utility things to do, even in manufacturing.