[kms61]

Another flaw is that there's nothing to stop them from sending the R&D, marketing, and other functions overseas.

As for the macro view of who's going to buy these products in the long run, that's not a concern to the corporate managers. Next year is long term to them. Five years is a lifetime. By the time these chickens come home to roost, they'll have taken their golden parachutes and be playing golf every day. Damned few people in Corporate America think strategically any more.

Free market capitalism is not an immutable Law of the Universe. People will support it only so long as they perceive it to be beneficial to them....and that includes Freepers, as some of these threads have shown.

When the majority--or even a substantial minority--of people believe that this system no longer serves their interest....Watch Out.

[Sonny M]

Another flaw is that there's nothing to stop them from sending the R&D, marketing, and other functions overseas.

Its funny (well not funny, sad actually) that you should mention that. R & D and marketing, along with tech support, and engineering jobs are being outsourced overseas. Escept for the marketing, most of it is going to India, while the manufacturing is going all over the place.

Due to the "diverse" nature of our society, don't be surprised when (not if) companies start using say spanish marketing firms.