"Made In America" Creating Jobs, Great ABC Piece

[IceHogsFan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs3tohxVo1M

 

[jaxhawksfan]

Awesome that contractors and their suppliers are learning they can buy American. Now how do we make the big box stores that supply materials sell mostly American products?

 

[TSD]

Awesome that contractors and their suppliers are learning they can buy American. Now how do we make the big box stores that supply materials sell mostly American products?

Until the countries that currently manufacture said big box items employees decide to want a do the job for more than 2 dollars US an hour, not gonna happen.



Or consumers refusing to buy anything other than american made products (also not gonna happen, people are strapped for cash, they wont pay the premium for an american product).

 

[IceHogsFan]

Until the countries that currently manufacture said big box items employees decide to want a do the job for more than 2 dollars US an hour, not gonna happen.



Or consumers refusing to buy anything other than american made products (also not gonna happen, people are strapped for cash, they wont pay the premium for an american product).

What I got out of the piece is that there are items that are cost competitive right here in the U.S if we were to just be aware and look for it.

 

[BigPete]

Until the countries that currently manufacture said big box items employees decide to want a do the job for more than 2 dollars US an hour, not gonna happen. Or consumers refusing to buy anything other than american made products (also not gonna happen, people are strapped for cash, they wont pay the premium for an american product).

And this is what frustrates me most: the notion that costs have to go up exponentially because Americans refuse to become sweat shop workers or slave labor. What is the root cause of 'profit above all else'? Is it the capitalist mantra? Is it the need to make a profit for the sake of the investors? It is a complex question where the result is to send manufacturing overseas to reduce costs as much as possible so as to maximize profit. But there has to be an answer where quality goods can be made in a responsible way that are ultimately priced in market with a healthy enough profit margin. Anyone have some real solutions to propose? Automation? Reduce investor input and/or ROI? CEOs of publically traded companies make way less? A cap on profit in relation to investment in one's operating budget? These are serious questions to ask if we ever hope to return to the righteous notion of the "Made in the USA" moniker.

 

[LordKOTL]

What I got out of the piece is that there are items that are cost competitive right here in the U.S if we were to just be aware and look for it.

My dad does this. He says it's a *****-and-a-half to find simple stuff that's not made in china. It may be out there, but it's a hell to find it.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

What I got out of the piece is that there are items that are cost competitive right here in the U.S if we were to just be aware and look for it.

That's what I got also. Some things may be a few cents higher, but there are other items which are a few cents lower. I credit the folks who started "the list." We need a "list" for all sorts of industry/products.

 

[IceHogsFan]

That's what I got also. Some things may be a few cents higher, but there are other items which are a few cents lower. I credit the folks who started "the list." We need a "list" for all sorts of industry/products.

Agreed

 

[supraman]

And this is what frustrates me most: the notion that costs have to go up exponentially because Americans refuse to become sweat shop workers or slave labor. What is the root cause of 'profit above all else'? Is it the capitalist mantra? Is it the need to make a profit for the sake of the investors? It is a complex question where the result is to send manufacturing overseas to reduce costs as much as possible so as to maximize profit. But there has to be an answer where quality goods can be made in a responsible way that are ultimately priced in market with a healthy enough profit margin. Anyone have some real solutions to propose? Automation? Reduce investor input and/or ROI? CEOs of publically traded companies make way less? A cap on profit in relation to investment in one's operating budget? These are serious questions to ask if we ever hope to return to the righteous notion of the "Made in the USA" moniker.

I blame bean counters. They all can suck mai ballz

 

[mikita's helmet]

Wonder if ABC used American Audio/Video equipment to shoot their story, or Japanese, or ...

 

[Rex]

Wonder if ABC used American Audio/Video equipment to shoot their story, or Japanese, or ...

the production truck is probably a Toyota or some similar hunk of shit.

 

[IceHogsFan]

the production truck is probably a Toyota or some similar hunk of shit.

I know you are Canadian but even vehicles "Made in the USA" have many of their components manufactured in other countries. Hell, Mitsubishi has a plant right here in Illinois that assembles their vehicles here.

 

[winos5]

Toyota trucks are built in the US. San Antonio has a Toyota truck plant.

 

[Rex]

Toyota trucks are built in the US. San Antonio has a Toyota truck plant.

so they employ Americans, and then take the profits overseas

 

[Rex]

I know you are Canadian but even vehicles "Made in the USA" have many of their components manufactured in other countries. Hell, Mitsubishi has a plant right here in Illinois that assembles their vehicles here.

what does me being Canadian have to do with anything? Btw, huge Chevy plant in Ontario.

 

[IceHogsFan]

what does me being Canadian have to do with anything? Btw, huge Chevy plant in Ontario.

The only thing meant by it is that you do not live here in the US so you may not be aware of the numerous foreign automakers that have plants in the US. Nothing else was implied.

 

[phranchk]

Most Amercian cares are made up of between 60-80% foreign parts these days. I don't think there's any easy solution when it comes to "buy American." I do my best when I can. I will definitely shop at a local business vs. a big box store. In fact, I will often go out of my way to do so. Not always easy though.

 

[IceHogsFan]

Most Amercian cares are made up of between 60-80% foreign parts these days. I don't think there's any easy solution when it comes to "buy American." I do my best when I can. I will definitely shop at a local business vs. a big box store. In fact, I will often go out of my way to do so. Not always easy though.

I am the same way Frank. It has to be a conscious effort to do so. It would be helpful to be reminded of it, like the video presented above, especially when we are in the economy we are in now. What I like even more is that addresses jobs in the US and without the government having to regulate, fund or choose anything.

 

[Maiden]

Everyone loves throwing the term "sweat shop or slave wages" around. Let's look at the flip side or what I call "mansion wages."

This is the term for union scale where it costs a company "insert number here" times more than it should to produce a product or service.

Smart and profitable companies came to the conclusion that any chance for selling their product or service was becoming lower and lower as the "mansion wages" scale became higher and higher. Hence the reason why things started to be produced overseas.



btw: For those of you on the "Made in America" only crusade; take a good hard look at your 401(k) plan. If your portfolio has any foreign companies why haven't you sold those by now?

 

[Rex]

The only thing meant by it is that you do not live here in the US so you may not be aware of the numerous foreign automakers that have plants in the US. Nothing else was implied.

oh, I'm aware. I think the biggest Toyota plant in North America is here in Ontario as well.