where and who do you work for

Man, I'm crawling in my skin wanting to jump into this, but my better judgment tells me don't touch it.

Perhaps over beers some time. BKH

PLBC I would back you pres, infact I think I should be you VP. Looks Like we think along the same lines.

I am nor trying to say that we can buy everything that we need made in america, oh wait maybe we can we did along time ago.

I also think if are gov. had the balls to level the playing field with all the countries that import stuff to us, you would buy your honda's or toyota's because you wouldn't be able to afford it. Just like japan does to ford and Gm car prices. But not many peolpe in the US know or care about that.

One example of our country going to hell in a hand basket…

My father works for a company that makes parts for various manufacturers.

They made prototype parts for a company that makes drills, as well as other household products... I don’t know if it is slander to mention the brand, I’ll only say they invented the portable hand drill…

After they tested the parts the drill company complained because the parts lasted too long. The parts didn’t fail as quickly as they wanted them to. They’re designing things to fail so the customer will to go out and buy a new one…

I'd rather see them design the item to last as long as possible. THAT would build brand loyalty and make me look at their other products...

Are these boats made in Japan? Toyota Epic

Toyota Epic is no longer made at all. However, the hulls were made in the US, and they used a lexus V8 powerplant. They were built in one of the ba$$ boat factories in the south, but I cannot remember which one. BKH

I have a friend that works for federal-Mogul here in the states of course he a machinist.

I am a lineman for an electrical company. I drive a Dodge Diesel. But I have 3 Hondas and 1 VW in my driveway also. When the americans can even come close in the car market I will consider switching. The big three could take a lesson from Honda, Toyota, VW and the Meloons. Do not sacrafice quality.

I'll stand with BKH for now but am very tempted to jump in.
For now, I'll just say Ford ownes Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Aston Martin and a substainal portion of Mazda. Daimler-Crysler ownes, Detroit Diesel, Mercedes and Crysler/Dodge (of course). GM ownes Saab, Daewoo, Saturn and is in bed with Isuzu, Toyota, Suzuki, Renault and BMW. We live in a GLOBAL economy.

union sheet metal worker local #33 cleveland ohio

adding to some of the comments germany has one the biggest union labor work forces in the world. i think people who buy foreign cars should place stickers reading along the lines of "proud to buy and support foreign countries, not my own"

bkh- i love your information on correct crafts... thats about where it stops... i understand we all have different opinions, and i try to respect that....

Interesting thread...

Senior Reactor Operator...nuke power plant...22 years and counting

2005 Ford F-250 Superduty Crew Cab diesel...4x4
2000 Dodge Intrepid
1993 F-150 4x4
1991 Mustang GT
1969 Mustang Mach 1
1969 Camaro RS/SS

Not intentionally all American...just worked out that way. All things being equal, I'll spend my dollars at home.

Yep, those building are for us. Hope you made out well on the drawings.

I work for Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, so you would think I don't have to compete with foreign workers but...

That's not true. First of all, since insurance is really just a financial instrument (not a tangible product, like cars, etc), insurance companies buy and sell all the time. Furthermore, I am a technology worker, so my employer is always trying to figure out if they can outsource my job to India, China, even Ireland.

So far they've been unsuccessful, and unless India and China get a lot better at software development, my job is safe. It helps to be better than your competition, and in this particular industry the American workforce is still superior.

I have very mixed feelings about the global economy. I don't know where I stand. On the one hand, I want the best possible product I can get for the least amount of money and I don't appreciate laws that prevent me from doing that. On the other hand, I don't want American companies to be weakened in the market place because other countries exploit their labor force or use unfair govt practices to artificially reduce the price of their own goods. But now I need a third hand - having lived in a foreign country for an extended period of time, I am empathetic to the poor slaves that populate many of them and would like to see their lives improve. It's a very complicated, confusing issue that can't be boiled down to simplistic maxims like "Buy American."

The world has grown very complicated.

I teach art in a high school. I work about 190 days a year, and go to the lake just about everyday during the summer. I feel for you guys that have to work all year. Check out my website for my cla$$.
http://www.columbus.k12.nc.us/echsart/

I drive 3 4Runners and I still have my very first car, a Datsun Z car. My boat has the largest engine of all. Hey that might be a good poll.

79nautique wrote: that's why i don't buy B&D tools, millwakee or Dewalt are the way to go if you want them to last. There is only one thing to get from them and that's the wormdrive framing saw, everything else they make is crap for the week-end do it yourselfer then throw it out.

Are you saying,the B&D framing wormdrive saw is a good one? I never tried it. I have been using a Skill model 77 wormdrive saw for ever. Great saw for sure. I was in construction most of my life. Which means...I love tools! And looking for reasons to buy them too.

79nautique wrote: that's why i don't buy B&D tools, millwakee or Dewalt are the way to go if you want them to last..

Black and Decker is DeWalt, FYI. I worked in Industrial Distribution for 14 years as a middle manager, purchasing, sales, etc. and just recently left there for a career in Law Enforcement.