blows ones mind doesn't it.....

Why don't we make processing plants where it is harvested? Because its not cost effective. :bang:

The US does the same thing. We scrap metal here, it goes to China to be processed, we buy the metal back for construction. :bang:

On a tangent....in CA we have a bad drought. I say: why don't we buy water from wetter states cause it all drains into the ocean anyways.
"Because its not cost effective".
me: How much money in crop losses and crop inefficiencies do we lose in this state. How much money do we lose importing fruit that we would normally grow here?
"that's not the same because its not an instant loss". :bang:

We buy oil and electricity from out of state sources. We need someone to put the calculator down and start thinking forward.

Yeah, it is all about the short term gain, quick money and effectivity, versus long term gain, good quality and stability.

This seems to be the trend in most modern businesses..

And I think this made in China adventure is one day going to stop, or change atleast, when people finally realizes that there is more imporant things in life than the newest gadgets, things and stuff, especially stuff that you gotta re-buy every other year because of poor quality.

A little positive news:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-...dist=afterbell

Don

:soapbox:

RANT

When was the last time that you heard anyone in the government actually trying to improve:

• Quality of product
• Ethics that would cause people to care about what they are creating
• Reduce costs on businesses, especially small businesses and corporate income taxes (and other taxes)
• Take issue with free trade when the other areas around the planet clearly do not practice it
• Hold the countries to account for the environment at the same level as US based manufacturers

Consider Seattle, where the minimum wage rose without an increase in knowledge / skills / abilities.

Consider the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, with all of the additional tax liabilities that are involved and without a substantive improvement in healthcare that would ensure a more healthy workforce.

Consider the monetary and fiscal policies of the US and how it impacts the dollar, the economy and the business climate.

Consider the impact to businesses in Ferguson, Baltimore and other cities. Seeing the looting, etc. just made me shutter -- someone is going to pay for each and every item that was stolen / destroyed / etc.

Consider the quality of the pupil coming out of High School, Community College, University, etc.

Consider how quickly the press, elected officials, etc. dog America. When was the last time you heard about American exceptionalism or anyone attempting to regain it?

On and on it goes.

The point is that the leaders of the country are really working hard to make doing business in the US harder. Yes, other countries have their own difficulty, but for each unit of currency that a business makes a return on investment calculation is performed. If that ROI is significantly biased outside of the US, companies will move part or all of their organization beyond the boarders of the US.

Don't get me wrong -- the US has a lot going for it, but businesses watch the ROI trade. China and other countries can make a quality product and there are many very smart people around the planet.

END RANT

Bottom line: how are we as the US going to work to improve American competitiveness on the world stage?

:underchair:

Thoughts?

Stop supporting places like WalMart!
Support local businesses and know where the product your buying is coming from and who it's supporting.

Americans are cheap, always looking for the best price and not caring where it's coming from. Until people can get past that and buy local products they can be proud of, the toilet water will continue to swirl the bowl.

Stupid breeds stupid.

People want stuff cheap..... but the irony is that some of them have to get cheap stuff because they don't make much $$/cant find a job.... because all the " cheap labor" jobs have gone overseas... they went overseas because its cheaper labor...cheaper labor is needed to make the cheap crap that the US wants...so essentially our strong desire for cheap prices is putting ourselves out of business

If as a society we were willing to pay alittle more for items, US companies could still make stuff here, thus creating jobs and allowing people to have jobs to pay for stuff even at a slightly higher price....

Its all about straight up greed

Joe wins the discussion! :trophy-1302:

Corporate Taxes, Obamacare, Unions, and Lawyers are a major Driver in increased costs of running a Business in America right now.........With the new World Economy it's going to take a while for things to balance out.....Supply and Demand.......We all want things to stay the way they were as they were good times........But......The Government feels they are Entitled to Corp "Profits" thru no effort of their own.......The Unions want to stay popular and powerful thru demanding higher wages and inefficiency imposed upon Businesses.........And the Workmans Comp settlements are now the Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow.........We had it good here for many years and I wish it could have stayed that way.......But.....It's a two sided issue..........

Just my $.02

Ken

:thankyou: :woot:

:cheers: