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Post by unlawflcombatnt on Aug 22, 2009 3:33:44 GMT -6
You do get more for your money, but often on a temporary basis only, as the now Chinese-made device you purchased has to be replaced more often. My wife buys her hairdryer at a local drug store. All brands, including the store brand, are made in China. They come with a 2-year warranty. Only the store brand allows her to simply return it to the store for a new one without charge (as opposed to personally sending it back to the manufacturer with the brand names). Over the course of the 2-year warranty, we usually exchange it 5 or 6 times. The ability to exchange it at the store for a new one does make the low price worthwhile in this case. But this case is the exception, not the rule. Many, if not most, require you to contact the service dept in India before returning it--which may require hours on the phone. And even then they may not let you return it. And even if they do, you have to take it to the post office & stand in line to mail it back, and hope the manufacturer will reimburse you for shipping. This process uses up the customer's time, which is especially bad if you work during the hours the Post Office is open. It can take several weeks to several months to get the replacement, and it usually requires that someone stay at home and wait for the replacement to arrive. It took us 6 months and 8-10 phone calls to get a window air conditioner replacement. (And shortly thereafter, our landlord told us we could no longer have an air conditioner in the window). The point here is that the lower initial price may end up being a lot more costly than it initially appears. Really? Air conditioners were more expensive in the 1980's when they were manufactured here? They're more expensive NOW! Nothing has gotten cheaper (except Intel and AMD chips). Anyone who claims cheap foreign labor produces cheap foreign goods is a liar. I agree overall. The point I was actually making is that, even the handful of foreign-produced goods that are priced less are still more expensive in the long-run, because they have to be replaced more often. I remember when I used to build ships, I had to carry 2 crescent wrenches around on my beltloop all day. This was so I could attach and detach the an oxyacetylene burning (cutting) torch. A Chinese-made crescent wrench often didn't last until the end of the day, because it was so poorly made that the jaw of the wrench would fall off before the day was over. Even if it did make it to the end of the day, it didn't last more than a week. Thus, even though those wrenches were cheaper to buy, they cost more in the long run because they had to be replaced more often.
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Post by waltc on Aug 22, 2009 14:23:09 GMT -6
ULC
I remember when I used to build ships, I had to carry 2 crescent wrenches around on my beltloop all day. This was so I could attach and detach the an oxyacetylene burning (cutting) torch. A Chinese-made crescent wrench often didn't last until the end of the day, because it was so poorly made that the jaw of the wrench would fall off before the day was over. Even if it did make it to the end of the day, it didn't last more than a week. Thus, even though those wrenches were cheaper to buy, they cost more in the long run because they had to be replaced more often.
Spot on, I do a lot of work on cars(since I buy them at junk yards and salvage auctions) and I can tell you the Chinese made tools don't last long at all and do cost more in the long due to their piss poor quality.
So I buy American made tools, they cost more but its worth it.
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Post by beatle on Aug 23, 2009 11:45:15 GMT -6
I wouldn't utilize tarrifs...and would utilize something similar. Impose a "tax" equal to the labor cost and regulation cost differences. That would make outsourced production costs more in line with U.S. production costs/living standards. It would equal the playing field.
If companies didn't return home, the possibility would be opened for a domestic company to compete with them....minus international shipping costs.
Reducing U.S. wages to equal China's has sometimes been proposed...and that wouldn't pay an American mortgage.
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Post by fredorbob on Aug 23, 2009 20:43:23 GMT -6
I wouldn't utilize tarrifs...and would utilize something similar. Impose a "tax" equal to the labor cost and regulation cost differences. That would make outsourced production costs more in line with U.S. production costs/living standards. It would equal the playing field. If companies didn't return home, the possibility would be opened for a domestic company to compete with them....minus international shipping costs. Reducing U.S. wages to equal China's has sometimes been proposed...and that wouldn't pay an American mortgage. Stop fearing the word "Tariff". The founding fathers loved the Tariff, Tariff in the Constitution as perfectly legal, Tariff created the world's greatest industrial power, Tariff ended slavery, Tariff is good. And it could be a bad idea to do that. With Carbon Taxes coming down from our glorious Congress, equalizing regulation would not only be a bureaucratic nightmare but it would make us uncompetative with 'friendly' competitor nations and allies (1st world).
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Post by fredorbob on Aug 23, 2009 20:54:05 GMT -6
Really? Air conditioners were more expensive in the 1980's when they were manufactured here? They're more expensive NOW! Nothing has gotten cheaper (except Intel and AMD chips). Anyone who claims cheap foreign labor produces cheap foreign goods is a liar. I agree overall. The point I was actually making is that, even the handful of foreign-produced goods that are priced less are still more expensive in the long-run, because they have to be replaced more often. I remember when I used to build ships, I had to carry 2 crescent wrenches around on my beltloop all day. This was so I could attach and detach the an oxyacetylene burning (cutting) torch. A Chinese-made crescent wrench often didn't last until the end of the day, because it was so poorly made that the jaw of the wrench would fall off before the day was over. Even if it did make it to the end of the day, it didn't last more than a week. Thus, even though those wrenches were cheaper to buy, they cost more in the long run because they had to be replaced more often. Oh, well yeah, that's not cheaper (quality/price). I spent 5 years studying physics and math (2 high school, 3 college), never had an economics class in my life. This stuff is a cinch, especially since economics is purely subjective; simplistic algebraic representations. Economics isn't a science, it's a fricking joke, especially those who spend years in college to study this junk. Anyone who has been employed in a REAL JOB for at least a year knows more about economics then these idiot talking heads on TV who claim to be economists. Economists are political propagandists and nothing more. I can't stand those pukes, not a one of them are concerned about the "general welfare of the people."
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Post by AJones on Sept 26, 2009 15:19:30 GMT -6
Please read this because I really need your help!!! My name is Alfred Jones and I’m a college student that is majoring in criminal justice and I also play football. I received a letter in the mail telling me that I can’t come back to school because I have a balance over $16,000.00 from my previous year. I tried to get loans to cover it but I keep getting denied even with my mother as a cosigner. I start thinking what life would be like with no education and I didn’t want that so I start thinking big. I start buying lotto tickets, scratch offs, and even asking everybody I know for money. Everybody tell me to ask my uncles and aunts for help and that’s when I tell them I did and nothing happen. The funny thing is that I have a rich uncle on my daddy’s side and instead of him helping me he rather tell me how much money something cost that he own or how much money he has in the bank. That’s ok I’m not gone give up yet. I start think about what I have that’s worth anything. At this point I’ve pawn my television, DVD player, and GPS. At this point I’m running out of options and the only thing I have left of any value is my laptop and the title to my 1993 Buick. I really miss school and football. I wish there was such of thing call a money tree because if there was I’ll be growing them in my backyard. I pray every night for a miracle to happen. I know its people out there similar or worse than mine but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get the money for my education. I just hope I get the money by Dec. so I can pay the school off so I can register for fall semester in January. If you can help me giving me $1,$5,$10,$20,$50,$100 or any way you can I would be so thankful and appreciate everything you do for me. Thank You and God Bless… Info: Address: 803 Elmira st Mobile, AL 36603 Cell #: (251) 490-6206
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Post by joe6pack on Sept 26, 2009 23:20:05 GMT -6
Please read this because I really need your help!!! My name is Alfred Jones and I’m a college student that is majoring in criminal justice and I also play football. I received a letter in the mail telling me that I can’t come back to school because I have a balance over $16,000.00 from my previous year. I tried to get loans to cover it but I keep getting denied even with my mother as a cosigner. I start thinking what life would be like with no education and I didn’t want that so I start thinking big. I start buying lotto tickets, scratch offs, and even asking everybody I know for money. Everybody tell me to ask my uncles and aunts for help and that’s when I tell them I did and nothing happen. The funny thing is that I have a rich uncle on my daddy’s side and instead of him helping me he rather tell me how much money something cost that he own or how much money he has in the bank. That’s ok I’m not gone give up yet. I start think about what I have that’s worth anything. At this point I’ve pawn my television, DVD player, and GPS. At this point I’m running out of options and the only thing I have left of any value is my laptop and the title to my 1993 Buick. I really miss school and football. I wish there was such of thing call a money tree because if there was I’ll be growing them in my backyard. I pray every night for a miracle to happen. I know its people out there similar or worse than mine but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get the money for my education. I just hope I get the money by Dec. so I can pay the school off so I can register for fall semester in January. If you can help me giving me $1,$5,$10,$20,$50,$100 or any way you can I would be so thankful and appreciate everything you do for me. Thank You and God Bless… Info: Address: 803 Elmira st Mobile, AL 36603 Cell #: (251) 490-6206 just sent you some scratch tickets good luck
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Post by fredorbob on Apr 8, 2010 6:39:02 GMT -6
Just attack the Free Trader's primary arguments one by one:
1) Cheaper consumer goods (lie)
2) Exports Democracy (lie)
3) It's American as apple pie, the founding fathers were all enlightened free traders (lie)
4) Gets rid of unions (lie)
5) It's what conservatives do (lie)
6) It's what Republicans do (lie)
7) Creates good jobs (lie, unless you're super-rich, free trade is quite a boon to the super-rich.)
Free Trade has done the opposite:
Increased the price of goods.
Provided the Chinese Communist Government with a stable tax base, China should have collapsed along with the Soviet Union a long time ago.
The founders and the constitution is now totally misunderstood.
Unions are on the rise, and they have gone international.
Conservatives and Republicans have totally lost power in Washington.
Keeps wages down and destroyed mucho jobs for everyone except the super-rich.
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