We're Screwed - Page 2

Rearden · 01-31-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nostril Cheese
Why not start by getting rid of the politicans who allow our jobs to be sent overseas

That's scary. You want a government who can dictate where a private corporation employs its workforce? China might be your answer.

And no thank you. I like it that I can buy a big TV for $250 and a microwave oven for $50.

Patton · 01-31-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rearden
That's scary. You want a government who can dictate where a private corporation employs its workforce? China might be your answer.

And no thank you. I like it that I can buy a big TV for $250 and a microwave oven for $50.

\

Whatever!

HWgeek · 04:55 PM

And you guys are just noticing this now?!?! Sigh. Well better late than never.
Big business has forcibly pushed all our low tech and now our high tech to China in order to "cut costs" and increase their profits. As a result we have lost alot of our base technology to asia.

We are fast becoming a country of dumb consumers who want to be fat and happy. Welcome to Rome. History does repeat itself.

As for cheap consumer goods - they only stay cheap and are only available while you can buy them. We absorb a lot of the output from China. When we are all unemployed and can not buy their goods... should be an interesting macro economics lesson.

The only reason Chinese goods are cheap is they artificially hold down the value of their currency. If they ran free market their goods would not be cheap as they are now.

Patton · 01-31-2007, 04:54 PM

Can we reverse it?

Tim Hancock · 01-31-2007, 04:55 PM

I used to get the biggest kick out of the Harley guys who *****ed about Jap bikes even though their bikes "made by Harley" had Showa forks.

One of my old bosses was talking crap about my foreign cars until the day that I showed him the Mitsubishi tag under the hood of his Dodge Stealth.

I highly doubt any American car made today comes without any foreign parts in it.

Like it or not, todays economy is worldwide and no amount of whining will change that fact.

I still can appreciate handcrafted "made in America" stuff, but the whole "buy American" thing days are long gone and won't be back.

MRM · 01-31-2007, 04:56 PM

And then there are the Hondas made in Ohio with engines from Canada. What's a xenophobe to do?

the · 01-31-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Patton
Can we reverse it?

Seems to me the answer is no, the days of the US being a heavy/medium or even light manufacturing country are over. Suppose we need to figure out what to do next.

HWgeek · 01-31-2007, 05:00 PM

Its not possible to reverse the situation, that would be akin to the isolationist policy practiced by Japan. Doesn't work.

One way to stem the bleed and gain control is to impose economic tariffs on Chinese goods. We are in a bad trade imbalance with China, they basically don't buy anything we make in any volume.
Their goal is to clone/copy/steal any and all technology and make it in house. Getting product into China and sold is difficult and they want all the details of the item so they can go knock it off locally.
So, drive up the cost of goods coming from China if they don't buy goods from us (very basic concept of tariff) to balance trade. We buy less goods from China, their economy slows etc...

The next race will be a space race... If we don't get going, we will lose.

Patton · 01-31-2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
Tim Hancock
Hancock Specialties (Aircraft repair)

Where do you get your parts? It's never to late if the cause is just. I would rather sell my (passion) 911 than stand by and do nothing.

turbo6bar · 01-31-2007, 05:04 PM

Patton, you might want to rebalance your stock portfolio.

Chinese manufactured goods are everywhere, and it's not cheap trash. Apple's Ipod is produced in China. Wonder about that Iphone, too. I'm surprised at how quickly the Chinese have advanced production capabilities. Could Apple generate a profit if production was inside the US???

the · 01-31-2007, 05:05 PM

I agree, although my iPod is a cheap piece of trash.

Dottore · 01-31-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Hancock

I highly doubt any American car made today comes without any foreign parts in it.

That's right.

And - hold on to your hats - even Porsche's contain parts made in China - and the percentage of those parts is steadily increasing.

Tim Hancock · 01-31-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Patton
Where do you get your parts? It's never to late if the cause is just. I would rather sell my (passion) 911 than stand by and do nothing.

From the USA most of the time, as most are certified aircraft parts which cost way too much due to lawsuits against aviation manufacturers and suppliers.

Patton · 01-31-2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by turbo6bar
Patton, you might want to rebalance your stock portfolio.

Chinese manufactured goods are everywhere, and it's not cheap trash. Apple's Ipod is produced in China. Wonder about that Iphone, too. I'm surprised at how quickly the Chinese have advanced production capabilities. Could Apple generate a profit if production was inside the US???

Yea!
They work for $ a day or so. Why else do you think that manufacturing moved there> I'll do without! The price may be immediate but we'll pay late. We already are!

Patton · 01-31-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dottore
That's right.

And - hold on to your hats - even Porsche's contain parts made in China - and the percentage of those parts is steadily increasing.

If you do your homework, you know where the parts come from, unless you don't care.

Tim Hancock · 01-31-2007, 05:19 PM

Patton, you obviously do not care if you buy German, how about Japanese or American cars built with foreign parts? You just dislike China? What happens 10 years from now when Chinese workers wages start rising? I am assuming you will just transfer your disdain to whatever country is next in line?

Patton · 01-31-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
From the USA most of the time, as most are certified aircraft parts which cost way too much due to lawsuits against aviation manufacturers and suppliers.

Wow, what a cost to pay for citified USA made and tested aircraft parts. Non-USA parts....oops down aircraft, but hey, the parts were cheap!

Patton · 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
Patton, you obviously do not care if you buy German, how about Japanese or American cars built with foreign parts? You just dislike China? What happens 10 years from now when Chinese workers wages start rising? I am assuming you will just transfer your disdain to whatever country is next in line?

My disdain is for attitudes like yours Tim! I can't think of any country investing in the USA like China. Educate me and I'll be quite.

turbo6bar · 01-31-2007, 05:25 PM

Hypothetically, if we all "Buy American," there must be some consequences, right? It can't all be good, eh?

I'd hate to see a kneejerk reaction cause an unintended injury.

Patton · 01-31-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by turbo6bar
Hypothetically, if we all "Buy American," there must be some consequences, right? It can't all be good, eh?

I'd hate to see a kneejerk reaction cause an unintended injury.

Absolutely; although where it is clear without a doubt of the consequences, are we suppose to continue the behavior?