Posted on 09/03/2007 4:38:11 AM PDT by shrinkermd
Those making the claim are responsible for providing proofs for that claim, not the other way around! Still, given the wholesale offshoring of whole swaths of industries - textiles, steel, electronics - and rapid inshoring of lower paid workers in huge numbers - I find it difficult to accept official government numbers on several fronts, but I’m in pretty good company.
So, when the facts don't fit with your world view....attack the facts.
Same argument given by those who say the WTC was an inside job.
And a lot of crap simply gets thrown away, because either it has no intrisic value, or it becomes outdated/superceded/redundant.
This is about manufacturing jobs in the US. If the company builds the products here and exports it to China, I see the benefit. But if Cat builds the plant in China and hires Chinese labor, how does that benefit the American worker?
I don’t think they can be classified as jobs Americans won’t do. Outside of the stockholders(which I may be one) who benefits?
Watch “Modern Marvels” on the History Channel and you’ll be amazed at how much manufacturing goes on domestically.
I saw this trend a long time ago. Manufacturing is being automated. Eventually, most work will be done by robots, so how does a person guarantee a living for themselves? Answer, be a stockholder. Own things that are in limited supply, such as land. Learn valuable personal skills, such as masseuse (don’t laugh, I personally know two people who make a good living by giving massages).
More and more people will become stockholders or landlords who do not have to work. There will always be room for those who need to work hard to make their fortune, but it will get easier and easier as the number of those who are well off without working grows.
I am in transportation. There are places in which transportation costs present too large a barrier to allow a US manufacturer to compete via shipping complete end items like bulldozers or autos.
However, if a manufacturing plant is built there, the product is produced to meet the demand and compete with the local manufacturers. Most times, the sophisticated parts are still manufactured in the country of origin. Toyota does this, building in the US with parts shipped in. I recently worked on a General Motors project for parts shipped from North America to manufacturing plants in Europe. Are you aware that General Motors is going gangbusters in Europe?
Who benefits? The local consumer who has more choice. The American manufacturer who now can compete. The stock holders. The transportation providers. And ultimately we all do via earnings from foreign countries.
I am in transportation. There are places in which transportation costs present too large a barrier to allow a US manufacturer to compete via shipping complete end items like bulldozers or autos.
However, if a manufacturing plant is built there, the product is produced to meet the demand and compete with the local manufacturers. Most times, the sophisticated parts are still manufactured in the country of origin. Toyota does this, building in the US with parts shipped in. I recently worked on a General Motors project for parts shipped from North America to manufacturing plants in Europe. Are you aware that General Motors is going gangbusters in Europe?
Who benefits? The local consumer who has more choice. The American manufacturer who now can compete. The stock holders. The transportation providers. And ultimately we all do via earnings from foreign countries.
That means you would look at the price first.
When I was a child, I never imagined that one day I would spend on dinner the things that I have--or tip what I have tipped.
My parents never did. They worked hard--did without--saved to send us children to college. (They couldn't save enough, and I had to work my way through much of it.) Because of them my life is fabulous. I stand on the shoulders of giants. I can hardly wait to get to the next life so that I can thank them--again and again and again!
When my wife and I were first married, we stumbled into a restaurant that, to us, was very expensive. We were already seated when we realized how much everything cost. I didn't know what to do.
My wife was from a very affluent family, and was accustomed to expensive restaurants, but I was supporting her and had never known wealth. She was in college. I had finished medical school and was a resident. We were living on $190 a month (my salary), and I was paying her tuition. I put her through four years of college.
My wife took one look at the prices on the menu and said, "Let's go."
I was too embarrassed. I didn't know what to do.
My wife was not embarrassed. She's never been concerned with appearances or other people's opinions. So, she got up and started to walk out. She turned and waited on me.
I was embarrassed, but I left with her and was glad that she did what she did.
I think the most expensive thing on the menu was about $7--lobster or steak--something like that.
Since then I've tipped the waiter many times that amount!
Agreed. But should the government, or ANYONE, be involved in socio-economic engineering that says, we must BUY only United States products?
Not doomed, but the growth potential for individuals is becoming more and more limited every year.
Manufacturing creates WEALTH... when a manufacturing job is lost, its not just that job that get cut, there are 3.5 additional jobs that that one manufacturing job supported that also go away.
Service industry only generates 1.6 jobs for every direct job. (And what’s 1.6 x 2?) Just about 3.5... which is exactly why in todays america in general it takes 2 incomes to equal the inflation adjusted income of what your father alone could provide for your family 30 years ago.
That’s the facts, the free trade worshipers will try to spin it otherwise, but its the facts.
The real reason we need two jobs is because Americans consume too much. We need the newest car loaded with features, the biggest house we can afford, all the new gadgets, 250-cable channels with high speed internet, 50 new toys for each child, etc. Someone who lives within their means could live nicely off of one income. I am as guilty of this as the typical American, but it is the truth.
We hear that American’s should have the choice to buy products from any country and at the lowest price. I mentioned in a previous post of hunting for many weeks (October-November, 2006) to locate dress shirts in the Louisville area that were American made, in advance of the wedding of one of our daughters. Even in expensive men’s clothing shops, where white shirts run $30.00 to $40.00, they were made in Honduras, Bangladesh, Indonesia, China, etc. We finally did find some that were perhaps made in the USA (we’re not really sure)in Bloomington, Indiana, and on sale, too — $23.00 !! (some sale/ s). Choice? What about the choice to buy American?
We were in a very high priced suit shop in Indianapolis, looking through suit racks, again for the wedding. The advertising was “Italian Suits.” As we pulled suits off the racks and examined them, the sales assistant kept emphasizing that these were Italian suits. The labels all had Italian names. No label said, “Made in _______________.” My son and I each took a suit and headed for the fitting rooms. While trying the suits on, we found small pieces of paper in pockets, like what you would find in a fortune cookie. The papers all revealed that the suits were made in China of Italian-STYLED fabrics.
Choice to buy American electronics? Disappearing.
Someone recently did post here a list of table game manufacturers that still produce in the USA. But a game is being played with American consumers, and lies are being told; deceptions abound about the idea of “CHOICE.”
Interestingly, we visited a huge toy section in a mall in Shanghai, China, about two weeks ago. There were American brand named toys there in plenty. All made in China; not imported in to China. So one would expect cheap prices. But the prices were the same as what you would find in American stores. We asked the people why they were so expensive. The answer was that they are American toys !!! We found that UK brand named toys had UK prices, too, even though they were made right here in Shanghai. We bought NOTHING!
Two scenarios...
1. When the demand for CAT dozers, front end loaders and track hoes is so great that the plants here in the U.S. aren unable to keep pace. Which would be a good thing.
...or...
The Chinese economy (and most of Asia) would have to go down the tubes. Which would be bad because they wouldn't be buying anything made over here, either.
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