Worried about Jobs

[TerryinMD]

ejb,

Good point about the technology upgrades.

Everyone has upgraded to bigger, better, faster and with the demise of many dotcoms and the push for centralized hosting providers. This has created spare capacity in many areas and burgeoning expenses to support them. Just as you cited, major technology companies such as Cisco, Dell, Sun, Gateway, and Compaq are not selling new equipment because it is simply not needed. Our company is telling us to make do with what you have. The spending caps that were normally signed off by a manager now have to have a Senior VP signoff. It is bizarre. A Senior VP having to worry about pennies.

Ahhhh - the new paradigm.

Are we at bottom or just the beginning? Good question which time will tell.........

 

[jinman]

You elaborated exactly my take on the y2k mania. You stated your case very well. It's only logical that there will be a lull until new software drives the need for new hardware and the trend again continues up.

JimI

 

[DrDan]

Knight,

Nope all we have to do is keep ours and we won't need theirs.

 

[Knight9]

DrDan,

So you are suggesting a limit on exports and a limit on imports? Would that position hold true on all items??

Kevin

 

[mikim]

you say somebody is looking for good help?

 

[Wingnut]

TBone ... sorry but I gotta jump on that one. Can you back up your comment on the Canadian government "subsidizing" the lumber industry with some facts? Not propaganda, facts?
I always love all this talk about charging a US customer an extra tax ('cause it's the CUSTOMER that pays the tariff) if they buy something imported.
I can tell you that the Canadian government sure gouges a lot more tax out of the lumber companies ... and the unions keep striking for higher wages ... and the products still sell for less than US lumber. Wonder how that works?

Sure ... let's talk subsidies. Any idea why food, on average, costs more in the US than Canada? No, not because the government forces the grocery stores to give away food ... but because of the huge sugar subsidies in this country. You (and I) pay almost double for a chocolate bar. And most of that goes to a couple of companies. Corporate Welfare!
How's the farms doing with all the subsidies going to the big enterprises? I hear hog farmers can't compete with the big guys .... becuase the big guys manage to get corporate welfare from every level of government. And all that comes out of your pocket and my pocket.
Before we scream about Canadian lumber ... or Toyota Camries or Honda Goldwings ... let's scream about tariffs and subsidies and buaranteed profits and artifically high utility prices ... all because of our governments ... not their fgovernments.

too bad that common sense ain't

 

[RobertN]

DrDan, I read this whole listing here, and, well, I done up and disagree with a few things...

"George" does'nt need to do this, WE do. WE, US, YOU, and I. Don't pass the buck; WE are the ones on import tractors(mine included). WE are the ones with import TV/VCR/Microwave/Clock radio/car stereo/ect/ect. Look at the cars and trucks we import. Ya, we had problems in the 70's, but American vehicles have improved substantially.

Some of our great American documents start with "WE, THE PEOPLE". We, the people. Not "we, the president", or "we, the congress". This stuff is up to us, "the people". If we do not quit buying import items, then where do "WE" stand?

I was in Missourri last week; in OUR "Heartland". Stopped by a Walmart. You know, in that great American store, it took me over 15 minutes to find a US made item; over 15 minutes! Looked at the store here in Folsom, Ca; same thing.

I try to buy American where ever I can. But even if it says "Made in America", lots of parts are not. I'm pretty proud to ride a Harley. But, you know, my grand American bike has Showa forks and shocks, Hitachi starter, Keihin Carb, unknown import electrical system.

Taxes can help, but are not "THE" answer. Harley did make efforts towards import tarrifs in the early 80's. With improvements in products, and those protective tarriff's, they lead the world in cruiser bikes.

If we want those factories up and running in Gary, Ind, and all those Silicon Valley jobs, and tractor plants staying open, why WE THE PEOPLE should ought to start buying products made here and in those factories.

Otherwise, it just aint gonna happen. It just aint.

It isn't any help to blame the foriegners. They make it, cause we'll buy it. Plain and simple.



RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[cowboydoc]

Well said Robert. I agree with everything that you said. I can tell you that I've done a 180 on how I buy.

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>Harley did make efforts towards import tarrifs in the early 80's</font color=blue>

They did that, for sure; made one of the sorriest, highest priced motorcycles on the market, blamed the labor unions for it, then lobbied to get a $750 additional tarrif on imported motorcycles so they could sell their junk./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif And then they wrote lots of letters threatening to sue me because I wouldn't waste taxpayers' money buying their junk. I told 'em to just shoot their best shot and they backed off.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Here in Columbus IN, Cummins is laying off again. Lot's of houses for sale! I don't have enough confidence to make any major purchases for a while. I also don't have the money, since profit sharing is practically non existent and it's like taking a cut in pay.

As for RobertN's comments, I agree. But, RobertN even admits he doesn't practice what he preaches. I wouldn't even look at a Kubota because they are not an American company. I realize my New Holland TC29D is not 100% American, but at least it's an American company and it's assembled in America (Georgia). The engine in made in japan but it's owned by Ford (at least that's what I was told). I try to buy American as much as I can. Sometimes I don't have an option, such as VCR's, so I'm not going to just do without because I can't find an American made one. Our standard of living goes down every time someone buys a product made outside the US. It was Japan, but now it’s China. It seems like everything is made in China these days. Oh well, at least my house was made in America, since it was build right where it stands!