Triumphrat

leemadinger

I stopped worrying about preferring to "buy American" after I owned two GM cars in the 70's and 80's that were both pieces of crap. And what does it really mean to buy American when Toyota Camrys and VW Passats are both made in the USA? Now, quality comes before place of origin for me.

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Lee

PopPop

One aspect of outsourcing that can't be ignored is the gap between jobs that exist in the US and the number of people who are trained to fill them.

Manufacturing isn't what it used to be and relies far less on manual labor than it used to. So, outsourcing jobs doesn't create as big a problem in the labor pool as it otherwise would have, say 20 years ago.

There are lots of jobs available but many of the employed don't have the skills to fill them. Education, at a root level has to be improved for anyone trying to enter the work force for the first time. And, people who are out of work need to connect with employers who are willing to train them for new tasks, or, enroll in community colleges, universities, or trade schools to get the skills they need to compete.

The long term vitality of the middle class isn't going to be built on piece workers. The US currently has a global edge on high tech business and innovation - that's where I think we have to capitalize. Not, necessarily relying on filling floor space in front of a punch press.

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Even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road. -- Stephen Hawking.

Silverado57

The 70s & 80s? Man, you must be able to carry a grudge for a long time.

You may not have gotten the memo, but things have improved in the last 30 years in American cars.

Since 1983 we have owned nothing but Chevrolets and have NEVER had a problem, with well over 1 MEELION miles on them.

We just picked up a 2012 Chevy Cruze and 2012 Malibu and got sweet deals on both of them. Both are real nice cars MADE IN USA and we look forward to miles of smiles.

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Kevin
Luceo Non Uro
NJ USA

spank86

Can't say much about right and wrong, after all that's a subjective choice made by the very people you're complaining about.

What I can say is that it's just the way human brains work, not that it means you shouldn't fight against it, just that you should be aware if why others don't.

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73T140

Absolutely, totally agree. With one 'fine point' exception.

"I wasn't the government who granted permission for such moves to take place."

Should read "I wasn't the group of employees that decided we should be paid way more than the market will bear to produce those goods". If you think high labor costs cause manufacturers to relocate, just wait till some nitwit decides its a good idea to hold manufacturers captive.

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There is a difference between doing what you can, and doing what you have to.

PopPop

I accept the fact that it costs a local dealer money to operate a store front, employee knowlegeable staff, maintain inventory, pay taxes, manage returns, etc. etc. It's convenient for me to be able to handle the goods, try the fit, get my questions answered and walk away with what I need. Do I expect to pay the same as someone who has the same thing drop shipped from a warehouse in Shanghai? No. Am I willing to pay the difference? Yes, sometimes.

Dennis Kirk has an interesting business model. You can order on line or go to their ware house in Rush City and order your goods by telephone with your credit card, from their catalog, and have them delivered to the city desk in about 10 minutes. You can then examine what you have ordered and return it immediately for a different size, color, or whatever.

There is no retail space to speak of, just one fella schlepping the packages off of a conveyor belt up front, and a few folks filling orders in back.

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Even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road. -- Stephen Hawking.

leemadinger

I'm not opposed to buying American cars; my current vehicle is a Ford pickup. Since my lousy experience with GM junk, I have owned quite a quite satisfactory Toyota, a Mazda, a Nissan, and three Fords. But yes, I do bear a grudge against GM and would never buy another, no matter what Consumer Reports says about them.

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Lee

BMK9251

I had 2 GM lemons in a row....both with piston slapper (5.3 & 6.0) engines...yeeeeech...never again. My 1960's,70's,80's and up to and including my 1999 GM Suburban were all excellent. It was the 2002 and 2006 lemons that broke my wallet. Between the two I had over $10,000 in repairs.

deluxe

If looking out for #1 makes you want to vomit,..vomit away. I for one will not be ripped off by overpriced retail stuff just to satisfy the generally socially conditioned masses who don't know any better.

If it is cheaper at a store I will buy it there,..cheaper online I get it there etc.

Like I said,...looking out for number 1. In today's world, those who don't look out for themselves either have way too much money or no money at all.

I'll add a cent, think I'm up to 5 now

spank86

Fair enough, just remember not to complain if everyone else looks out for number one also.

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