Just wondering what would the US economy look like if everyone in the US bought American made products when possible? Would we be better off, or not. Sounds like a simple question, but I'm sure it's a very hard question from an economic standpoint.
What if all Americans bought U.S. made products?
- Thread starter gulledge
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To help everyone out, please list all of the products that are 100% made and engineered in the U.S. I don't think it's a hard question from an economic standpoint...we would be very well off.
Be prettyy hard to find something made 100% here. Think about an oil filter. Where does the paper in it come from? I doubt any new cars are 100% made in USA.Some part maybe a radio or sensor will be imported.
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Well, when I have a choice*, I do buy American-made, and especially local products.
* sadly, choice is limited or often non-existent -- at this point, availability appears to be the main issue. In case of many items, you just can't find one that's Made in USA.
Try to find a pick made in the US.
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A plectron or an icepick?
Prices would go up significantly. Higher inflation. Free/open trade benefits both parties involved (in theory). If China can make product X cheaper than we can, and we can make product Y cheaper then they can, we trade. Consumers on both ends win. What has been happening is we seem to now be outsourcing service jobs where as before it was only manufacturing for the most part. I don't think our economy can sustain itself forever at this level unless we get a grip on rising healthcare costs and improve our educational system. The thought of an economy without much of a manufacturing base is kind of scary.
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The USA makes about the best of everything. But most of us slimes can't afford those products. They're just as out of reach as they were for us before the consumer electronics invasion of the early 70's. I have a Marantz tuner and preamp. Very expensive in 1973. To get into that equivalent class of audio equipment today ..you're looking at a system that starts around $10,000. Anyone here see that at Best Buy?
Very few people can afford our own labor produced consumerism. That's why we hire people that come cheap. It's a shame that so many people make their living off of senseless consumerism. I really see way too many people that appear to have very little purpose to their spending habits. They just appear to enjoy the act of acquiring ..regardless of the functional value of what they're purchasing.
It's kinda like a never ending purchase of the $5.95 large soda with the commemorative plastic cup that just takes up space.
Very few people can afford our own labor produced consumerism. That's why we hire people that come cheap. It's a shame that so many people make their living off of senseless consumerism. I really see way too many people that appear to have very little purpose to their spending habits. They just appear to enjoy the act of acquiring ..regardless of the functional value of what they're purchasing.
It's kinda like a never ending purchase of the $5.95 large soda with the commemorative plastic cup that just takes up space.
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I'm not in the market for an SSN.
By the way, Marantz hasn't been an American company in decades.
An excellent question.
If we all bought American products the innovation and motivation in them would likely fade away.
Think the big three auto now vs big three back auto in the 70's. Import brands have only improved quality of our domestic vehicles and motivated them to produce better products.
If we all bought American products the innovation and motivation in them would likely fade away.
Think the big three auto now vs big three back auto in the 70's. Import brands have only improved quality of our domestic vehicles and motivated them to produce better products.
I think Americans would "suffer" for awhile but US mfring would rebound pretty quickly and in a short time, maybe 5 years or so, few people would feel inconvenienced (gee....hope THAT never happens....)
Yeah, the $39 DVD player and the $49 office chair and the $15 meat thermometer and the $59 inkjet printer would disappear for a time, but they'd be back at higher prices. Americans would have to suck it up and spend a little more than they used to, or jus forego all the junk they buy on a regular basis. Fact is, virtually all of us could part with 80% of the stuff we have and live pretty much the same lives, for some a better life.
I don't think the nation would regress back to the 70's or anything like that. Even if the auto market were still dominated by the Big 3, their QC would have improved by now. Maybe not to the levels we enjoy now, but stuff like "quality" is all relative anyway so its a worthless point to discuss.
Yeah, the $39 DVD player and the $49 office chair and the $15 meat thermometer and the $59 inkjet printer would disappear for a time, but they'd be back at higher prices. Americans would have to suck it up and spend a little more than they used to, or jus forego all the junk they buy on a regular basis. Fact is, virtually all of us could part with 80% of the stuff we have and live pretty much the same lives, for some a better life.
I don't think the nation would regress back to the 70's or anything like that. Even if the auto market were still dominated by the Big 3, their QC would have improved by now. Maybe not to the levels we enjoy now, but stuff like "quality" is all relative anyway so its a worthless point to discuss.
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Quote:
I'm not in the market for an SSN.
By the way, Marantz hasn't been an American company in decades.
Did you see me say that? I merely stated that the level of electronics that were domestically produced in the 70's are JUST as out of reach today to the average consumer. There was no consumer audio electronic market of any real amount before 1973. You had to go offshore (US military) to buy the inferior ..but featured systems that we call quality today. Most of us don't know the difference since we couldn't afford quality then ...and we can't afford it now.
The Japanese invested in all the domestic quality stereo manufacturers heavily. Scott, Macintosh ..etc and those systems are just ..no..even more out of reach than they ever were.
Not MUCH better because the illegals working at the manufacturing plants like to send their money back to MEHEECO!!!
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Quote:
Quote:
I'm not in the market for an SSN.
By the way, Marantz hasn't been an American company in decades.
Did you see me say that?
No, you didn't say it and I didn't say you did say it. I just wanted to point out that the one brand name that you tossed out there was irrelevant at the present within the context of "about the best of everything."
I'm still waiting for your list of "about the best of everything" (Made in USA) by the way. I have a hunch I'll be waiting until Never-Never Day.
Quote:
I'm not in the market for an SSN.
By the way, Marantz hasn't been an American company in decades.
SSN? Social Security number or nuclear attack submarine?
YOU be the judge!
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I was of course talking about the submarine...
The sad thing is that our economy is growing out of industrial and into a service economy when you look at where the money is... People have to be paid more to afford the ever increasing cost of living (healthcare, gas, food, energy). Buying american simply costs too much to support the middlemen in our country.
Short term pain , long term gain .
Think drug rehab .
The reallocation process would be enormous and would require something just short of a second American revolution on the legislative side of things - maybe more than that .
BTW , NOBODIES FAVORITE "brand" would have to leave , but they would have to do business differently .
Of course , we only need look to our own past to answer this question ... hmmmm lets see .... well .... the three most productive periods of economic growth (30 years lenght) were in completely closed markets ......the best long run (190 years - 1776-1966 ) essentially was composed of closed or almost (effectively) closed markets(manufactured goods) ..... on the other hand the worst "real" economic performance ( accompanied by the gutting of the American Middle Class/manufacturing sector ) has been the period from 1973 - today ...... well ..., this does require that you would have to actually know "something" about your nation's former , absolutely first class manufacturing prowness - how at one time we lagged behind the U.K. (world leader hands down - at the time ) by as much as 70/90 years - and then came from behind ......
Here's an easier way to answer this question that the younger members may understand without trying to undo the effects of a failed educational experience - the one members of my generation (shamefully I might add) - inflicted on you .
Ask yourself this ;
Does Japan as a Nation favor manufacturing and are the Japanese as a Nation better off for it ?
What would happen (trick question) if they lost all their good sense and adopted the American model - up or down ?
How about most of Western Europe ?
Is China currently favoring the home team on everything in this regard and are they improving (overall) their standard of living ?
Well the answer is obvious ......so whats different about "US"?
And for those of you unfamiliar with the history of the Automotive Industry as a whole world wide ..... and America 's pivotal role in it as a producer - not just as a consumer .......
Sigh .... well , all I can say is if it was 7DEC41 evidently for some ... the only smart course of action would be to capitulate immediately - and cede Hawaii ASAP .
Some would then be extolling the virtues of that - possibly for pay.
History again , proves other , better choices for the long run , although costly in the short run were then , and similarly are now , available .
Bottomline : past the reallocation process ; higher prices even higher wages (net) and higher , better standard of living .
I'm strongly motivated thinking of the mess we're leaving our children and grandchildren - if time gets that far .
Think drug rehab .
The reallocation process would be enormous and would require something just short of a second American revolution on the legislative side of things - maybe more than that .
BTW , NOBODIES FAVORITE "brand" would have to leave , but they would have to do business differently .
Of course , we only need look to our own past to answer this question ... hmmmm lets see .... well .... the three most productive periods of economic growth (30 years lenght) were in completely closed markets ......the best long run (190 years - 1776-1966 ) essentially was composed of closed or almost (effectively) closed markets(manufactured goods) ..... on the other hand the worst "real" economic performance ( accompanied by the gutting of the American Middle Class/manufacturing sector ) has been the period from 1973 - today ...... well ..., this does require that you would have to actually know "something" about your nation's former , absolutely first class manufacturing prowness - how at one time we lagged behind the U.K. (world leader hands down - at the time ) by as much as 70/90 years - and then came from behind ......
Here's an easier way to answer this question that the younger members may understand without trying to undo the effects of a failed educational experience - the one members of my generation (shamefully I might add) - inflicted on you .
Ask yourself this ;
Does Japan as a Nation favor manufacturing and are the Japanese as a Nation better off for it ?
What would happen (trick question) if they lost all their good sense and adopted the American model - up or down ?
How about most of Western Europe ?
Is China currently favoring the home team on everything in this regard and are they improving (overall) their standard of living ?
Well the answer is obvious ......so whats different about "US"?
And for those of you unfamiliar with the history of the Automotive Industry as a whole world wide ..... and America 's pivotal role in it as a producer - not just as a consumer .......
Sigh .... well , all I can say is if it was 7DEC41 evidently for some ... the only smart course of action would be to capitulate immediately - and cede Hawaii ASAP .
Some would then be extolling the virtues of that - possibly for pay.
History again , proves other , better choices for the long run , although costly in the short run were then , and similarly are now , available .
Bottomline : past the reallocation process ; higher prices even higher wages (net) and higher , better standard of living .
I'm strongly motivated thinking of the mess we're leaving our children and grandchildren - if time gets that far .
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It looks like the popular myth is that American made products are much more expensive. Keep in mind that the cost of labor is typically 15% in shoe manufacturing. Even if you paid the Chinese nothing for labor (they pretty much do) and nothing to transport the shoes across the ocean the cost of shoes would rise 15% at the most.http://www.nbwebexpress.com/information/madeinusa.asp
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