[sarcasm]

Part of this downward pressure is also the result of cheap foreign goods manufactured by semi-slave labor in socialist countries.

Like China.

[RLK]

Like China, indeed. My brother lost many many thousands of dollars with Singer stock. He tried to explain it to me as being the result of a bad investment by Singer in Europe. I had to explain to him that one of Singer's major sources of income was that they had made hand power tools for Sears/craftsman for many years. Take a look in the tool department at Sears now and the labels say made in China./ It killed Singer. Upon opening the box I find my new Craftsman high quiality cordless drill says made in China. Even Black and Decker are marketing Chinese equipment, which turns out to be high quality. It's raised hell with the job market and economy of Northern Baltimore and Salisbury Maryland. Such is partially responsible for the loss of 65,000 jobs in Georgia this year. Entire American industries are being gutted and displaced, displacing workers.