Nader's view on American corporations and patriotism

[Whir]

I thought it was a good waste of a minute to read it. He makes his point pretty well without ever having to get crass.

The administration may be partly to blame for the current economic situation, but it's unarguable that part of the blame should fall on these guys.

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/06/22-9

[tony_j15]

Sounds like an idea cooked up by Michael Moore. A good one, though.

I remember a year or two back, Charlie Rose was interviewing an Intel bigwig and the man said that the company could move entirely overseas and do just as good if not better than they do here state-side. The reason they hadn't? Loyalty to their American workers and the American dream. So some corporations at least still give lip-service to the idea.

[Whir]

Not do dis Intel, but I was under the impression 100% of their chips were produced overseas.

[pickel]

Not do dis Intel, but I was under the impression 100% of their chips were produced overseas.

Intel Factory Tour - 32nm Manufacturing Technique - YouTube

Interesting video....

[tony_j15]

They have 7 plants stateside, plus the corporate headquarters and E&D.

[Chuckiechan]

Why not ask Americans so show some "Consumer patriotism", and stop buying the cheapest thing on the shelf.

USA corporations are leaving to manufacture products to sell here to compete with what the Chinese are shipping in here and YOU are buying.

That is not R2D2 shopping at Walmart:

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

A sawzall for $ 19.95? And everyone is making money from the Chinese factory, to the shipper, to Harbor Freight! What is the dead cost? $ 12.00? Go ahead and compete with that!

What you are really saying is: "I'm willing to pay more for everything I buy, from tooth picks to televisions and buy American. I'm not willing to pay 40% less for an Asian made big screen television."

The elephant in the room is that "when the worm turns", and exports from Asia slow, it will be because their prices have rising to meet ours, and that means we are paying a lot more for everything whether we like it or not.

Imports have been giving consumers a free ride and the expense of America's capital investment.

American consumers will step over their dead grandmother to save a quarter! And if American companies can't compete American consumers won't buy American.

[pickel]

.

American consumers will step over their dead grandmother to save a quarter! And if American companies can't compete American consumers won't buy American.

When the crooks in Congress, Wall St. and the Big Banks screw me out of ALL my extra quarters, WTF else am I supposed to do ?????

Chuckie, if you make up the difference between the "Cheap Junk" and the American made product ,I'll go American every time.

[Chuckiechan]

When the crooks in Congress, Wall St. and the Big Banks screw me out of ALL my extra quarters, WTF else am I supposed to do ?????

Chuckie, if you make up the difference between the "Cheap Junk" and the American made product ,I'll go American every time.

Well, the democrats have been helping you for four years. What are you complaining about?

By all means, go American. How American is the computer you are using? Or the phone? Or your car, for that matter. I think Cody is safe... but I'm not sure about his collar. How about the parts in your home appliances? Did you buy American and get a Black & Decker drill?

Get a grip Pickel. When we are back to "buying American", it's because import prices have risen to higher than domestic... Or we get someone in the White House who understands the danger China represents to our national economic security, and will push back.

[tony_j15]

Well, the democrats have been helping you for four years. What are you complaining about?

so this problem is only four years old? It is only the democrats fault?
Either you can't comprehend reality, or you must be really desperate to get your digs in.

Neither political party has done much to solve the situation, because both sides have special interests that they are out to protect which is keeping a solution from being achieved.

[Whir]

Actually, I do own a Black & Decker 18v drill! I want to get a couple of DeWalt 20v though. I wonder if they're made in the US?

BTW, there are no television currently produced in the US. All panel manufacturies are abroad. Two companies that I know, Elements Electronics and Olevia, actually assemble their TVs in the US, but every part is made overseas.

But you make some salient points, Chuck. And I imagine a lot of people would buy American if our incomes could support it. I do whenever I can, but sometimes you simply can't.

Too, Nader wasn't asking these companies to sell their products for less. All he was asking is that they pledge allegiance to the US and the flag.

IMO, if we could get the companies to start working with colleges and tradeschools again, getting college graduates jobs and the like, we might slowly improve the economy to the point where American companies can sing the country's praises again. It's a long road, but it's possible.

[Chuckiechan]

There are lots of things we can do. But we need a president who will provide the leadership to get things rolling.

[pickel]

Well, the democrats have been helping you for four years. What are you complaining about?

By all means, go American. How American is the computer you are using? Or the phone? Or your car, for that matter. I think Cody is safe... but I'm not sure about his collar. How about the parts in your home appliances? Did you buy American and get a Black & Decker drill?

Get a grip Pickel. When we are back to "buying American", it's because import prices have risen to higher than domestic... Or we get someone in the White House who understands the danger China represents to our national economic security, and will push back.

I've just bought parts for my cars.

Let's see

Fuel pump for my Stealth: Made in Texas

Trans filter for my Firebird: Made in Taiwan

Carb kit for my Generator: made in China

Oil filter for my Altima: Made in Canada

Power steering oil for my Stealth:Made in USA

Not too bad..2 USA and 1 Canada

Only 1 Henco en Chene....

[Whir]

There are lots of things we can do. But we need a president who will provide the leadership to get things rolling.

I disagree. The President is no more than a bureaucrat anymore. Maybe in the past he'd have been a leader of men, but with a partisan government that is actively trying to hamstring itself and media pundits like Beck and Limbaugh, there's simply no way to unite Americans in the information age.

Plus saying we need a president to do anything is basically just passing the buck for our own laziness. We _can't_ do it without a president you support? So until there is one, will you sit by and watch things get worse while saying "I told you so?" That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. And that's directed at people in general, not one or two people here.

[brandon184]

There are lots of things we can do.

Like what?

[Whir]

I, for one, buy everything I can local and locally made if possible. I shop at a local neighborhood grocer for most things (their meat is really good); I do shop at Walmart when necessary, but it's a local Walmart, so at least it's putting money into the pockets of other locals; I buy my gas from a locally (regional moreso) gasoline distributor unless I have absolutely cannot; I even buy my computer parts locally when I can afford them, and always from mom & pop stores, not Best Buy or Walmart (but I do also buy a lot from Newegg, so); our garden is grown from seeds sold at the local feedmill; and on and on.

Keeping business local is a big step towards thwarting economic crisis in my opinion.

[The Real Bingo]

We need more military spending...as most of us know, when the military contracts a business to build something, it must be built in the USA.

[Whir]

Which is employing a friend of mine in PA. It's a Swedish company, but they have a plant in PA specifically so they work on US military contracts. He's working on the CROWSII systems. He lamented that they don't get to fire them there though. Hehe.

[The Real Bingo]

Ha, some folks in our company trained on the CROWS. Fun stuff, I'm told...when it's working.