Made in the USA, a Thing of the Past?
As I reported in my last blog posting, I bought a pair of Bass Weejuns this past weekend. Got them at a Bass Outlet in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Not much different than the first pair I bought in high school. Cost $39 now, vs. about $19 then. Not bad, when one sees how much other things have gone up over the years.
Could not help but notice that they were made in Brazil. I guess that is how the price has been held down.
About 90% of all golf club grips used to be made right here in my hometown by GolfPride. Now a large majority are manufactured by GolfPride and its competitors in the Far East.
Abbott closed its I.V. components plant here and moved a lot of the production to Puerto Rico and other Central American plants.
GolfPride representative on plane to China struck up conversation with representative of Timberline Boots, and was surprised to learn that not a single Timberline boot has ever been made in the USA.
Furniture and textiles, once, along with tobacco, the backbone of the N.C. economy are going, going, gone...never to return.
The Big Three U.S. automakers are encouraging early retirements and closing plants, and still posting staggering losses.
There are many other examples as we now dwell in a "global economy".
We supposedly now live in a service economy. But, much of service is being provided by undocumented workers who do the work that "Americans won't do." Meanwhile, the welfare rolls grow. And, to my simple way of thinking, not everyone who seeks employment in the U.S. can be accomodated by the service industry. There is just so much service that needs providing. And, if the economy tanks, who can afford service.
Is the day approaching when nothing will be made in the U.S.A.?
Who or what is the blame? Look in the mirror. The American consumer who demands low prices...always looking for a bargain, whether at WalMart or the outlet mall. I got my Weejuns, what have you gotten recently that used to be "Made in America"?
Could not help but notice that they were made in Brazil. I guess that is how the price has been held down.
About 90% of all golf club grips used to be made right here in my hometown by GolfPride. Now a large majority are manufactured by GolfPride and its competitors in the Far East.
Abbott closed its I.V. components plant here and moved a lot of the production to Puerto Rico and other Central American plants.
GolfPride representative on plane to China struck up conversation with representative of Timberline Boots, and was surprised to learn that not a single Timberline boot has ever been made in the USA.
Furniture and textiles, once, along with tobacco, the backbone of the N.C. economy are going, going, gone...never to return.
The Big Three U.S. automakers are encouraging early retirements and closing plants, and still posting staggering losses.
There are many other examples as we now dwell in a "global economy".
We supposedly now live in a service economy. But, much of service is being provided by undocumented workers who do the work that "Americans won't do." Meanwhile, the welfare rolls grow. And, to my simple way of thinking, not everyone who seeks employment in the U.S. can be accomodated by the service industry. There is just so much service that needs providing. And, if the economy tanks, who can afford service.
Is the day approaching when nothing will be made in the U.S.A.?
Who or what is the blame? Look in the mirror. The American consumer who demands low prices...always looking for a bargain, whether at WalMart or the outlet mall. I got my Weejuns, what have you gotten recently that used to be "Made in America"?
posted by the doc at 7:31 PM
1 Comments:
Too few people understand the high cost of low prices. Too few people know or care about the economics and practices that provide these low prices. And they wonder why plants are closing.
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