Whirlpool Unveils Plans to Slash Workforce by 10% (another company closing an American plant)

Fox News ^ | 10/28/2011 | Reuters

[tobyhill]

Whirlpool Corp , the world's largest appliance maker, slashed its full-year profit forecast and said it would cut about 10 percent of its workforce in North America and Europe, to protect margins in a weak economic environment.

The maker of Maytag and KitchenAid appliances will cut more than 5,000 positions and said it would close down its plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and reduce its overall manufacturing capacity by about 6 million units.

[central_va]

Obama would get the blame and his inaction would seal his fate. No President would put a tariff on imported crude without opening up domestic production first. Nobody is that crazy, not even Obama.

[1rudeboy]

I'm just saying that maybe you could reason with the other poster. We both know Obama isn't that stupid. I've tried, but all I hear is "OMGWHARRGARBLCHINA!"

Wait, that describes you also . . . but I still think you should give the stupider posters a smack now and then.

[Toddsterpatriot]

The idiot conservative proposing it would get the blame.

[central_va]

We as a nation have no control where the crude oil is located on the planet. We as a nation DO have control where we manufacture things.

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

That is where you are wrong. By installing a tariff on imports you allow US producers to increase their prices to just below that of the import. Prices as a whole will increase and quality will decrease.

America can compete and win in a free market. The problem is our government put too many barriers in our way.

[central_va]

The problem is our government put too many barriers in our way.

I agree government barriers are bad. But there is no political will to end the regulation. In this climate it is childishness and stupidity that says I will take my football and go away(to a communist country no less). This in not conservatism but pure greed that will cause social chaos as people will no longer be able to afford the things made overseas. We will become Argentina.

It is impossible to not sound foolish to lament the jobs Americans won't do, extended unemployment ,welfare and be a "Free Trader" which in reality is a system of unfair trade practices of foreign governments.

Just how much do you think off shoring saves? Most people thing the savings are huge... There not. Maybe a few pennies on the dollar, which is what I think the tariff should be.

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

Well, to give you some background I work in manufacturing. We recently started having one of our products made in Taiwan. They make the base product and we import it and do the finish precision work before sending it to the customer. We did not outsource this product due to cost, it was done due to the permits and regulations to use a varnish that is required for the customer. Trust me it actually cost us more now to make this product but we do not have to deal with all the compliance costs. This is just one example of many where manufacturing has moved overseas due to regulation instead of labor.

Before you assume that companies move overseas for labor costs or to make the product cheaper or greed, you need to look at the whole picture. There are some products that regulation has made near impossible to produce in the USA. yes, some of these processes are nasty and toxic, but the regulation go so far beyond what is needed to protect workers and the environment.

[central_va]

What your company did IMO was un-American. To save doing paper work not just to save a few pennies on the dollar, you gave more of our manufacturing to outsiders. I wonder how much longer this country can withstands it's patriots in industry.. What heroism on display. I'll tell you what, why don't you move to Taiwan so you can manage the effort better? See ya.

I hope your company goes out of business. Have a nice day.

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

Well, what my company has been doing for the last 4 years is fighting to survive. You have no clue about regulations if you think it is just a little paper work. It is a ton of paper work and inspections by outside companies. Many of the regulation are vague and the fines for even minor infractions are very high. It is then fines that are too high of a risk. One fine by the EPA could wipe out our profits for the year.

The last company I worked for was hit with a $70,000 fine by OHSA due to a forklift training discrepancy. That was $7000 per operator. The EPA is much less forgiving. While you like to call companies un-American and wish them to go out of business, they are fighting to survive.

I believe it is you that is unpatriotic. You are blaming the victims of the bureaucrats. I guess companies should just bend over and take it until the go broke. Then none of the work would be done in the USA and we could buy everything from overseas. Then you could put a tariff on everything and all of us can say how patriotic we are by protecting manufacturing in the USA. the only problem will be that there will be none left.

[central_va]

Well when you moving to Taiwan?

[algernonpj]

... Why so threatened? Where is the threat to your precious free trade system? A couple of posters on FR? Come on we are hitting a nerve aren't we.....

It is interesting the magnitude of the flak we few lovers of freedom and domestic strength in industry get from the gloBULList Free traitors..It would be comical if the stakes weren't so high.

< overused > Methinks thou dost protest too much. < /overused >

You've made a very interesting observation. It's as though belief in Free Trade were a religion.

In addition I've noticed the Free Traitors are long on insults and short on facts.

They seem particularly miffed when one demonstrates that the CPI has been 'enhanced' so that it no longer reflects the cost of maintaining a set standard of living. The CPI currently reflects the cost of maintaining a declining standard of living. Of course this means the real GDP is overstated.

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

Well, if I need to I would. When America has given up all of it's Freedoms, is it still America? Americans are the best workforce in the would but they cannot compete with so many chains holding them back. Your solution is not to remove the chains from the producers but to add more chains to the consumers.

Who is John Galt?

[algernonpj]

Angry_White_Man_Syndrome,

You are bypassing the fact that onerous regulation is a tool of crony capitalists to prevent competition from smaller and new companies. They even lend their ‘expertise’ in the form of consultants that write bills for congress. Look at the large international corporations that have embraced ‘climate change’, ‘diversity’, ‘justice’, ‘sustainability’.

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

Trust me I know exactly who is involved. The company I work for is privately owed and very small. We do very custom work that the big companies have no interest in touching.

[central_va]

It's as though belief in Free Trade were a religion.

It is an evil religion that preys on the greed of a few at the expense of the many. Does anyone really think that if all FedGov™ regulations ended today the sell out would stop? Hell it wouldn't even slow down. The religion of Free Trade has its dogma, no question. I honestly think that Free Traitors are happy when factories shut down, there is a perverse satisfaction in knowing that they are tearing down the USA. In their haughty minds they are teaching us a lesson.

When a person has cancer killing the person does in fact cure the cancer. I prefer to try to save the patient without killing it.

What fascinates me is the vitriol at those who want to fight back with tariffs. There is zero political will from either party for that, none. Yet they attack us lone wolves baying in the woods like blood thirsty hunters. They have no tolerance at all for heretics pointing out the obvious.

[algernonpj]

[Toddsterpatriot]

Obviously the solution to too much government is even more government.

[central_va]

Defending our borders and protecting domestic strategic resources and industries ARE jobs that the FedGov™ should be doing. These things have been vital since the beginning of the republic. But then you knew that.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Defending our borders and protecting domestic strategic resources and industries ARE jobs that the FedGov™ should be doing.

We agree. Defend the borders by building a huge fence and deporting 10 million illegals.

Protect our industries by reducing the government interference that destroys them.

[1rudeboy]

In addition I've noticed the Free Traitors are long on insults and short on facts.

Just not on this thread, amiright?