U.S. Furniture Makers to Seek Protection From China Imports

Wall Street Journal ^ | 7/15/03 | Dan Morse

[Eva]

I have to say that the Chinese made furniture does not compare to the better American made brands. Bassett is not one of them, however.

[Principled]

The only thing left for the US to manufacture is taxpayers.

Nice!

[Capriole]

When the garbage collector makes more than our childrens' teacher,something's a bit wrong with collective bargaining!Our goods are too expensive to compete world wide and I haven't a clue how to solve it.

I agree with you. I hate the unions. A hundred years ago, when large companies routinely exploited workers, they were necessary and did something good for Americans. Now, this is no longer the case. Unions are often inherently left-liberal, working to undermine business without understanding that if business collapses there won't be any jobs for anybody. The unions are driving many major industries to the verge of bankruptcy--just ask the airlines.

I suspect that one of the problems is that there is today an expectation that not-very-well-educated, blue-collar workers should have the lifestyle of the educated white collar worker. We have elevated our expectations of what an acceptable lifestyle is for workers.

[MEG33]

What you say is true but politically incorrect!

[Jeff Head]

Whether we should be trading with a repressive government is another question.

This is one pice of the puzzle, a government that is so clearly from a regional and even strategic perspective our real ideological enemy and our potential physical enemy.

I would also agrue that in addition to direct defense related manufacturing, that Energy, Agriculture and critical infrastructure are National Security issues that we must mainatin here on our shores. IOW, we need to be able to feed ourselves, be energy independent and insure that we can have the infrastructure to support those things along with the critical defense industry.

All of those are necessary to maintianing ourselves as a free, soverieng and independent country...which is something we should always do, even in this era of global communication and commerce.

We can mantain those levels critical to those purposes and still import and export in those same areas to varying degrees, just ensuring that we do not give away the baby with the wash.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

I'm not sure that the furniture stores make it clear what is the Chinese junk from the good American made furniture. And, the lighting in some stores make it difficult to judge the quality until it arrives at your home where it becomes obvious (warped table, each chair different color, etc.). The floor model in the store was carefully selected and nothing like what is delivered.
I finally learned to just grab a salesperson, and tell them firmly I want only furniture made in America. The durability and quality cost a little more but is well worth it.

[EagleMamaMT]

OK, since you seem to have all the answers and be the all-knowing King of Capitalism, tell me one thing: What would YOU do with all the out-of-work factory workers and IT workers in this country. Remember, another 3.3 million jobs are slated to be lost to India in the IT sector in the next ten years or so (according to another article I saw posted here today). I want a clear, concise plan on your part. No "start your own business and become rich" crap. That stuff is only fit for a 12:00 a.m. infomercial.

What's the answer? Should they all buy rubboards and a couple of tubs and go around doing people's laundry (that was an occupation a lot of women did in the Depression to put food on the table. Of course, it only paid about 50 cents for a full 10 hours of labor, too!).

What's the answer? I keep hearing all you "free traitors" talking about the export of American jobs being good for us, that it helps us "buy cheaper". Tell me, just HOW are people going to buy goods and services if they do NOT have a job? The last time I checked, electricity was not free, natural gas was not free and even water costs money, not to mention food, clothing and shelter!

I've been reading your posts on here for a while and I've came to a conclusion about you. You work in a field that you believe to be 100% iron-clad free from outsourcing. Am I right?

Another thing you never address is this: The rise in state and local taxes to offset the loss of these jobs. The Americans that are no longer employed are no longer paying taxes. They're also, in a lot of cases, having to go on food stamps and to use state-subsidized healthcare for their children. That's costing ME, since I'm a taxpayer, and I help fund these services. It's costing EVERY taxpayer in EVERY state. I know you'll probably say that these people shouldn't be given food stamps or be allowed to get subsidized healthcare for their children. That seems to be the standard response of you "free traitors" when this subject comes up. How does that mindset jibe with your "compassionate conservatism" that you seem to claim to possess, along with GWB?

If just once any of you "free traitors" could answer any of these questions I've just put to you, and not in some generalized "they can start their own business and become another Rockefeller" type way, maybe I'll start taking you seriously. Until then, I'll take any of your posts with a large grain of salt!

[harpseal]

If anyone is a socialist then I would have to state that supporters of China, the Democrat Party and those opposed to America are socialists. So far you have called tariffs national socialist pooicies when tariffs are certainly Constitutional. You accuse me wanting to support dinosaur industries which may well be the case with the furniture industry but I state that given the competition is from China and given the nature of China's trade practices the obsolescence of teh furniture industry has yet to be proven. The primary purpose of the Federal government is to protect the citizens of the USA from foreign predation. Now the simple fact is foreign predation will benefit some citizens of the USA. I note Benedict Arnold was very well paid for the plans for West Point.

Now if you had once referenced facts or economics beyond the economics 101 that claims the furniture industry is obsolete without refernce to facts pe4rhaps we could have a rational discussion but your continued refusal to bring in facts or economics into teh argument leaves the simple fact you do not want tariffs on Chinese goods and services because you think it will cost you money. Oh well I do not like having to pay my taxes either but I pay them. I am certain there have been a large number of Americans who did not like giving their lives in battle for the USA but they did.

In point of fact tariffs due to economic stimulus effect they have within the American market do not have a net cost to American consumers. Tariffs offset income taxes and by directing Capital to the US market we are better able to to compete on the world market since the capital investment is what improves worker productivity and thereby generates more3 net wealth within the USA. The current trade envirornment is not free trade it is the deindustrialization of the USA.

[TheEditor]

There is no way on earth that Stickley's high-end stuff faces competition from the Chinese factories. If Stickley has been branching out into the lower end of the spectrum then the Chinese may threaten them. But if Stickley has low end goods then they will NOT have the same craftmanship as Stickley's best. Can't be done.

My wife has been in retail furniture for more than a decade now. She has been keeping me abreast of the huge rise in Chinese shipments. The article is right -- the price is outstanding, and the quality is strong given the low-end prices. But there is more.

Suppose you're checking in a container from China. Your warehouse manager spots a bad headboard -- warped or something. How does the Chinese factory want you to handle it? They will tell you to destroy it and they will credit you on the next container. That's it! No need to have a manufacturer's rep physically verify the problem. Almost no paperwork and no bureaucratic hoops to jump thru. Just scrap it and the factory will make good. Try doing that with Hooker! Ha! And the value realized from the slimmer bureaucracy? Passed on to the consumer. I don't give a damn about those companies in High Point -- if they can't deliver value to the consumer, why not go to the Chinese?

The article is right about the upholstered pieces -- the US mfr's have the advantage. Why? Try to import textiles into the US. The Customs' regs on textiles are a giant maze requiring quite a bit of capital(human and otherwise) to navigate. And the US consumer gets screwed in the process.

I'll have to ask my wife about the Stickley matter.

[MEG33]

Yes,there were no safety nets in the depression and we were lucky because we could garden and raise chickens.It took my father 10 yrs to stop working 6days a week for someone else(once he was lucky enough to find a job).He then started his own business where he worked sometimes 7days a week.Times were tricky and there were no store bought clothes for many years.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

"Oh well I do not like having to pay my taxes either but I pay them. I am certain there have been a large number of Americans who did not like giving their lives in battle for the USA but they did."

Amen.
"Free Traitors" have the most amazing blinders on.
Facts and logic are foreign to them, but they can repeat the "free traitor" mantra over and over.
They are completely tunnel-visioned, unable to weigh-in any other factors.
They have no understanding of history (or a very peculiar view of it).
Their brainwashing has been so complete that they are not open to any other way of seeing events or the world.
It is their religion and no argument will dissuade them.

[Texas_Dawg]

We are in a rapidly tightening death spiral.

Sweet. Let's have more then. Looks pretty nice from my vantage point.

[harpseal]

International trade SHOULD be a free market. If they want to export cheap goods to us, so be it. If they don't want to accept our exports, that's their mistake - it's only going to hurt them in the long run.

This makes no sense. The theoretical temporary dislocation will eventually be addressed in theory but in practice the exercise of political power which results from the temporary dislocation leades to a permanent dislocation of resources.

[RightWingNut]

The Germans do an incredible job of efficiency. Also, the Japanese do. My father was amazed at the machine work involved in a Japanese car. He said he had never seen such beautiful machine work in his life !!

A great deal of the "difference" lies in the country's cultures.

Germany is know known as a very hard working, very efficient, and disciplined society. A cousin spent several weeks in Germany with his employer, and went to several parties while there. The Germans know how to drink !! However, at every party he went to, there would be a group who wouldn't drink at all. These were the "designated drivers" for the remainder of the group who were drinking (like fish I might add !!)

Americans are know as lazy and innefficient. Talk to personnel departmetns and ask them how difficult it is to place a person in a job. A person who will always show up for work, and won't be hung-over. A person who will actually do their job !! A person who looks upon the position as a "career" and not a "job".

Before I get "flamed", how many times have you been working with someone, and hear them say "That's good enough on that job. By the time it breaks, it'll be out of warranty." Or "No one will ever know."

My dad says" If you're going to do anything, do it right and do it right the first time or don't do it at all". Perhaps more American companies, and workers, could apply his little saying.

[Euro-American Scum]

You must have missed all the threads on the manufacturing jobs lost by moves to China.Will be shifting all military manufacturing to China ?

No. Only high tech weapons systems developed by Indian software developers.

[Texas_Dawg]

A hundred years ago, when large companies routinely exploited workers, they were necessary and did something good for Americans.

I hear this a lot too. Sad that has become accepted as "fact". Unions were just as evil then as they are now.

[MEG33]

I'm trying to broaden my education so here we meet on another thread!

[GraniteStateConservative]

I bet we could get soldiers much cheaper from China and India. All we hear is how the soldiers don't make enough, how they want pay raises and more benefits and how the VA hospitals need more funding. Let's just use Chinese and Indian labor and not have to worry about the pay raises and benefits and increases in budget appropriations. Think of the money we'll save.

[jpsb]

I am becomming more and more convinced that Texas_Dawg
is not at all what he claims to be. I to not think he is an American. His knowledge of American history is poor to say the least.

[LanPB01]

By not accepting our imports, they're just dislocating resources within their own country. That's only hurting their economy in the long run.