European vs US safety

[mjncad]

We're in danger of heading the same way you know... we're setting up manufacturing places in China, but it won't be long before the cost of getting things to high quality hits the Chinese industrial machine and costs start to rise. It'll balance out in the end, but not before many businesses suffer in the cooperate battle to get everything cheaper.

Oh well.. back to the garden

I knew Ford was selling Volvo to the Chinese; but I was disappointed when they actually consummated the deal.

Did SAAB ever get bought by Spyker or Konigsegg? If so, one can hope SAAb gets back to making unique cars again. To me, GM wrecked that company by forcing them to turn out mediocre junk.

As for China, its crappy products, and the USA's debt load to them....GRRRRR!

 

[SensibleNick]

Did SAAB ever get bought by Spyker or Konigsegg? If so, one can hope SAAb gets back to making unique cars again. To me, GM wrecked that company by forcing them to turn out mediocre junk.

Spyker bought Saab in the end, with loans from a dubious Russian bloke it seems. Saab isn't doing too well, while Volvo is making amazing profits it seems... And the new bloke in charge of Spyker/Saab has apparently never made a profit on anything. Rather worrying really.

I saw a documentary once about a massive container ship that simply goes back and forth between China and the USA... one way it is heavily laden... the other way it's only used to 5% capacity.

Scary...

 

[_RaT_]

I've got a stack of 1886 newspapers here... and most adverts are for steam-ship travel to the New Land... utterly fascinating to read. One of the headlines is "Irish Get Voting Rights"... Wonderful stuff.

I'm rather jealous of your wood supply! The south of Sweden is fairly sparse when it comes to woodland: in the North it's massively forested, but the old ship-building habits saw to it that trees became endangered.

I'd love to heat the house with wood that I've cut and split, but the reality is that I simply don't have the time. Heating with wood pellets (Willow grown in rotation on the fields as a well-earning crop - harvested and shredded, and waste wood from the sawmills in the north) is a renewable, cheap and easy way... I'm new to it, but I kinda like it

Very cool Nick. I'm trying to envision what that must have been like back in those days. The next thing you know they are going to let the Italians vote!

I have to say that I still have the desire or will power to go out and harvest the wood. Very few folks seem to anymore. I did split the cost of a log splitter with a neighbor down the street, he's basically a wood *****, we call him the wood ****. He always has 5 cords seasoning. He works all week and on the weekends he relaxes doing therapy like chain sawing downed trees, hauling them home and splitting them. I'm thinking about charging him for having that much fun.

 

[mjncad]

Spyker bought Saab in the end, with loans from a dubious Russian bloke it seems. Saab isn't doing too well, while Volvo is making amazing profits it seems... And the new bloke in charge of Spyker/Saab has apparently never made a profit on anything. Rather worrying really.

I saw a documentary once about a massive container ship that simply goes back and forth between China and the USA... one way it is heavily laden... the other way it's only used to 5% capacity.

Scary...

Sounds like the new bloke is the European equivalent of Malcolm Bricklin and John Delorean.

As for the container ship; you're right, that is scary.

I'm not anti-import; but I am pro-fair trade, which is not the same as free trade. Any country that can't/won't provide for itself is doomed to failure.

 

[Sweden-Art]

I prefer the "common sense" approach rather then the nanny state concept of the European. In Europe, sometimes the bureaucrats are a bit too intrusive in the lives of the citizens (not just in safety).
I guess it depends if you want to control your own life or let some one else do it for you.
This topic has the potential of getting too political, so I'll end my response now.

Seems like the "Nanny state" is much closer then you think. Heck, you dont even need a passport

Connecticut School Bans Physical Contact - wcbstv.com

 

[RoyJackson]

Seems like the "Nanny state" is much closer then you think. Heck, you dont even need a passport

Yeah, I know...our so-called "educators" are really wussies.
However, there is a pretty strong movement to reduce government intrusion in our lives...I just hope that movement keeps up the pressure.

 

[SensibleNick]

Yeah, I know...our so-called "educators" are really wussies.

I love a well thought out argument. Well done Roy, with your wit and cunning You've won this round! :thumbsup:

 

[_RaT_]

I love a well thought out argument. Well done Roy, with your wit and cunning You've won this round! :thumbsup:

Sensible, are you being Cynical....

 

[_RaT_]

Seems like the "Nanny state" is much closer then you think. Heck, you don't even need a passport

Connecticut School Bans Physical Contact - wcbstv.com

Whew, good thing there are 49 other sates to c:laughing:nsider moving t:thumbsup::thumbsup:!

 

[mjncad]

Seems like the "Nanny state" is much closer then you think. Heck, you dont even need a passport

Connecticut School Bans Physical Contact - wcbstv.com

This kind of Politically Correct crap really pisses me off.