the Congressional teakettle

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I'd like everyone to know that my mom had the opportunity to address Congress recently. She wore a light green dress with white polka dots that I'd made for her. Her mission, which she had accepted, was to inform Congress that unemployment in the US of A was unacceptable, and that much of the reason was due to sending jobs overseas because of lower wages to workers there. BUT, when the manufactured items come back to the US, they are of inferior quality.

While my mom was speaking, she noticed that some of the Congressional members were not paying attention. Luckily, she came prepared, armed with a Revereware teakettle that had been made in China. Revereware used to be a top quality name in the US. Mom banged her teakettle on the podium several times and loudly told the members of Congress to pay attention. They all sat up and followed her every word.

She told them that the teakettle, which was brand new, had not been sealed around the bottom, and water seeped out, rendering the teakettle useless. It was that type of inferior quality that the US is receiving from its overseas manufacturers. And if it happens to teakettles, just think what is happening to other electrical appliances, pharmaceuticals, and apparel.

Mom told Congress to put the US citizenship back to work making quality items again! Stop the unemployment by using products made in the USA.

Good speech by my Mom!!!

This was a dream my Mom had recently...the part about the teakettle being broken is true.

[Stan]

GOOD!

[phkrause]

rudywoofs that was great. Not only is the problem with all of our business going over seas, so that the owners of these companies can make more money per item, its there greed. They obviously don't care about the quaility at all, its the almighty dollar that is number one. Why pay $15 an hour when you can pay $.25 an hour overseas and than charge as much here or more if need be. When I first got drafted in '66 most of the electronics was made here in the USA, by the time I was done with my duty and came home in '68, most of it was already owned by Japanese companies. I believe there is only one electronics company left in the USA. Pretty sad. Look at whats happening with Toyota, not only there cars but the cars that are made with US cars are all being recalled with the same problems. Not saying that we here don't have recalls but like you say its really getting bad. My Moms family prefer buying american made goods than stuff they buy in Germany which is also made elsewhere.

Anyway good for your Mom, I do hope that they listen but I doubt it. Most are part of this problem.

[fccool]

PK,

You point out a very fundamental problem with the argument of "jobs going overseas". Unless US consumers are willing to pay for the real worth of products, and not the price tag that was created by artificially altering human conditions due to currency exchange rates... we will have this problem continuously.

To give you a bit of a perspective. Per capita income in China - $6,000 , in US - $47,000. That's almost 8 times more. Now, why is such desparity, because of

1) Relative exchange rate of the currency, which has to do rather with demand of the currency than actual value of it.

2) The disparity that such use of currency can create worldwide.

So, the US citizen can choose to buy a domestically-made TV, which would include US-relevant labor costs built in, but it would mean that it can potentially have 8 times the about of labor costs associated with it than the Chinese made TV. So, the great idea pops into mind of such person... Hey, why do I have to bend my back working here for high-priced goods, when I can swing over to China, buy the TVs at the price that they are making, and ship it over hear and make a profit.

This is the reality of international trade. If not for it, you'd have to work and save several years in order to buy the TV that you produce (like Chinese do). Now, that they accumulated a substantial amounts of our money that we print as IOUs, they simply buy back government bonds... that are repaid using... OUR TAXES .

So, there you have it. Don't blame anyone but yourself, unless, of course you are paying for American-made goods the prices that the products actually worth.

As far as where I stand on this issue, I don't see any reason why Chinese worker of equal education and equal capability be paid 8 times less than American. If you can give me a good reason, then be my guest.

[Dottie]

Rudywoofs - -

Great post, especially the postscript! Hope you have some more great ideas!