Made In America............

[Pete]

What does this term mean to you at this point in time? Do you feel better about a product made in the US then the imports? <br /> Look at HD Motorcycles. Since the early 70’s, many of the parts of the bikes have been imported from all over the place. There latest creation<br />(V-Rod) was designed by Porsche in Germany.<br /> <br />How about Brigs & Stratton. They have had great luck with their "Vanguard" engines. Why shouldn’t they, they were designed by Daihatsu small engine division of Japan. Did so good, Brigs bought that division just for the R & D. They wanted the entire company, but Daihatsu was to smart to do that. Many of their parts are made in Mexico for their other engines.<br /> <br />John Deere has used Kawasaki, and Yanmar engines from Japan for years. They Paint Dawoo excavators JD yellow, and actually sell them for more.<br /> <br />Maybe Polaris. Great snowmobiles, and ATV’s. Big stickers on the front "Made In The USA". Stickers on the engines, made by Robin Mfg., which is Teledyne Industrial of Japan.<br /> <br />Chrysler has been the biggest preacher of "Buy American," and were the first to use power trains from Japan in the early 70’s. MCA// JET engines………Mitsubishi. They all do It. <br /><br /> It works the other way also.<br /> Stihl, a German company known world wide for their chain saws, and lawn equipment have their most productive plant is in Virginia Beach. Most of the saws are still made over seas. Your Honda could have come from Kentucky. Ford Probe or Explorer, oops, I mean your Mazda also made in the south land. Is that a Chevy Tracker, or the Suzuki sidekick. Hmmmm, I wonder where the Suzuki plant is? I could go on, and on, and on, and on, and on and on, and on, and on, and on. Sorry, one of those Slip things, with a Pee Wee Herman twist, but I would guess you get my point by now. It’s all over, and in all products.<br /><br />Mind you, I’m not knocking the US, and like some of the products I spoke of. Just wondering if the little sticker, or tag makes a difference to you when your spending money. I’m not talking clothing or sporting goods made in third world countries by children. I once worked with a Hebrew woman who would not own anything made in Germany, to the point she turned down a amazing deal on a used Benz. Another sold his perfect JD tractor when he found out it had a Kawasaki engine. I hear it all the time from old timers.<br /> <br /> <small>[ April 03, 2002, 12:30 AM: Message edited by: Pete ]</small>

[redman]

This is a good example of the global economy at work. <br /><br />"Made in . . ." means little anymore. Don't mourn it. It benefits us all, despite what the unions claim. <br /><br />All I look for as a buyer is the right combination of quality and price for me. The brand name means nothing, except for any implications it might have on quality.

[Art]

I'm a bigot my friends. I will only buy an American product, unless the option that suits me or my wife is not available in an American counterpart. With cars, I want a big, gas-guzzling, SUV before it's too late, so I have no problems. My wife, though, wants a BMW status car. There really isn't anything in the American car world that offers the same thing so it might be a purchase she can have when she's a partner.<br /><br />I won't go to the Bahammas for vacation though, because I'm an American and want to spend my money in Hawaii. However, I might just go to England because as a colony of ours and all, it might be worth a visit <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> .

[Sag]

That "MADE IN USA" tag is rather mis-leading. My ex use to work here for a pocketbook factory. They employed up to 200 people until they realized they could get the product assembled cheaper in Haiti. They kept the cutting dept. here in town, (12 people) and sent the material (mostly leather) by boat to Haiti. Alot of bags were ruined by the salt water, but they didn't care much because of the money they were saving. The rule was, and I imagine still is.....as long as 1 operation is done here in the USA...that label can go on the end product. So it is mis-leading.

[Riggo-toni]

All this also illustrates why taxing imports (tariffs) actually does considerable harm to domestic industries. We tax steel imports (Bush, what the hell were u thinking <img border="0" alt="[doh]" title="" src="graemlins/doh.gif" /> ), and the cost of American cars goes up. We protect our sugar industry, and candy manufacturers have to go overseas to be competitive. We passed 2 of the biggest free trade treaties in the 90s (NAFTA and GATT), and our economy not only takes off, but real wages increase. NOT a coincidence! Kudos to Reagan for beginning GATT and suggesting NAFTA, Poppa Bush for drafting NAFTA, and Clinton for getting them passed. There, I complimented 3 politicians who aren't members of my party...

[Art]

What the hell party are you in if you aren't a Republican or Democrat? We're a two party system and you praised politicians from both parties which kind of leaves you on the outside looking in if none of the three are representative of your party. Please, don't tell me you're a Green?

[redman]

LOL Art! I'm guessing that this lover of free trade who is neither Republican nor Democrat is a Libertarian. <br /><br />Art, what is (or will) your wife be a partner of? A law firm? My wife is a law partner, but so far I've managed to keep her away from the standard issue "beemer" - like I said before, I'm not into labels, just quality.

[Kilmer17]

The ultimate quandry.<br /><br />Do you buy a BMW made in South Carolina putting money in the pockets of a foreign company that employs US workers<br />OR<br />Buy a Mazda made in Japan but owned by an American company using the workers of Japan?

[Art]

I say neither, and let's go with the Mercedes <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> .<br /><br />Redman, my wife will be a partner at a law firm up this way in just a few short years. She's in IP so she gets that IP bonus too, so, the BMW is already catching her eye <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> .

[Park City Skins]

How's about a nice gas guzzling Hummer? With options of course. Go right over the BMW's and Mercedez if you're in a jam.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[Om]

Who's giving who a Hummer? <img border="0" alt="[cool]" title="" src="graemlins/cool.gif" /> <br /><br />*<br /><br />When it comes to looking at the label, I'm blind. Always have been. If it works, fits, lasts, inspires, satisfies, is fairly priced, etc., ... and is convenient, it's the product for me.<br /><br />Makes life simpler.

[Romo]

Riggo GATT was actually conceptualized back in 1947. The WTO which essentially replaced GATT came into being in 1994.

[Pete]

I don’t mourn it at all Redman. I’m like you more or less. I want the highest quality product I can get in most cases no matter where it was made. BMW, and Benz are some of the highest quality rides in the world, not just labels, and not a single US marque can even come close. Now I can’t justify the price of many of these quality cars, but that doesn’t take away from the quality. I wont allow my wife to drive anything but Honda, and Toyota, being there the highest quality in our price range. I’ll drive a Ford truck, and that’s as far as it goes in new US vehicles for me.<br /><br />I like the idea of giving my money to American workers with foreign companies Kilmer. Many of them were on the balls of the areas before these companies came in, and revitalized the area. <br /><br />I’ve seen the same the oh to often Sag. It just happened in my area again. A medical supply company is moving it’s operation to Mexico. About 1300 jobs gone.

[Barney B]

But then too, alot of Americans have been fooled by the "Made In Japan" label. Or the "Made in Some Asian Country" label.<br /><br />Case in point: Hyundai, Kia, most Mitsubishis, these cars are crap. Take it from a guy who used to run a car repair center.

[Romo]

What about the idea of buying Japanesse cars that are made in America? I know Nissan is building a big factory in Alabama. I also know that GM has plants all over the world and i have no doubt alot of things made at those plants are sold in the US.<br /><br />For example all the Big 3 have factories in Canada and not all of the cars manufactured are for Canada's domestic market. however i think the US exports more automobile stuff to Canada then imports.

[Riggo-toni]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by redman:<br /><strong>LOL Art! I'm guessing that this lover of free trade who is neither Republican nor Democrat is a Libertarian. <br /></strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bingo!!!! <img border="0" alt="[jump]" title="" src="graemlins/jumping.gif" />

[Riggo-toni]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Romo:<br /><strong>Riggo GATT was actually conceptualized back in 1947. The WTO which essentially replaced GATT came into being in 1994.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, I know it is an outgrowth of the Bretton Woods talks. I was referring to the Uruguay round which Reagan initiated in '85. Guess I should have been more specific.