Trump Threatens to Close the Border with Mexico

[GH41]

Woolworths is a little before my time. But I remember a time when a pair of SWAT boots weren't worn out in six months. I remember when you didn't have to wade through a minefield of Chinese knockoffs of quality products. I understand even a lot of AR parts and accessories are made in China. Sheesh.

Check out this video. How many alphabet agencies would you have to bypass to get away with this in America. This is what we are up against! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMIK_fGCSIM Probably making pots and pans for Walmart.

[The_War_Wagon]

We can create a lot of jobs just by cleaning up Detroit so that we can start making anything there again.

The Packard Factory is STILL standing in Detroit. I'm DOWN for a new 2020 Packard!

[26 Inf]

While I would love to walk into WalMart and not see the words "Made in China" on literally everything, it's not all going to come back to the US overnight. That would cause huge price increases and all kinds of other problems. But I do think there's a way to encourage manufacturers to see having plants in China as not in their best interest. I just don't know what they are.

Do you remember when WalMart first started business? It was 'Made In the USA' all the way.

[ABNAK]

Do you remember when WalMart first started business? It was 'Made In the USA' all the way.

Yep, John Walton (Sam's son) was a Vietnam vet, Green Beret and SOG. "Made in the USA" was a big selling point.

I can also remember Woolworth's.....when I got out of the Army in 1987 my grandfather (a WWII USMC vet) bought me an M1 Garand from there. They were $300, had several cardboard barrels of them to choose from.

[flenna]

Do you remember when WalMart first started business? It was 'Made In the USA' all the way.

Yes, there were signs all over the store that proudly said 'Made in the USA'.

[SteyrAUG]

Yes, there were signs all over the store that proudly said 'Made in the USA'.

And it was usually STILL cheaper than K mart and better quality. We have killed so much of our own infrastructure it's not funny. Go try and find a 100% cotton polo shirt made in the US.

[SteyrAUG]

I remember NAFTA quite well..After it passed, the big 3 auto makers, and their parts suppliers, could'nt move plants down there fast enough..If I recall correctly, NAFTA cost the U.S. something like 700,000 -750,000 jobs that as far as I know, never came back..So, somebody tell me, exactly how did we (the U.S.) make out on this deal? And while Clinton signed it, and again I'm going from memory here, but, if I remember correctly, the bill itself went through congress with little in the way of "no"" votes..

It was gonna fix the problem of illegal immigration by sending jobs down there remember? That worked out didn't it?

[flenna]

And it was usually STILL cheaper than K mart and better quality. We have killed so much of our own infrastructure it's not funny. Go try and find a 100% cotton polo shirt made in the US.

Here is an article that I read several years ago that gives a good explanation of the issue at hand. Kind of a long read but interesting nonetheless.

https://www.fastcompany.com/47593/wa...-you-dont-know

[26 Inf]

Here is an article that I read several years ago that gives a good explanation of the issue at hand. Kind of a long read but interesting nonetheless.

https://www.fastcompany.com/47593/wa...-you-dont-know

Yep, too many people don't see this. Especially these things:

Wal-Mart has also lulled shoppers into ignoring the difference between the price of something and the cost. Its unending focus on price underscores something that Americans are only starting to realize about globalization: Ever-cheaper prices have consequences. Says Steve Dobbins, president of thread maker Carolina Mills: “We want clean air, clear water, good living conditions, the best health care in the world–yet we aren’t willing to pay for anything manufactured under those restrictions.”

It’s Wal-Mart in the role of Adam Smith’s invisible hand. And the Milwaukee employees of Master Lock who shopped at Wal-Mart to save money helped that hand shove their own jobs right to Nogales. Not consciously, not directly, but inevitably. “Do we as consumers appreciate what we’re doing?” Larrimore asks. “I don’t think so. But even if we do, I think we say, Here’s a Master Lock for $9, here’s another lock for $6–let the other guy pay $9.”

[SteyrAUG]

Yep, too many people don't see this. Especially these things:

Wal-Mart has also lulled shoppers into ignoring the difference between the price of something and the cost. Its unending focus on price underscores something that Americans are only starting to realize about globalization: Ever-cheaper prices have consequences. Says Steve Dobbins, president of thread maker Carolina Mills: “We want clean air, clear water, good living conditions, the best health care in the world–yet we aren’t willing to pay for anything manufactured under those restrictions.”

It’s Wal-Mart in the role of Adam Smith’s invisible hand. And the Milwaukee employees of Master Lock who shopped at Wal-Mart to save money helped that hand shove their own jobs right to Nogales. Not consciously, not directly, but inevitably. “Do we as consumers appreciate what we’re doing?” Larrimore asks. “I don’t think so. But even if we do, I think we say, Here’s a Master Lock for $9, here’s another lock for $6–let the other guy pay $9.”

Honestly I find myself buying antique household items, not because I collect antiques, but because they will last longer than anything bought from Wal Mart, Amazon or whatever. When my wife wanted a sewing machine I found a complete (and that is the hard part) Singer that was made in the 1980s. Weighed almost 30 lbs and wasn't $29.99 but it was worth it.

Where technology has just advanced too much, I'll gladly pay the price of a SureFire flashlight versus some plastomatic 5 million lumons for $9.99 crap. Walmart prices aren't really a savings when everything you buy is disposable and craps out after a couple months.

Been trying to find a decent Westminster mantle clock. Back in the 80s this would have been a sorta high end item you might pay as much as $75 for. figure triple that for inflation, I'd cheerfully pay $300 for a decent one. But all you can find are z grade stuff that doesn't actually have real bells or chimes and they sound like shit, run like shit because they are shit.

Maybe if I get lucky I'll find a 1950s vintage example with no issues for $400 to $500, problem is nobody throws things like that away or sells them cheap to an antique store because they want to get rid of them.