Cool, thanks.

I saved it as a PDF, hope to make use of it.

Interesting viewpoint(s). I for one am guilty for buying foreign goods and even though I try not to buy china made products, I'm always buying a german or jap car! Sure makes me sound foolish. Yes, the transplants of BMW, Honda, Nissan, etc. are in the states but we all know where the majority of money ends up, but diversity is on everyones strategy. Then on the other side look at the American icon Harley Davidson. Look at how much of it is made in China! The castings of CAT from China and shipped to the US is another example.

However AirKuhl makes a valid point of automation and not many humans are screwing things togther... days long gone, etc. but if thats the case, then why not simply have the automated plant here in the US?

Its a twisted situation the US is in, but in the end its all about competition and survival. This is a very young country and in a short amount of years have acheived monumental social and industrial acheivements. A good read 'The World is Flat' by Thomas Freidman puts some of these complexities in perspective. Make what you want of it but I for one will at least try to support my country for the better.

I'm surprise no one has mentioned India, they have the biggest strongest up-coming middle class which I think will take away what's left.. :(

Sounds like a lot of rationalization. I imagine you're thinking the Trickle Down effects will satisfy the needs of our society? How about the technical support base involved in the manufacturing and all that entails? Without it, even the biggest and best of technical companies will crumble, fail, and be replaced by their wiser competitors in China, and elsewhere. The decline of the US empire is at hand, and you're "feasting while Rome burns".

Here's a good opinion piece from Andy Grove, who you may have heard of as one of the founders of a little company called Intel...

Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs - BusinessWeek

Didn't want to spam, as I figure I've done that enough on this BBS already. But since you asked:

Paul Component Engineering

Right now I'm working plenty of hours designing and prototyping new product to be ready for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, which takes place in March of 2012 in Sacramento. (See, I wasn't kidding about 3 month lead times for new product ;) )

2012 NAHBS | North American Handmade Bicycle Show | #NAHBS | Test

Remember when Craftsman made great, American made tools that lasted forever?

I do:(

I wouldn't buy a pack of gum at Sears today.

Just tonight I started to sort, unload some junk magazines and need to unclutter the garage. Well not really all are junk... classic Christophorus, many vintage Hot Rod, etc. but funny, I came across a Time issue of Dec. 12, 1955 almost to the date 56 years. Out of curiosity, I flip through a few pages to look at the old scotch, bourbon and car ads but then I see this:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323930082.jpg

I just wish more web sites would list the country of origin of products being sold, so we could use that info in our decision making process. I have successfully found some US-made clothing but it is not easy.

Why? I was under the impression that tools labeled "Craftsman" were still USA made...the secondary brand stuff they sell is indeed imported.

Like I said, "under the impression". Please link me to otherwise evidence.

Snap-on is made in the USA, I believe...but too costly for all but the pro wrench, who can take the cost off taxes...

mrybczyn - Your Andy Grove link was very interesting. Everyone should read those pages. How about Andy Grove for President?

Whats really sad and pathetic, is the majority of the steel from the World Trade Center site was sold to China. and we will end up buying it back from them. Meanwhile there is a huge empty void sitting along the river in Bethlehem PA.

I buy American. Paul C Buff studio lights are just as good if not better than those Swiss elinchrome or broncolor and they are a fraction of the price.

True that! Some things should say assembled in America

There are some products like televisions, computers and cell phones that simply don't have a made in USA choice. No one really thinks that every product should be only made in USA.

The entire point of the video clip I posted was to show that a house can be built today with virtually all made in USA products and no significant cost difference.

That's awesome. I actually worked for Fat City Cycles for four years back in the late 80's- early 90's. A friend of mine in AZ and I are going to be collaborating and making a few framesets next year, once I complete the engineering work on his frame fixture.

Excessive regulations. Or if the word "excessive" bothers some, then call it "inefficient" or "disheartening" or"unpredictable". In fact, the last word is probably best. We can adapt to just about any situation over time but political and regulatory unpredictability is the worst poison for business (and therefore job) growth.

I don't know why you are so angry, but I'm not trying to rationalize anything and I don't know or care what "Trickle Down" or other political buzzwords even mean. I agree that Intel is a fine company and I applaud their business model (a model that they committed to a LONG time ago when the regulatory and competitive landscape was very different), but a small company down the road called Apple is doing OK as well, last I checked. Would Intel make the same decisions today? I think that's an even better question.

What I do know is that when I founded a small engineering company, the idea of manufacturing the product ourselves was out of the question as the capital outlays were far beyond any funding we could get. Local mfg. wasn't an option again because of costs. It was either source mfg. to China or go home. There were no other options.

I've mentioned this before. The profits we generate allows us to grow. Growth means I hire more people, with the best and highest paying jobs here in the US. We have hundreds of open reqs and are desperate to find qualified people. Unemployment for people with skilled technical backgrounds is basically zero. We have no desire or intention to build factories because it's not what we do. But we would happily outsource to a US based manufacturer if it was at all feasible. But what we need simply doesn't exist.

So, how do we solve this? Simple, make it alluring for someone to set up US based mfg. facilities in the US. Create a situation where the complex mix of tax burden, regulatory compliance, and other non-technical factors make the concept potentially profitable. Some states get it and thus we have BMW's, Toyota's, some Intel chips and Boeings being made here.

I have an old mix of both those brands and others. Sadly today, more and more of the Snap-On products are made in where else but.... China.

Since I have more tools than I really need, occasionally I'll shop for specialty stuff. Fortunately I have an independent Snap-On dealer near me with an actual store. He buys and sells new and used tools and will point out the country of origin. Often he marks up the price for used US made vs. import tools. Found him by chance after shopping for a Snap-on single socket with protective inside sleeve to fit the 911 magnesium wheel nuts.

Channelock tools are US made. Toys for Christmas?... Ertl - all made in Iowa.

Reading this thread, the word ENABLER comes to mind.

Thought you guys would be amused by this...an oxymoron. Came on a product I bought for my video production freelance company.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323989013.jpg

Last year I found some nice American made sweaters at a trading post in the Eastern Sierras. BTW, they were higher quality than any Chinese made sweater on the market and reasonably priced. The only problem this year was, by the time I took my late season scenic drive, the post was closed for the season. So, this year I found a Canadian made one at a store in the mall and splurged on a Dale of Norway sweater. It's so amazing the difference in quality. Nothing compares to Dale of Norway. I can't understand how some of the name brands made in China can be so high priced. I always feel that I'm getting ripped off paying so much for crap made in China.