Everyday there is something in the newspaper or on TV about layoffs in the USA. Many working Americans wonder why? This story kind of explains it:

Joe Smith started the day early, having set his alarm clock (made in Japan) for 6:00 a.m. While his coffee pot (made in China) was perking he shaved with he electric razor (made in Hong Kong). He put on a dress shirt (made in Sri Lanka), designer jeans (made in Singapore),And tennis shoes (made in Korea. After cooking his breakfast in his electric skillet (made in India). He sat down with his calculator (made in Mexico) to see how much he had left to spend today. After setting his watch (made in Taiwan) to the radio (made in India) he got in his car (made in Germany) and continued his search for a good paying American job. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day. Joe decided to relax for awhile. He put on his scandals (made in Brazil), poured himself a glass on wine (made in France), and turned on his TV (made in Indonesia), then wondered why he couldn't find a good paying job in America.

Over 395,000 U.S. jobs have been lost in the last eight months.

My 2 cents.. if it's built here in the USA. Buy it. Even if it's a Toyota.

Just something to think about

Rick


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awsum34

I agree on the sentiment, but remember that there really isn't a true lack of jobs, but rather a lack of jobs that will feed/cloth/etc... people in the matter in which their customed to.

Here's the revised story:

Joe Smith started the day early, having set his hi-fi alarm clock/CD player (made in Japan) for 6:00 a.m. While his coffee pot (made in China) was perking his "designer blend coffee" he shaved with he electric razor (made in Hong Kong). He put on a dress shirt (made in Sri Lanka), designer jeans (made in Singapore),And tennis shoes (made in Korea. After cooking his breakfast in his electric skillet (made in India). (All of them on his maxed out credit cards . . . ) He sat down with his calculator (made in Mexico) to see how much he had left to spend today. After setting his ($$$) watch (made in Taiwan) to the 12 speaker surround sound Dolby enhanced (oh, and it plays the radio too) stereo (made in India) he got in his car (made in Germany) (Made in Germany -- need we say more?) and continued his search for a good paying American job -- knowing full well that even though he could get a job at $xx,xxx a year, he wants just a wee bit more. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day. Joe decided to relax for awhile. He put on his scandals (made in Brazil), poured himself a glass on wine (made in France) (again -- need we say more . . . were's the beer?), and turned on his 52" big-screen TV (made in Indonesia), then wondered why he couldn't find a good paying job in America.

Meanwhile, Joe's neighbors across town, who moved here from south of the border, are busy doing the job that Joe did back in highschool . . . remedial jobs. They are working 2 or three jobs and barely getting by riding on public transportation and subsidized housing. The average new car today costs how much? If you want to drive an older car it will be how much to comply with stringent air pollution laws? Does the basic economy cars really need power windows and leather seats? Joe is out shuffling on the web looking for a high-tech job while thousands of new workers pour in from other countries on HB1 visas to do technical work . . . for a lot less than the "Joe's" of the world want.

The scary thing about the entire story is -- what happens if there was ever a need to go to war? Ok -- we'll just order some chips from where? Our cars are built where? We'll have shoes built where? Our clothing will come from where? Hmm. Either a global economy is going to promote world peace, or SOMEONE is going to get caught with their pants around their ankles.
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Bradley Miller
http://morris.accesszone.com -- Honey I shrunk the street rod

I knew it was a good week to stay in bed...

you are right when you say some people will not work unless the conditions are just right for them.But all the illegal immigrants pouring into this country are bringing wages and working conditions down closer to levels in the third world country they left.Thanks to the labor unions the sweat shops and child labor of the late 1800`s and early 1900`s are a thing of the past...but for how long?When working conditions drop living conditions follow.We all are involed in an expensive hobby by most standards and for most of us hard work at a fair wage makes it all possible after we meet our commitments to family and bill collectors.Just my 2 cents.God bless America.We sure need it.

you are right when you say some people will not work unless the conditions are just right for them.But all the illegal immigrants pouring into this country are bringing wages and working conditions down closer to levels in the third world country they left.Thanks to the labor unions the sweat shops and child labor of the late 1800`s and early 1900`s are a thing of the past...but for how long?When working conditions drop living conditions follow.We all are involed in an expensive hobby by most standards and for most of us hard work at a fair wage makes it all possible after we meet our commitments to family and bill collectors.Just my 2 cents.God bless America.We sure need it.

Another way to look at it:
How many of those items could you afford if they were all made in the USA at union wages?
Id bet the first thing that would be gone is the PC and the whole industry.
I'll continue buying quality, wherever it comes from, at the lowest price I can use my computer to find it.

Dunno much about the Hispanic issue, not too many of them up in NH but the Asians dont seem to be having any problem finding decent paying jobs. OTOH, Asians arent afraid to work at menial jobs while they are going to school to learn English and new skills. Im amazed at how many have settled in my town, buying homes, nice cars, etc.
The same for Russians and Eastern Europeans that have come here virtually penniless over the past decade or so. My boss is Romanian, he worked 3 jobs while going to college. No welfare, handouts, bi-lingual crap, etc., now has a PhD in Mathematics.

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Carl
Automotive gold is everywhere; you just have to learn how to dig for it