Immigrant Americans and "Buy American"

[bloodugly]

Just wondering what those who are immigrants think of the idea. We seem to have a lot of people who want to "buy American" and talk shxt about foreign made goods...whether its from China, S. Korea, Taiwan, or whatever (I've actually heard quite a few people lately saying stuff like this, not just wanting to buy American because of jobs and such). Personally, I think every country has companies that will put out sub-standard goods if they can get away with it and profit from it.

Thoughts?

 

[zerocool84]

We're all immigrants.

 

[lokiju]

I was listening to an article from NPR a while back and they made it out like other countries desire products and goods from USA as it's perceived as high(er) quality.

Not sure how true this is, and found it a little unlikely myself, but who knows...

 

[brblx]

american goods are pretty much inferior to everything but chinese, anymore. and you probably still get more quality per dollar from china, especially if it's engineered somewhere else.

american labor is the fail.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Shit, good luck finding any products other than produce (and a good portion of that is imported too), dairy, meat, poultry, and cars that isn't imported.

I just bought a pair of boots that were made in Italy. I was actually stunned that they weren't made in China.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I was listening to an article from NPR a while back and they made it out like other countries desire products and goods from USA as it's perceived as high(er) quality.

Not sure how true this is, and found it a little unlikely myself, but who knows...

I've never really seen this. People mostly either buy the cheapest, or brands that they are already familiar with, which is usually not a US brand.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

american goods are pretty much inferior to everything but chinese, anymore. and you probably still get more quality per dollar from china, especially if it's engineered somewhere else.

american labor is the fail.

It's not American labor that failed, it's American management.

 

[JS80]

Why do you want Americans to waste their time making shoes?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Why do you want Americans to waste their time making shoes?

It's a needed and honorable profession?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Why do you want Americans to waste their time making shoes?

It beats unemployment?

 

[JS80]

It's a needed and honorable profession?

No, let the chinamen do it while we invent the new ipod.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

No, let the chinamen do it while we invent the new ipod.

Why can't we do both?

 

[bloodugly]

nm

 

[JS80]

Why can't we do both?

cuz ipods makes more money

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

cuz ipods makes more money

I think just a few more people buy shoes than iPods.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

cuz ipods makes more money

might be the first time i've agreed with js80. trade barriers and silly protectionist thinking isn't going to save our economy. we need to get back to being leaders in engineering, bio-tech and other sciency shit.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

might be the first time i've agreed with js80. trade barriers and silly protectionist thinking isn't going to save our economy. we need to get back to being leaders in engineering, bio-tech and other sciency shit.

We need to go back to being leaders in everything. That isn't going to happen with outsourcing.

 

[nutxo]

We're all immigrants.

Some of us are more immigrant than others.



( I know its gonna be edited into ignorant but it seemed funny at the time)

 

[Inspector Jihad]

We need to go back to being leaders in everything. That isn't going to happen with outsourcing.

outsourcing isn't the whole problem tho. most of the R&D happens right here at home. we still attract a lot of talent from overseas, we just need proper direction and organization.

 

[So]

Why can't we do both?

Because we as a people will be richer if we trade the chinese one ipod for thirty pairs of shoes... I know, they make them both now, but the idea is sound.

 

[sandorski]

Given the way the thread has turned to Free Trade vs Protectionism this Video might be interesting to watch

The New World Disorder

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

outsourcing isn't the whole problem tho. most of the R&D happens right here at home. we still attract a lot of talent from overseas, we just need proper direction and organization.

Which is why I said American management failed

Because we as a people will be richer if we trade the chinese one ipod for thirty pairs of shoes... I know, they make them both now, but the idea is sound.

The idea is not sound exactly because they DO make both now. When we allow the number of different things we trade for other products to significantly reduce as compared to the number of different items we import, we are becoming more and more dependent and inflexible.

 

[Schadenfroh]

We're all immigrants.

I thought I was an invader.

 

[JS80]

Which is why I said American management failed



The idea is not sound exactly because they DO make both now. When we allow the number of different things we trade for other products to significantly reduce as compared to the number of different items we import, we are becoming more and more dependent and inflexible.

I know I am talking to a wall but let's try. China makes iPods because we tell them to. We tell them how. If you cannot see that the "developing" part of the iPod is infinitely more valuable than the actual manufacturing, then you won't really "get it."

 

[zinfamous]

We're all immigrants.

this.

also, there is a legitimate reason to avoid Chinese-made goods these days. But in all reality, the majority of those "foreign made goods" are generally from US companies. ....so what's all the fuss about?