Measure 28, a very good editorial.....

Straydog · 02-02-2003, 08:06 AM

Yes, I am still frustrated and discouraged......

Show me the money..........

24 on/ 48 off · 02-02-2003, 03:55 PM

Hit the nail on the head.

--spud-- :smile:

skein · 02-02-2003, 07:30 PM

Check out the thread about the Oregonian's headline:

Chip Industry's Roads Lead to China

Then, in another message:

Boeing is offloading tons of work to asia right now. Just found out they're making the 737 tail sections in China now. They ship it to Renton and slap it onto the butt end of the fuselage. I make assemblies that get shipped to China and assembled there.

How many "Made in USA" tags do you think you would see on China's store shelves?

Time to boycott companies who send our jobs overseas. Time to boycott companies who sell those products when they get 'em back.

We won't do that yet, but the day is coming. Defend America with your dollars!

Listen up, Costco, Walmart, Cabela's, you name it. The writing is on the wall. We're waking up. And we want to see some "Made in USA" stickers!

Skein

TheRogue · 02-03-2003, 05:02 AM

And, of course, we want to see those "Made in USA" stickers on products that are the same price as the stuff produced overseas by cheap labor??

Won't happen. Until we repeal or modify a bunch of trade agreements, we CANNOT compete with the $10/day overseas labor market, period.

TR

Straydog · 02-03-2003, 06:33 AM

Yo Skein,

I appreciate your feelings but I have to say it is way too late and TR is right, the cost will change our minds if nothing else will.

By the way, better check where the computer you are using was built, or at least many parts of it............. if you wanna sell it cheap, I am in the market. :grin:

skein · 02-03-2003, 07:13 AM

Yep, you're right, I can't change the world. But I can do my best to effect change in the things that I touch. For example:

When I went to Les Schwab for tires they wanted to sell me Toyos - made in Japan. I said nope, what do you have that's made in America? Turns out they're just as good and actually cost a little less. I'll use them again when I buy my next set.

I could go on, but bottom line is I always look for a product that's made in the USA. I don't always find it, but if I do, it goes to the head of the line. And if it costs a little more (not as often as you think) I consider that my part to keep our people working.

Often the difference in prices for USA vs overseas products shows up in some CEO's vacation home, not at the checkout stand. There's more profit (and lots less regulation) by shipping our jobs overseas.

You want to know what I really think of those guys?

I'll keep looking before I buy.

Skein

Cool Texan · 02-03-2003, 07:25 AM

Skein...would you buy a Honda? Its made in America, but the profits still go back to Japan. I bet there are a LOT of companies like that.

The Fishing Geek · 02-03-2003, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cool Texan:
Skein...would you buy a Honda? Its made in America, but the profits still go back to Japan. I bet there are a LOT of companies like that.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">True, we should buy a Chrysler that is American-made. Those profits go to...uh...Germany.

Straydog · 02-03-2003, 07:53 AM

Good for you Skein. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

I do truly appreciate your principals and your efforts to live by them.

skein · 02-03-2003, 08:46 AM

Honda? Heck no. I'd buy a Harley instead.

Oh....you were talking about cars, weren't you. Not motorcycles. :grin:

Just havin' fun.

But you know, Harley Davidson is a perfect example of what American ingenuity, American craftsmanship, and good management can achieve. HD was almost dead and gone, and the bowling ball people (Brunswick) weren't doing to good a job with it. Now look at 'em. They are probably the most sought-after motorcycle on the market today. And they are a heck of a lot more dependable than they ever were before. I like it! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Skein

Cool Texan · 02-03-2003, 09:01 AM

Actually, Harley Davidson is in trouble right now....big trouble. They have an aging customer base with a significant drop off in subsequent demand from the Gen Xers. They are trying to revamp their image, get some street fighter bikes out there that younger people actually want, etc. Not a rosey forecast for them down the road...will be interesting to see how they do. As is though, Harley is starting to become the Oldsmobile of the motorcyle world....its a great product for my dad the other lawyer/doctor/weekend gang member owners, but....

kenai · 02-03-2003, 09:35 AM

I'm with ya skein, The clerks always look at me funny when I ask if I can have a US made version. I tell em I'll pay extra too. I dont care, I ask em everytime I can. It may be too late but I'm gonna do all I can to stop turning my dollars into yen. The job you save may be your own, sounds corny but it's true. Also on Harley, I've been riding them since the sixties, they said the same thing about the aging customer base back then, How many companies can you name where the customers are so loyal the company logo is tatooed on their arm?

Cool Texan · 02-03-2003, 09:50 AM

Kenai,

How many people under 30 do you know with Harleys? Under 40?? The problem is not the customers today...its who is gonna buy them tomorrow. That is why they are coming out with low cost versions, trying to sell street racer versions (ala the Japanese crotch rockets), etc. They have an uphill fight on their hand....just read the paper, probably their own web site, and certainly a few dozen MBA text books who are studying this problem and how they can survive it.

skein · 02-03-2003, 03:26 PM

Hey Texan,

This afternoon I was at my desk thinking about this thread and started laughing to myself. There is one imported item I almost always go for - cervasa. Negro Modelo is one of my basic food groups.

Skein

Cool Texan · 02-03-2003, 03:45 PM

TRAITOR!!!

Then again, its probably made in USA. :shocked:

skein · 02-03-2003, 11:11 PM

Texan,

They have an uphill fight on their hand....

America has an uphill fight on its hands, but I wouldn't build that "bomb-shelter" just yet. We're waking up and, once again, will prove to be a good friend or a formidable foe.

...certainly a few dozen MBA text books who are studying this problem and how they can survive it

Have you looked at the Nikkei index in the last few years? Maybe they could use a few MBA's also. (We've got some we can send 'em)

You can poo-poo all you want to, but America and American craftsmanship will still be here long after we are gone.

Skein

Cool Texan · 02-03-2003, 11:54 PM

Skein...dont misread my intention. I am merely saying that Harley is going to struggle a bit. Hopefully they will survive and thrive for generations to come. We'll see.

I agree 100% with the Buy USA sentiment. Tough to do though. Buy a Honda, profits go to Japan. Buy a Chevy and there's a chance it was built in Mexico.

sinker · 02-04-2003, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Skein...would you buy a Honda? Its made in America, but the profits still go back to Japan. I bet there are a LOT of companies like that.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Let's see who I'd rather send the profits too:
A US company that is going to continue to send more and more work overseas while they're salaries get bigger and bigger and the shareholders get a little more of the pie.
Or a Japanese company that will end up opening more plants here??

I could really care less where the profits end up. You and I aren't going to see those profits. It's all about who is employing more US workers. And right now the US manufacturing industry is shipping all those jobs overseas.

The Fishing Geek · 02-04-2003, 06:42 AM

My brother-in-law has one of those Harley crotch rockets. It's just wrong seeing a bike that looks like that and it makes that Harley exhaust noise. He says it's a cool bike, though.

skein · 02-04-2003, 06:51 AM

Sinker,

Absolutely right. I'm less interested in who owns the company than I am in where the product was made.

Made in USA
Made in USA
Made in USA

Geek,

Your brother-in-law? Isn't that your uncle on your mom and dad's side of the family?

PS. I got my hair done like yours and the barber wouldn't even charge me. How 'bout that?

Skein