Car prices to rise due to tariffs and certain vehicles possibly ...

[SC Maintenance]

Tarriffs only work in 2 scenarios

1. Industry is about to outsource (take steel in the 70’s and 80’s)
2. A foreign competitor makes something disruptive that you can never recover from usually by being subsidized to a below market .

Once a infrastructure intensive industry leaves it’s never coming back.

US automobile factory capacity utilization is down around 60%. So there is plenty of capacity to build more here. Whether there cars anyone wants to buy is another matter.

There building 2 new aluminum mills (greenfield) - first in like 40 years. Also several steel mill expansions as we speak. Multi million dollar projects.

Also - US was the world's manufacturer until at least 1970, really later. By the time I entered the industrial world in the late 90's it was not - so in maybe 30 years it left here. IF it left for somewhere the first time, it can leave there and come back I think.

 

[methusaleh]

Mike Rowe recently reported the U.S. has 7 million able bodied adult males currently not working.

We need to be Americans, not Americant's.

Able-bodied but not working…I find that hard to believe. Granted, I’ve socialized with the same type of crowd for the last 35 years or so.

I’m not very old but I know how young men (even some of my peers, still) think.

Guys like to buy new toys, be it cars, boats, etc…
Guys like to get women…
Guys like gadgets and guns…
Guys are always striving toward the next best home improvement…

All of these things need money. That level of means comes from hard and smart work.

I’ve never met a man who didn’t want at least two of the things I mentioned; I’ve never met a man who didn’t feel the drive to work toward those things.

 

[GON]

Able-bodied but not working…I find that hard to believe. Granted, I’ve socialized with the same type of crowd for the last 35 years or so.

I’m not very old but I know how young men (even some of my peers, still) think.

Guys like to buy new toys, be it cars, boats, etc…
Guys like to get women…
Guys like gadgets and guns…
Guys are always striving toward the next best home improvement…

All of these things need money. That level of means comes from hard and smart work.

I’ve never met a man who didn’t want at least two of the things I mentioned; I’ve never met a man who didn’t feel the drive to work toward those things.

Here is a video on the subject of seven million able body American males not working.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/men-workforce-work-companies-struggle-fill-jobs-manufacturing/
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-7-million-american-men-063039864.html
https://www.newsweek.com/american-men-dont-want-work-anymore-1897567
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-men-working-less-recessions-employment-productivity-2024-4?op=1

 

[GON]

Over 7 million young Americans not working?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/men-workforce-work-companies-struggle-fill-jobs-manufacturing/
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-7-million-american-men-063039864.html
https://www.newsweek.com/american-men-dont-want-work-anymore-1897567
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-men-working-less-recessions-employment-productivity-2024-4?op=1

Guess the question to ponder is, why work when America can borrow money from working Chinese peasants to pay for able body Americans who chose not to work, but use numerous means to live comfortably when compared to the rest of the world that does in fact work.

Then the next question is, the Chinese peasants and the like that has lent America money so we can consume and not produce requires a return on its loan. Since America doesn't have the money to pay back the Chinese peasants loans, and reported by numerous contributors on this thread has no desire to work hard, what's next?

Maybe America will give the Chinese peasants the US interstate system in exchange for not charging interest on American debt in 2026? Maybe 2027 American will give its airports and national parks to Chinese peasants in exchange for not charging interest in 2027 on American debt?

 

[KrisZ]

Car prices and pretty much everything else skyrocketed over the last four years for no reason at all, except stupid spending and people didn’t bat an eye. most in fact were quite supportive of this.

Now, we may face some hardship short term, but ultimately manufacturers will start producing here again, therefore more good paying jobs will be available.
Of course, this cannot be. No way can we support such an effort, right?

 

[rijndael]

One of the first things I'd like to see on-shored is pharmacutical/drug production.

 

[scoot]

Able-bodied but not working…I find that hard to believe. Granted, I’ve socialized with the same type of crowd for the last 35 years or so.

I’m not very old but I know how young men (even some of my peers, still) think.

Guys like to buy new toys, be it cars, boats, etc…
Guys like to get women…
Guys like gadgets and guns…
Guys are always striving toward the next best home improvement…

All of these things need money. That level of means comes from hard and smart work.

I’ve never met a man who didn’t want at least two of the things I mentioned; I’ve never met a man who didn’t feel the drive to work toward those things.

You choose to be around winners , a portion of America don't feel the need to work .

 

[KrisZ]

You choose to be around winners , a portion of America don't feel the need to work .

So what? Why do we need to worry about them? There will always be a portion of the population that don’t want to work or that are poor pretty much by choice. Why do we feel the need to somehow cater everything around these people?

The more free money we throw at them to “help” the larger this group becomes. Cut the perpetual social support these people receive and the problem will be solved pretty much overnight.

 

[rijndael]

So what? Why do we need to worry about them?

Because entitlement spending is going to bury us. Folks that don't want to work can't get a free ride from those of us who do.

 

[jkhawaii]

will be removed from the market . Is 5 days old , but still applies .

Never watch CNBC.

 

[Astro14]

Able-bodied but not working…I find that hard to believe. Granted, I’ve socialized with the same type of crowd for the last 35 years or so.

I’m not very old but I know how young men (even some of my peers, still) think.

Guys like to buy new toys, be it cars, boats, etc…
Guys like to get women…
Guys like gadgets and guns…
Guys are always striving toward the next best home improvement…

All of these things need money. That level of means comes from hard and smart work.

I’ve never met a man who didn’t want at least two of the things I mentioned; I’ve never met a man who didn’t feel the drive to work toward those things.

Perhaps you missed this thread:

Thread 'Age to cut the kids off.'
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/age-to-cut-the-kids-off.390668/

The young man in question has no desire to work. He does have a girlfriend. He has been provided sufficient gadgets.

Zero desire to go to school, work, or better himself. In fact, he doesn’t even drive, the girlfriend does that for him.

You may not have met one, but they are most certainly out there.

With apologies to @burbguy82 if I have mis-stated the situation.

 

[scoot]

So what? Why do we need to worry about them? There will always be a portion of the population that don’t want to work or that are poor pretty much by choice. Why do we feel the need to somehow cater everything around these people?

The more free money we throw at them to “help” the larger this group becomes. Cut the perpetual social support these people receive and the problem will be solved pretty much overnight.

Easy there , I was stating a fact . Not defending the segment.

 

[Rmay635703]

US automobile factory capacity utilization is down around 60%. IF it left for somewhere the first time, it can leave there and come back I think.

Real steel and aluminum is likely never coming back.

A mill that takes “other people’s “ materials or recyclables and makes new steel or aluminum isn’t the type of mill that would actually make us independent. It can only reprocess garbage we already have sitting at the wrecker or in scrap. (Important but not infinitely sustainable for 100% of production)

There is close to $100b of supply chain rotting alongside Lake Superior through Detroit that mines, stamps, refines, ships and delivers finished cars.

Very little of the mining and processing infrastructure survived the end of the 1980’s

Steel makers chased Pennie’s going overseas to exchange processing costs for transportation costs and delays, they never could justify upgrading to new technologies to be competitive because they viewed it as costing too much, bringing it all back after being allowed to have the forest take it back will be even more expensive still.

And steel and aluminum production equipment is cheap compared to proper fab, board, chip and lcd masking supply chain.

Ve

Mike Rowe recently reported the U.S. has 7 million able bodied adult males currently not working.

We need to be Americans, not Americant's.

“able bodied “ but non-employable due to pick one or more
1. Criminal background
2. Mental illness
3. Epilepsy or other silent disabilities
4. Lack of training or schooling
5. Formerly were on permanent disability but got punted when trying to work a part time job for people with disabilities.

When the people he talks about get a deep dive you find most apply for work and don’t get responses after hundreds of attempts.

Because welfare no longer exists paradoxically these guys rarely get public assistance either, some states pull them off food stamps, once on the street it doesn’t matter how much you want to work your not getting hired.

My church partners with a program that does the thankless work of trying to reabilitate these “able-bodied “ guys, many veterans and very difficult lengthy processes to try to rebuild the man.

 

[burbguy82]

Able-bodied but not working…I find that hard to believe. Granted, I’ve socialized with the same type of crowd for the last 35 years or so.

I’m not very old but I know how young men (even some of my peers, still) think.

Guys like to buy new toys, be it cars, boats, etc…
Guys like to get women…
Guys like gadgets and guns…
Guys are always striving toward the next best home improvement…

All of these things need money. That level of means comes from hard and smart work.

I’ve never met a man who didn’t want at least two of the things I mentioned; I’ve never met a man who didn’t feel the drive to work toward those things.

they exist

 

[KrisZ]

they exist

They sure do, but they must have a way of sustaining themselves. Either parents or tax payers. Cut off the tax dollar incentives, which we all know just perpetuate the laziness and these people will have to find a job.

 

[D1dad]

Luckily I’m set to ride this out. I want a new truck, but don’t need one. My cars are a 2018, 2021 and a 2024. I just spent $100 at the grocery store and my cart was overflowing. Unfortunately that’s because my items were cases of water and toilet paper. Not due to low prices.

 

[97K15004WD]

The article is from 2016:

Why 7 Million American Men Aren’t Working

Krystal Steinmetz

August 18, 2016

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-7-million-american-men-063039864.html?guccounter=1

 

[Torrid]

I've been screaming from the rooftops to anyone who would listen that it's important to buy American made, union made products. It sets the high standard. Tariffing Canada and certain other countries is just dumb, though. Tarrifs can be used stratigically to protect our industries in certain situations.

While not all union made, most of my favorite products are US made. I think it's sad that a tariff war has to be started when we all are perfectly capable of buying US made products. Every new vehicle I've bought in the last 10 years were US made vehicles as the final assembly point(2 Teslas and an F150). I love other cars too and have owned other cars, but I've always taken a strong look at US options initially even if that wasn't my final choice.

I love US made eyewear and footwear too. They cost more, but for these items that I will use for many years I'll gladly pay more for a US product. I can't say enough good about Randolph Engineering's sunglasses and I own two pairs. My first pair which I still wear occasionally are now 15 years old.

As far as basic daily use disposable goods I just don't see a way that they're affordable being made in the US and charging tariffs to raise their prices just hurts people that can't afford them. Now there are some exceptions and products made in the USA in this category too and are a staple in my home. I will only buy Barbasol shaving cream because it is made in the USA and in many cases still is one of the more affordable options.

 

[KrisZ]

Where was all this talk about people not being able to afford everyday goods when the inflation was rampant because we were giving away billions to other countries?
Wasn't it a common rhetoric that we have to "tighten our belts"? And what exactly did we get for all that spending? Absolutely nothing.

Now we have at least a chance (a pretty good chance IMO) of getting something positive out of this short term pain, but people can't seem stomach this for some reason. Very interesting way of thinking