[Willie Green]

I have worked in manufacturing before.

Whooptie-do. It's been my profession for over 30 years.
That includes project management responsibility for design specification and installation of new facilities in Mexico, South Korea and China.
I doubt you're going to teach me anything new.

Now, if I am a company and I want to manufacture goods in another country for any reason, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. It's called freedom. It's called capitalism. And no government or state has the right to tell me that I cannot.

Hmmmm.... like I said, been there, done that.
It's a great experience, have a good time!
Just remember: "We the People" have the right to impose tariffs on imports. It's called "sovereignty".

Modern day conservatism is supposed to be classical liberalism, i.e. Adam Smith et. al.

I just quoted Adam Smith's chapter Of Restraints upon the Importation from Foreign Countries of such Goods as can be produced at Home on this thread. You should become more familiar with it.

I guarantee that you would not do it to my face.

Sure I would.
I'm a Buchannanite -- a true conservative: crotchedy, mean-spirited, judgemental and intolerant. (And dang proud of it.) Believe me, I wouldn't give a second thought to calling you a traitor to your face. It sounds like fun!

[hawkeye101]

Are you also one of the Lincoln-Haters that lurk on FR?

[ArneFufkin]

Anything specific you're looking to manufacture Willie?

Or are you just going to be free lance manufacturer? "What do you make?" "Whatta ya need?"

Willie, put a business plan together, present it to a banker or investor, unfurl your winning business model manufacturing "stuff" in America, paying decent living wages and benefits so you can market your product at 50% premium to the price of overseas competitors plus slower turnaround and more inflexible customization.

You will prove, without a shadow of doubt, that bankers are capable of laughter.

Oh, that's right. We'll just raise the cost of the imported product. Nobody loses. Except American consumers.

Good luck with that manufacturing gig. Bob Seger sang about "Making Thunderbirds". Make me two Thunderbirds and a Kate Jackson commerative orange Pinto. And, make me one of those "Body By Jakes". "Home of the Whopper" underwear, I'm going to need four or five of those put together. I'm knowing I'll need a new water softner sooner or later. Make me one of those too. Oh, and while you're at it, I'm going to need a Favino Gypsy guitar. Preferably black, 26 1/2" scale.

You're a manufacturing whirleygig!

[Norse]

>It's been my profession for over 30 years.

That actually explains quite a bit. You don't want to put in the extra effort to reduce costs and are comfortable with the status quo. Who cares about costs and quality for consumers - you just don't want to compete!

>I doubt you're going to teach me anything new
One can always learn something new from the most unexpected sources.

>We the People" have the right to impose tariffs on imports

I agree - for revenue purposes. But not for protective purposes. Restrictive revenues are tyranny just like overtaxation and should not be tolerated. (except in certain situations as Adam Smith pointed out). And "We the People" have been the world leaders of removing and lowering trade restrictions for the past 50 years.

As for the piece you pasted from Adam Smith - i'm well familiar with it, and he's right. But what Adam Smith proposes is far from what Buchanan and protectionists want - a blanket of protection where there is absolutely no threat of competition to American industries. Also, Adam Smith advocates taking advantage of the division of labor, while Buchananites do not.

>Sure I would.
>I'm a Buchannanite -- a true conservative: crotchedy, mean->spirited, judgemental and intolerant.

True conservatives understand economics and capitalism, while you and your mentor Buchanan do not.

As for calling me a traitor, it might be fun, for 5 seconds that is, until you get clocked in the jaw from a sharp right hook.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

I just quoted Adam Smith's chapter Of Restraints upon the Importation from Foreign Countries of such Goods as can be produced at Home on this thread. You should become more familiar with it.

Har, har!

Most of these folks have never read Adam Smith. They also don't grasp why he called his book "The Wealth of Nations" and not "The Wealth of Multinational Plutocrats". They mistake Ricardoism for Adam Smith's nationalistic Free Enterprise.

[GOP_1900AD]

Here is a thought. I think that in the interest of national security, a list needs to be created of all critical products and commodities which we have dependencies on in terms of DoD and strategic commercial industries (e.g. dual use industries). Responsibility for creating the list would be shared between DoD and Homeland Security with independent auditing by a best in class quality auditing firm. Then, for every item placed on this list, the supplier would need to produce a supply chain FMEA. All items with Risk Prioritization Numbers greater than 100 would need either a second source located in the US or a short list of preapproved countries (e.g. UK, Canada, Italy, etc) or some sort of bullet proof risk mitigation plan for resourcing domestically within standard leadtimes. It is too much to ask?