Is anything made in the U.S.A.

[mlauk]

There are a lot more jobs being lost to the foreign companies than just assembly. There are jobs in design, testing, accounting, etc being lost to foreign companies when you don't buy from an American owned company along with all the profit. Personnally, I'm proud of American products and like to see a strong American economy. It is going to be harder to find jobs for the next generation if we don't have a strong American manufacturing economy.

 

[N80]

Walmart is truly a conundrum. They are the poster child for unrestricted free market capitalism but they are also the poster child for the abuses of unrestricted free market capitalism. Unlike many conservatives and Ditto Heads, I abhor Walmart. They do ruin a local small business scene. No doubt about it. And some market Darwinists would say that that's just survival of the fittest. But that is far from the whole story, the playing field is not level. The legal and governmental playing field is tilted in favor of large corporate entities (that can line pockets) over small business. Really quite sad.

And what Rich says about the suppliers is true and there is even more to the equation than Walmart turning the tables and squeezing the supplier. When that happens, the supplier starts cutting corners to keep costs down and that results in a sub par product. And then we get used to sub par products and continue to buy them. Downward spirals everyhwere but Walmart's stock price.

But that's not all. I just hate the whole Walmart experience. They never have what I want and never have anyone that can help me. The one's here are dirty, crowded and inventory is hit or miss.

American consumers love Walmart.

The critique of western culture says that all it does is create a better consumer. One might suggest that a better consumer is a more informed and demanding. But its worse than that, 'better' only means that they will consume more. Being informed and demanding is economically counterproductive.

 

[cp1969]

Still a lot of airplanes made here but that is changing, too.

I've said this before, but can't resist saying it again. It is one thing to let all your manufacturing capability disappear, but it is the kiss of death to let your machine tool industry go offshore. Without it, it is entirely possible that you could never re-tool and become a manufacturing economy should conditions require it.

But, no one cares. It is a "me first" economy, starting first and foremost with CEO's and everyone else does their best to follow their example of stealing the company blind. For those who are not in a position to legally steal, the powers have created the Power Ball Lottery as a crumb of hope, a tranquilizer for the masses.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Still a lot of airplanes made here but that is changing, too.

I've said this before, but can't resist saying it again. It is one thing to let all your manufacturing capability disappear, but it is the kiss of death to let your machine tool industry go offshore. Without it, it is entirely possible that you could never re-tool and become a manufacturing economy should conditions require it.

Being in Michigan, I am seeing this firsthand, and it is a VERY bad thing. Shame no one seems to be doing anything about it. Ross Perot seems to have been right!

I personally think there is way too much praise heaped on Japanese products. I have owned two Honda cars, both purchased new within the last 8 years, and while one was great the other was a complete lemon. On average they were no better than my american-brand cars (most but not all of which were made in the US).

Given that this is a tractor forum, I'll say that I started my tractor search with Kubota, and didn't even think about Deere until several weeks of looking had gone by. Since I got around to looking at them, I have been impressed with Deere and in fact just chose a JD over a Kubota largely because I had concerns over several of the design and manufacturing decisions on the Kubota, and no such concerns for the same or any other parts on the JD I chose. I should note that I have driven four Kubotas and inspected probably 30+ in the L and M series range, and my concerns were not one-off assembly issues but rather design and process issues. Reading all the problems on the owning/operating forums for each brand also influenced me. It doesn't hurt that my JD was assembled in the US, although I don't know where all the parts are from, but it didn't make my decision. Had I thought the quality was better on Kubota than Deere, I would have bought Kubota.

I also think you are going to see a continuing slide of the US dollar vs. most currencies, which will make anything made outside the US more expensive than it is now - either to purchase or to buy parts for.

I think it is extremely important to consider where the bulk of a company is for jobs. Even if the actual labor is outside the US, if the engineering, testing and other skilled work is done here, that is a huge plus.

 

[MikePA]

I get a kick reading anti-WalMart diatribes. They're some of the most condescending, arrogant polemics on the net. They almost always imply, or state outright, that people who shop there are simpletons and not discerning or demanding. They only know what they want and look for the best price. Yes, pity the poor dolts, they don't know any better. They don't know how to incorporate quality into their buying decision, much less the larger, macroeconomic issues. To borrow a phrase from Marx, "Walmart is the opiate of the people." Who will save us from this hoard of the great unwashed who, through their inability to see the bigger picture, are single handedly destroying America?

 

[thingy]

Well,we don't make much in the u.s. now,,but we are starting to make many mexicans and quite a few arabs and indians,[from the country called india],,so,,,,,,thingy

 

[Steadite]

We are in global economy now and it is just going to get more that way. I can't find any clothes made in the US at the Farm and Fleet store. I just buy the stuff I like and don't worry about it any more.

Toyota Camry is the best selling car in the USA. I'm not surprised they got into Nascar. Did you notice that a few years ago 9 out of the 10 top finishers at Indy were Honda powered? Indy used to be an American race but that changed in the 60's when Jimmy Clark (from Scotland) drove a rear engined Lotus. A lot of people laughed, but not for long.

The world is a small place anymore.

ccsial,

You can buy US-made clothes from this site (as well as others). You can't expect to buy US from a store.

Clothing Made in USA : Union Made : American Made Clothes

 

[slowrev]

IMHO the only difference between WalMart and most other retailers is size of the operation. Just a bigger target (no pun intended).

 

[ccsial]

I was too naive when I bought my '97 Dodge/Cummins one tone dually 4x4. I couldn't imagine a more MADE IN USA truck.

Later I discovered it was "Hecho en Mexico." My prev truck was an '84 Ford diesel MADE IN KANSAS (Still mostly American so far.)

Pat

Are you sure your Dodge was made in Mexico? My 97 Cummins was made in St Louis and I was told all the Diesels were made there in 97.

 

[ccsial]

ccsial,

You can buy US-made clothes from this site (as well as others). You can't expect to buy US from a store.

Clothing Made in USA : Union Made : American Made Clothes

Thanks Steadite