[devane617]

brownsfan, It's called th WalMart effect. People want everything dirt cheap without regard for the source. If I can buy a widget made in china for $0.10 cheaper than a comparable US made product, then that is what we do. Eventually the US companies can not compete with the $0.50 per hour wage and goes out of business.

There is NO easy answer. Everyone will have to understand that US products, even those made by labors making minimum wage, will be more expensive that products made in china. I don't see that happening.

[brownsfan]

"There is NO easy answer. Everyone will have to understand that US products, even those made by labors making minimum wage, will be more expensive that products made in china. I don't see that happening."

Most of the posts I read here would tell you the WalMart effect is a good thing. The mere invocation of the name WalMart will generate posts.

I would agree, there are no easy, and few good answers. The cost of energy could be a blessing in disguise. The cost of those widgets goes up when it costs twice as much to ship them from China to here.
Unfortunately, we have too many liberals here who haven't lost their jobs yet. Until they do, they won't tolerate relaxing some of the stupid regulations of the workplace and over the top EPA stuff.
I guess we're going to have to take the pain, and see if we have the guts to grow. Otherwise, look at England, that will be our future.

[Wiseghy]

..."People want everything dirt cheap "


Actually, American cars are significantly cheaper than the Japanese models I buy. However, American reliability is awful and downright dangerous. It only took a few times stranded in the middle of nowhere for me to drop GM and Ford cars for good.

Their component quality is terrible because it has been tied into their union negotiations. I also find American electronic technology (like Delphi) to be dreadfully dated.