Immigrant Americans and "Buy American"

[Chaotic42]

Here in NZ, goods which are manufactured in the USA are generally perceived as higher quality. "Made in the USA" stickers are usually much larger than their asian counterparts. I would buy American made over Chinese/etc in most cases, all else being equal. The salient exception being Americans cars, which are generally perceived as complete rubbish by the rest of the world.

Yeah, I really hope that we can get some of our manufacturing jobs going. There's got to be a way to make high quality goods which are affordable and don't involve pouring delicious dioxin into kindergartens.

 

[Riceninja]

no one today can live without buying chinese goods, and its only going to get tougher from here on.

in 10-15 years though, they'll probably be where japan/korea is in terms of quality

 

[Mike Gayner]

IDK why Americans have such a problem with globalisation - any econ 101 student can tell you that everyone is better off when we focus on what we're good at. America is no longer competitive in manufacturing (generally) but has huge potential in more advanced sectors. Unfortuantely this potential gets supressed because the manufacturing lobby convinces you that it's unpatriotic to take advantage of better economies and push USA toward more advanced commercial sectors.

 

[Riceninja]

IDK why Americans have such a problem with globalisation - any econ 101 student can tell you that everyone is better off when we focus on what we're good at. America is no longer competitive in manufacturing (generally) but has huge potential in more advanced sectors. Unfortuantely this potential gets supressed because the manufacturing lobby convinces you that it's unpatriotic to take advantage of better economies and push USA toward more advanced commercial sectors.

aka not most americans

plus when youre losing your blue collar job, emotions tend to get in the way.

 

[sandorski]

Why always with the "Econ 101 Student" analogies? They probably know less about Economics than the General Public. Basically because they are getting an Introductory simplified Overview of the whole Field.

Now an Economics 401 Student probably knows something worth noting.

 

[brigden]

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.

Those boots made in Italy were made by Chinese.

 

[zinfamous]

You haven't taken much economics, have you? "Corporate Greed" is usually about efficiency. It is most efficient to manufacture in China and develop here. Ultimately, more money comes back into our economy (although not at all to the working man) when we outsource.

fixed for you. You really still think Reaganomics, aka trickle down is somehow valid?

it never has been. the 3 decades of evidence against it is overwhelming.

 

[Train]

We shouldn't try to compete with China with no skill labor, its a no-win battle, and its extremely short sighted and naive to think we should even try.

England didnt stand a chance against the US when we took manufacturing away from them, and we wouldn't stand a chance against China. China at least knows to already look forward to outsource cheap labor on down the line, and is investing in African infrastructure

 

[Train]

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

Yet American management moved on to open factories in Mexico, China, Phillipines, etc. ANd continued ot make money, While labor bitched.

Management adapated. Labor complained about change.

 

[JMapleton]

7 For All Mankind jeans are made in America. It's the only high end jean I wear, although I'm thinking of picking up some Diesels soon (yeah don't bash them until you've tried them, they're excellent quality fabric), but Diesels are made in Italy.

 

[Train]

IDK why Americans have such a problem with globalisation - any econ 101 student can tell you that everyone is better off when we focus on what we're good at. America is no longer competitive in manufacturing (generally) but has huge potential in more advanced sectors. Unfortuantely this potential gets supressed because the manufacturing lobby convinces you that it's unpatriotic to take advantage of better economies and push USA toward more advanced commercial sectors.

Shhhhh, your speakin common sense and intro level econ!

Union propadanda unfortunately has most of America believing the opposite.

 

[bobsmith1492]

fixed for you. You really still think Reaganomics, aka trickle down is somehow valid?

it never has been. the 3 decades of evidence against it is overwhelming.

One engineer works on Ipods, which are made in China let's say and sold in abundance. He receives a decent salary and makes a good living for himself.

One day he decides to upgrade his house. Since he doesn't have time to do it himself, he calls a contractor and pays him good money for a new kitchen and dining room.

He then proceeds to the supermarket where he buys a good meal to prepare in his kitchen. The next day he goes to a nice restaurant nearby.

A few days later, his American-built car breaks down so he brings it to the nearest garage for repairs.

What is the common denominator here? Wealth generated from a moderately-high-end job "trickles" into the lives of contractors, supermarket clerks and janitors, restaurant owners and waiters, farmers, truckers, mechanics, factory workers who built the trucks and his car and the contractor's tools, and the list goes on.

 

[BassBomb]

i love when the us hassles me when i enter, when ive been stimulating their economy more than canada's (if you don't count tuition)

 

[sandorski]

One engineer works on Ipods, which are made in China let's say and sold in abundance. He receives a decent salary and makes a good living for himself.

One day he decides to upgrade his house. Since he doesn't have time to do it himself, he calls a contractor and pays him good money for a new kitchen and dining room.

He then proceeds to the supermarket where he buys a good meal to prepare in his kitchen. The next day he goes to a nice restaurant nearby.

A few days later, his American-built car breaks down so he brings it to the nearest garage for repairs.

What is the common denominator here? Wealth generated from a moderately-high-end job "trickles" into the lives of contractors, supermarket clerks and janitors, restaurant owners and waiters, farmers, truckers, mechanics, factory workers who built the trucks and his car and the contractor's tools, and the list goes on.

Imagine if Millions of Unionized Factory Workers did the same thing!

They once did.

 

[Train]

Imagine if Millions of Unionized Factory Workers did the same thing!

They once did.

But they weren't worth it, which is why their jobs disapeared.

 

[sandorski]

But they weren't worth it, which is why their jobs disapeared.

Negative. Their Jobs disappeared due to Ideologues undermining them and poor Management.

 

[Train]

Negative. Their Jobs disappeared due to Ideologues undermining them and poor Management.

Are you still regurgitating the same garbage?

Management adapted and moved on, trying to put the blame on them is stupid.

 

[sandorski]

Are you still regurgitating the same garbage?

Management adapted and moved on, trying to put the blame on them is stupid.

They did? Fail.

 

[FelixDeCat]

fixed for you. You really still think Reaganomics, aka trickle down is somehow valid?

it never has been. the 3 decades of evidence against it is overwhelming.

You lie.

 

[Meghan54]

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."

I know I'm talking to a sack of hair, but let's try.

When a country gives up the vast majority of its basic manufacturing skills to another country, it can then be held hostage by the country that has the manufacturing skill.

Consider: We're outsourcing more and more of our steel production to overseas sources, closing steel plants here in the U.S., and essentially losing our basic heavy industrial base in this area....among others.

Now, when and/or if the time comes that the country(ies) that export our raw steel to us decide to "disagree" with a policy of our government, be it import/export duties, social issues (human rights, freedom of whatever---speech, assembly, etc.), and that country decides to, in an offhand manner, suggest we may not be able to source as much steel as we'd like, what do we do? We've given up the ability to make our own, so we're essentially held hostage by the country with the ability to make it.

Wars have started over less.....but by continually outsourcing our basic manufacturing industrial base....steel, bearings, whatever.....we lose the ability to make it here at home and will forever be held hostage by those with the manufacturing base needed for production of raw goods. How do you make a weapon, plane, warship, if you cannot make the steel sheet or precision bearings or anything else we've lost to outsourcing? You can't, and rest assured, China just loves the fact that more and more of our basic manufacturing industries are essentially closing down in the U.S. and moving to China. Gives China a huge bit of leverage over us. And don't think that down the road, if the situation requires them to pull that card out and play it, they won't.

I really think it's absolutely foolish for this country to lose basic industrial capacity and techniques to another country just to save a buck or two right now.

We cry about having to import so much oil and how the Middle Eastern countries have so much effect over our economy simply by driving up prices on oil or withholding a portion of the supply we need.

Now imagine a country like China restricting our supply of steel or titanium or bearings, to name a few critical goods. We'd grind to a halt in no time...unable to manufacture a single gun or plane or ship.

 

[JMapleton]

One engineer works on Ipods, which are made in China let's say and sold in abundance. He receives a decent salary and makes a good living for himself.

One day he decides to upgrade his house. Since he doesn't have time to do it himself, he calls a contractor and pays him good money for a new kitchen and dining room.

He then proceeds to the supermarket where he buys a good meal to prepare in his kitchen. The next day he goes to a nice restaurant nearby.

A few days later, his American-built car breaks down so he brings it to the nearest garage for repairs.

What is the common denominator here? Wealth generated from a moderately-high-end job "trickles" into the lives of contractors, supermarket clerks and janitors, restaurant owners and waiters, farmers, truckers, mechanics, factory workers who built the trucks and his car and the contractor's tools, and the list goes on.

I somewhat agree to an extent, but you're wrong to another extent.

It's best to have "trickle up" economics. Give the money to people who will spend it.

It's a fact that the majority of wealthy people, who are the prime benefactors of tax cuts, live far below their means, often living on only a small percentage of their annual income. Thus a large tax cust rarely changes their spending habits.

I say give the money to people who will spend it. Make the first $50k in income tax free. You will see huge increases in consumer spending.

 

[Wheezer]

I somewhat agree to an extent, but you're wrong to another extent.

It's best to have "trickle up" economics. Give the money to people who will spend it.

It's a fact that the majority of wealthy people, who are the prime benefactors of tax cuts, live far below their means, often living on only a small percentage of their annual income. Thus a large tax cust rarely changes their spending habits.

I say give the money to people who will spend it. Make the first $50k in income tax free. You will see huge increases in consumer spending.

You just summed up every "Secret To Getting Rich" book ever published.

Hell if people would learn to simply learn to live WITHIN their means this we probably would not be in recovery mode from the last shit storm.

 

[Bignate603]

If we actually required imported goods and the factories that make them to come anywhere close to meeting the environmental standards we have in the US the price difference wouldn't be so huge.

 

[Train]

They did? Fail.

Have you been reading this thread?

Who do you think opened those factories in Mexico and China for American companies?

It's the same guys who ran the previously existing factories here.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

IDK why Americans have such a problem with globalisation - any econ 101 student can tell you that everyone is better off when we focus on what we're good at. America is no longer competitive in manufacturing (generally) but has huge potential in more advanced sectors. Unfortuantely this potential gets supressed because the manufacturing lobby convinces you that it's unpatriotic to take advantage of better economies and push USA toward more advanced commercial sectors.

cause most people can't see beyond the very immediate consequences. globalization can help us but unfortunately we became less competitive in the things that could have brought us so much wealth like aero-space engineering and bio-tech. so rather than sell china or india some nasa shit for billions of dollars they wanna go up against them in the shoe game where we can be less productive in making the same shit.

staying in manufacturing instead of moving on like you said would be akin to working at a fast food place after high school instead of spending time and money going to college.