Made in America: The short list

[the_tyrant]

Made in the USA (or Canada, or the UK for this matter) is not competitive world wide.

Maybe Ducimus will buy something because it is made in America, but people like him accounts for only a small percentage of the American population, and the US accounts for only a small percentage of the global population.

To the rest of the world, why would they buy something that is more expensive because it is made in America?

Also, people usually say Made in America = better quality. Well thing is, there is no correlation between quality and the location where it is made. I have seen amazing quality on some things that are made in Japan or Germany. in this age of mass production, there isn't really anything stopping the goods made in China or Mexico from being bad quality really.

I just don't see a future where more things are being manufactured in the US. Hell, I don't even see a future where manufacturing is done by cheap labor in China or Mexico.

[MH]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

Made in the USA (or Canada, or the UK for this matter) is not competitive world wide.

Maybe Ducimus will buy something because it is made in America, but people like him accounts for only a small percentage of the American population, and the US accounts for only a small percentage of the global population.
.

True...that's the reality but question is if this kind of economy is not causing circular reaction that actually turns against the very people who enjoy it in long run.
Regulated chinese economy may delay the equilibrium of wages and work condition for long time to come.

[Stealhead]

Actually they are already building factories in places like Vietnam and Cambodia because there are enough Chinese workers wanting higher pay.

I agree that quality is relative just because something is made in the US or any other country does not mean that is the best quality product or the best priced product.That being said I do find generally speaking that products that are made in a 1st world country usually are better quality.

Why someone would be impressed that a German or Japanese product is of good quality is a bit beyond me both of these nations are known for having workers that take pride in making a good product Japan did not become known for this until after WWII first with very well made metal toys and later with complex machinery and electronics now only certain components are made in Japan.Same goes for Germany it has been known for quality manufacture for some time in fact this actually hurt them during WWII because they just could not pull them selves away from high quality complexity.

Wal Mart and over consumerism is what has done us in people want low cost over anything else and that is why most items are not made in the US or 1st world nations now our only major in demand comity are high cost items that require complex machinery and engineering to even produce the problem is that these types of items usually do not require very many workers to produce so less jobs you only need maybe 100-150 workers at a GE turbofan factory you might need 500 or more workers at a t-shirt factory.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Wal Mart and over consumerism is what has done us in people want low cost over anything else and that is why most items are not made in the US or 1st world nations now our only major in demand comity are high cost items that require complex machinery and engineering to even produce the problem is that these types of items usually do not require very many workers to produce so less jobs you only need maybe 100-150 workers at a GE turbofan factory you might need 500 or more workers at a t-shirt factory.

Good points. Another thing that gets ignored is the effect of productivity increases. Manufacturing jobs are inevitably going to be lost because of increased technology and efficiency. Building one car on Henry Ford's Model T assembly line probably took 100 times the number of workers it takes to build one Ford today.

[nikimcbee]

Manufacturing jobs are inevitably going to be lost because of increased technology and efficiency.

This.

[Platapus]

As technology and culture changes, so do industries. We have always experienced some industry, and unfortunately workers, "left behind".

Horse-related industries
Typewriter companies
Sewing Machine companies. Does anyone even remember Adler?
Stenographers
Electric Tube companies
People who's job it was to add before adding machines.

(I am sure we can continue this list)

When technology/culture changed, all these people were out of jobs. The smart ones were able to apply themselves and find a new industry, but I am sure there were some that stayed until it was too late.

If it is on a personal level, it is sad. No one wants to hear about Uncle Bob's factory going out of business and Bob having to start over after 30 years.

But for every industry that closed, there were new opportunities that open. Not all the time and not in all situations. But most of the time.

If one is in a particularly vulnerable industry, it is important to have a Plan B, just in case.

What can't happen is for people to refuse to change and insist that "The Government" make rules mandating that their industry continue despite changing technology/culture.