Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Is anything still made in the USA???

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
JD Freak

01-26-2005 07:12:12




Report to Moderator

Hi all,

I am in the process of restoring a 1939 JD D, and am very upset at the amount of repop parts that are made in CHINA. I ordered a pan seat, pulley brake pad and several other items and they are all made overseas. The quality of these are not up to par at all. This is an AMERICAN past time. I know that almost everything in Wal-Mart is made in China. It is really something when you cant restore a classic American tractor with American made parts. I will calm down now!

Thanks Brad D

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Joe in Minnie

01-29-2005 05:45:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
The President you voted for, BUSH, signed the NAFTA, which sucked all the jobs out of the USA including the products made in the USA. Karry said he would reverse that if President, so if you voted for Bush, you can thank him for selling out the USA....



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BLW

01-28-2005 07:28:47




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
I still have a caddy made in america- a 1967 eldorado- 1st front wheel drive coupe-- very few made and less left if any body is interested its for sale also still have many parts for 32 chevy to benz"s-- need room- back to the art. your right I think the last totally amer made car was the l970 ford tempo- a heck of a car and as you know ford stops making anything that works good



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Redmud

01-27-2005 09:51:21




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Brad, You injected a little life into the board. Sure hope you hang around. Anyone that drives a 53 Ford truck can't be all bad, And good luck with finding American made parts. Redmud:



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
cannonball

01-27-2005 07:52:55




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
yep babies.....what don't get killed....we know for sure a ton of babies are....have nice day may god bless



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Rauville

01-27-2005 05:57:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Here's a link to an interesting article from the "China Business Weekly" from last month.
Wow.. WalMart does more business with China than Russia or Canada!
Just a sidenote: Bought a new stainless steel sauce pan for the kitchen. The box had an American Flag logo, along with "Proud USA Company" printed on the top. Turn the box over, get out the reading glasses...yep, Product Made in China...even the box printed in China!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M

01-27-2005 05:02:16




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
And nobody has yet to mention the hyprocracy of American stock holders. They want big dividend checks and then complain about the loss of American jobs and products. Corporation bean counters are more than happy to keep the dividend checks coming,but they have to shut down our plants and relocate to a third world nation so they don't have to pay much in wages,no health care,no OSHA,and no EPA to deal with either.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Davis In SC

01-26-2005 20:57:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Lots of interesting posts on this topic.... Bottom line is.. the playing field is not level. I saw a story about workers in China, several had lost both hands in punch-press accidents, & they were tossed out on the street.. Here ,it would have been a million dollar settlement. I have been in the Tool&Die trade all of my working career, now it is not even worth quoting on a job over fifteen thousand dollars, it is going to China. I just have to concentrate on small jobs not worth importing & repair jobs. One day we are going to wake up & find that there are no facilities left to manufacture any products in our country...

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Irv

01-26-2005 22:18:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Davis In SC, 01-26-2005 20:57:43  
Davis, yeah I believe that. I am a toll & diemaker, and I used to work in some shops here in Detroit. I went into GM about 25 years ago, and it is lucky I did. None of the companies I worked for are still in business. At one time there were thousands of companies in this area. Most are now gone. Ingersoll Milling machine company, once the largest machine co. in the world, went bust, layed off thousands of employees and was bought out by a Chinese co. One of thier engineers (1 of 80 left from 3000+ ) told me that they get thier machines built in china for 30 cents on the dollar - including shipping. There is no competeing with that. Game over. If American workers worked for free, the bill for toilet paper in the plant would exceed the chinese labor costs. And it only just starting! The big hits are still to come. I hear that heavy equipment is an industry they are tageting next, construction stuff. Where I work, most of our machine tools are made in Japan. I believe Chinese machines are coming, if we stay in business at all. Irv

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
gary case

01-28-2005 08:03:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Irv, 01-26-2005 22:18:35  
ya jdf most of the parts of the toyota are.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mark - IN.

01-26-2005 19:58:18




Report to Moderator
 Thanks for the powder keg. in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Yep, with no more talk of religeon, politics, Harleys, dogs, and anything that aint exactly tractor allowed, something had to blow sooner or later. Ha Ha Ha Ha.

You did it pretty good there. Thanks, and thanks to all that posted. Sure felt good too.

Makes me want to go out and steal some made in China non-union piece of junk garden tractor from Walmart and blow it up on some trail lawyer's lawn, in front of Koffi Annan. Ahh, would sleep good afterwards too.

Mark.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Alberta Mike

01-27-2005 12:16:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: Cadillacs! in reply to Irv, 01-26-2005 17:20:09  
Interesting post, that's good to know. Also interesting is the Cadillac (let's say is a top-of-the-line N. American built vehicle) is a pricey automobile, no doubt some of which is because of the parts being built here. Problem is, when you compare Cadillac to import luxury cars (say Consumer Report which is an American publication) in the same price bracket, the Caddy just doesn't stack up for reliability or quality. That's not my opinion, it's the opinion of thousands of purchasers. Go to the other end of the scale and compare say a Chevy Cavalier to a Honda Civic. Granted the Cavalier is a less costly vehicle than the Civic but if you've ever driven both of them, you'll see why the Civic costs probably 40% more, they are just that much better. Hate to admit it but they are.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob - MI

01-27-2005 05:59:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: Cadillacs! in reply to Irv, 01-26-2005 17:20:09  
Irv,

Thanks for the clarity and the content description on the Cadillac. it"s good to know that at least part of the GM product line has a focus on domestic supply.

Have you heard that GM is planning on out-sourcing the entire 3800 engine to China? Rumor has it that it will be a crate engine ready to bolt in. That one makes me sick and I hope it"s not true. LOTS of 3800"s out there and it will surely hurt folks here stateside.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Brian in NY

01-27-2005 07:02:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Cadillacs! in reply to Bob - MI, 01-27-2005 05:59:23  
There are LOTS of 3800s out there but they are going to be phazed out of the US market in the next few years as GM starts using a more high tech family of V6's.

GM is expanding into the Chinese market and I would not be surprised to see production of the 3800 (a cheap motor to build) moved to China for use in Chinese and other asian market vehicles.

I don't think you will see job loss in US due to this.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob - MI

01-27-2005 10:22:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: Cadillacs! in reply to Brian in NY, 01-27-2005 07:02:04  
Thanks again for the clarity. We need to keep manufacturing strong as we can.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M

01-27-2005 04:52:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: Cadillacs! in reply to Irv, 01-26-2005 17:20:09  
Look under most any of those Caddy's with a northstar and what will you see --- OIL LEAKS Now go look under a Honda or Toyota ---DRY That's why they are kicking our bu##'s !



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Wi Craig

01-27-2005 16:13:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: Cadillacs! in reply to Mike M, 01-27-2005 04:52:34  
I have a 95 eldorado. No oil leaks here, 104k miles. Ya, parts are pricey, but no rust, no oil leaks, good response for factory recalls, and the car is fast as He%%. Good MPG too. Craig



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Crem

01-27-2005 09:11:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: Cadillacs! in reply to Mike M, 01-27-2005 04:52:34  
What about the honda fires and transmission problems and the toyota sludge problems? they like to keep that quiet.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jughead

01-27-2005 03:47:39




Report to Moderator
 Re: Cadillacs! in reply to Irv, 01-26-2005 17:20:09  
yep at a cost of 50000-thank you mr. union.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
yep

01-26-2005 17:19:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  

one real big thing still made in the USA. Credit. Talking with this fellow the other day and he told me that he was still paying on a dinner out that he and his wife had 3 years ago. No big problem though cause the big boys in Washington DC will continue to print it just a little faster than we spend it. Small town America has half the stores closed but the government is still paving the sidewalks with brick and providng free curb service to Wal-Mart for those that can no longer afford a car.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
bill b va

01-26-2005 17:10:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  

yes.....lying politiations and crooked lawyers . there are plenty in both parties .



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
thejdman01

01-26-2005 16:32:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
someone tell me this one i am not the throw away guy by any means at all. 2 recent senerios had a 13 inch tv probably the tube burnt out took it into the tv shop the guy laughed at me he said a tube at least is 60 bucks and if i put it in its a miniumum of 55 bucks. i can go to any chain store and buy the whole thing tube plastic houseing cord everything for 80 how can one part be 3/4 of the whole thing. second case and point dishwasher the timer switch mechanism stopped working it was in the switch notthe machine. it was a rotory switch anyways to make a long story short i went to sears (kenmore dishwasher but that dont mean anything as i learned its made by maytag but anyways went to sears 147 dollors for the switch w/the timer and all in it. i went out to the showroom i can get a washer w/a 3 year warrenty for 349.99 closeout last years model. why woudl the switch a very little component of the whole machine (you have heating coil pump door case wiring etc etc) how can one part cost prid near 1/2 of a whole new machine. this dishwasher was 4.5 years old. i haggled with the sales lady and got her to throw in free installation so needless to say i got a new dishwasher might as well guarenteed for 3 years though that is worthless casue its agains manufactures defect and you know they never make anything cheap and inadaquate never. where the old ones going i dont know probably a landfill. would go to mexico like all the old farm equipment except their dishwashers are still women. remember when lol

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
thejdman01

01-26-2005 16:23:24




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
waht also scares me is that tires even tires which are very critical components to military vehicles are being bought from china. id like to know how here in northern illinois we ship grain down to the illinois river gets loaded to a barge goes down to the gulf of mexico where it has to be retransfered to ships which then goes to china, then then we import corn and beans from brazil and ship them back up here to the tyson chicken farm who contracts and buys corn from china. how can we afford to handle and transport grain all the way to china and then haul it back in from brazil how can we do that? tell me this one as well we spent all this money and time putting in the great alaskan pipeline. most oil that we aquire from alaska gets exported and then we import oil from those camel jockeys how does that make any sense? this world is going to heck

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bus Driver

01-26-2005 16:16:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Good question. Today I bought some of the materials for outfitting my closets. Closetmaid. All parts that I inspected are made in USA. One bracket for 20" wide shelf is $7.97. Simple sheet metal stamping with powder coating. Expressing no opinion nor editorializing, just stating the facts. I will buy enough to complete my project.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BigR

01-26-2005 14:43:24




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
One thing to remember, and my 92 year old father said it many years ago. With all the stuff that's made overseas, where do you think we would be if December 7, 1941 happened all over again tomorrow? What brought us out of that conflict is our natural resources and our ability to "tool" up overnight for military production. I don't think we have that capability anymore. And the reason that Germany and Japan utimately lost they couldn't keep up with us. Just my 2 cents!!!!! !!!!!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Joe in Minnie

01-26-2005 14:37:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
I worked for IBM,, MY job went to China, any one who voted for Bush made that happen, and can thank him for selling out the USA. that's it!



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
snitkawl

01-26-2005 16:10:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Joe in Minnie, 01-26-2005 14:37:28  
Hey Joe: In addition to personally sending your job overseas, that damn Bush was also directly and personally responsible for the recent catastrophic tsunami, and I bet if you check back in history, that Cheney and Haliburton caused the earthquake that struck San Francisco in 1906.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave Sherburne, NY

01-26-2005 16:06:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Joe in Minnie, 01-26-2005 14:37:28  
Yea , like your job would still be here if Kerry had been elected .



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BEN in KS

01-26-2005 14:04:36




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Trying not to get way off topic, but aside from being a farmer/former farm boy restoring tractors, in my other life I like to fly airplanes around. The airline industry in this country is being outsourced to the lowest bidder, and guess where the bidders are? Offshore, of course! A few more years will be interesting, may not have any native flightcrew left in a few more years. Thanks for he rant, buy/fly American

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
ErnieD

01-26-2005 13:10:46




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Wait until you can start buying China made cars and trucks, and computer chips. This will happen when the 3 gorges dam is finished and they have cubic electrical power 24/7. They will be exporting finished steel...

The next question will be, will there be enough oil to go around.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BURT

01-26-2005 11:58:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
I apologize in advance for the length of this rant, but this is a topic very near and dear to me (and a source of annoyance to my wife when I tell her to return the "whatever", because I know where to find an American made one).

I believe that it is getting harder to find American made items for all of the various reasons that folks have listed below, but that just means we have to try harder. There are certain items that you just can't find "made in USA", there are other items that are not as easily found, but there are some that are easily found. I think we all need to make a concerted effort to be aware of where the items we by are purchased. I know I drive my wife crazy, but I will not buy pants, socks, shirts, or shoes that are not "made in USA". (if anyone knows where one can get jockey shorts and/or T-shirts made in USA, please let me know). It is going to cost more, but the job you save may be your own - if you buy what someone else is making, they can buy what you are making.

I know the discussion usually comes down two topics: 1) "what is really American made?" Some stuff is assembled here from foreign/domestic or just foreign materials, some is "made" here from mostly USA materials, some is made by an foreign owned company with a plant here in the states, or stuff made here and then assembled somewhere else (mainly Mexico); and 2) Should I give my money to a "American" company which makes its stuff overseas or to an "foreign" company which makes its stuff here in the states?. My feeling is that if we make a real effort to look for items that fit any of the scenarios in #1 above, we would be better off; and I feel better buying something that has been produced in the USA, whether or not the company is an "American" company; over buying something from an "American" company, but produced elsewhere (like Levi's jeans).

I know Wal-Mart always seems to be the target of the "foreign made" comments, but they are no different (better or worse) than Target, Kohls, Sears, Penneys, etc. Just ask my wife, we've been looking for lampshades and haven't yet found a match - one she likes that is made in USA.

Sorry for the rant, but buying American has been a passion of mine for about 20+ years now and some days it can get depressing to look and look and come up empty. But in a lot of cases patience pays off - when we bought our last mini-van, I held out until I could find when off a US assembly line, with an engine and transmission also off a US line (I know many of the components came from all over).

Off the soap-box!
Keeping buying USA made/aasembled/etc. (and Canadian too, for those of you up north)

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Farmall Don

01-26-2005 14:30:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to BURT, 01-26-2005 11:58:11  
My point of view: The reason Walmart, and other corporations,are so successful is selling inexpensive products and at a fixed profit. That is what most consumers want and that enables the power to the huge Corporations. Fighting the system leads to demise. I like to think my success as a small business person is that I have learned to adapt to the trends that I cannot control. I dont try to beat them, but join them. I need to make a living and remember I have the responsiblity to employees and their families to continue to produce in a profitible manner which maintains all of our jobs. Im always paying attention to trends in our sector of the industry and try to adapt and go with those trends. I get real successful if I anticipate those trends and ready for them. If Im wrong or if I lose that edge there is a fine line between staying in business and having an auction. I cannot change focus just because its made in America. If China is making a quality product, just as good, I go with it. I have too.

Also, I dont think you should appologize for your rant. I find it very interesting and it keeps people like me on my toes and in perspective.

Everyone should follow the 5-P's (prior planning prevents poor performance).

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Sad Heart

01-26-2005 15:07:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Farmall Don, 01-26-2005 14:30:11  
Americans like to sit down to a Big Fat Steak each nite..This cost big bucks so our goverment went out and found someone who would build items Cheaper and they only eat a small bowl of rice each day. Greed cost Money



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob - MI

01-26-2005 11:43:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
There are some bright spots however. In the automotive world some of the Japanese companies have high targets of domestic content. In addition, these companies aren"t killing the supply base for annual price reductions of 5% and up. Many good casting and machining companies have been driven out of business by the big 3 auto companies and ridiculous pricing pressure.

Yes, we consumers have a role in it but the corporate line of defense is always the same: "maximize value to the stockholders". These are the same people who look the other way when an off-shore supplier uses sub-standard material, yet they won"t allow that same advantage with a domestic source. (Sorry for the sore spot here guys.)

I for one will pay more for better quality, I bet lots of you guys will too, if you can find it anymore.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Davis In SC

01-26-2005 20:25:20




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Bob - MI, 01-26-2005 11:43:54  
Bob, I just read an article about suppliers to the auto industry...Seems they prefer to do work for the Japanese companies instead of the Big 3. The Japanese companies work with them to reduce costs through engineering, rather than just say cut costs 5% or we will go elsewhere.. So many suppliers are going toward Honda, Toyota, etc, that the Big 3 are actually having a hard time even getting vendors to work with them..

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob - MI

01-27-2005 05:51:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Davis In SC, 01-26-2005 20:25:20  
That"s exactly right. As an automotive supplier I prefer to do business with the "transplants" now in the US. I find them to be tough negotiators up front but after the decision is made they are extremely loyal and treat you as a valued partner.

I have experience with Japanese companies in both aerospace and automotive applications and I would take them any day over the big 3 auto guys. They could care less if you make it or not. The Japanese treat you as family.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
bad mechanic

01-26-2005 12:08:49




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Bob - MI, 01-26-2005 11:43:54  
From experience, 7 years ago I "had" a coat company. We built started in our basement. After a couple of months moved to a shop. We focused on ranch and work coats. After one year we had 9 sewers. We sold primarily to embroidery shops. Started in MT and branched out to surrounding states. Our coats durability and styles were of top quality. After 5 years of busting A$$ and giving all we had, we had to give it up, the local taxes were killers, our wholesale prices could not be competitive. The shops could buy off shore coats for what we had in ours. There was no way to survive. I guess one must give in and go with the flow, I hate that but after trying to push American made and listening to the buyers say, "I have no choice but to buy from the other market" we shut down our business and are still picking up the pieces. I guess they call it progress. Now after knowing what I know about the rag business I realize all of them are from out of the country. God Bless America. We let ourselves down.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BB

01-26-2005 12:33:20




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to bad mechanic, 01-26-2005 12:08:49  
I am not an economist but this is really a simple economic matter. If there were no imported manufacturing products, no imported food products, no immigrant labor, and no foreign competition, prices for USA goods would skyrocket. That would be like all of us taking a major wage cut. Our buying power would fall off the edge. We would be buying far less. Business profits would fall including what small mom & pop stores there are left. Housing markets would drop. Tax collections would drop. Government services would be reduced. ETC. ETC. The result would be a collapse of the US economy. It took years to get where we are. And it would take years to go back. But it ain’t gonna happen. I don’t care for all the imports either, but it is here to stay. The people are not going to do it and the government trying to do it for us would be a disaster. As soon as prices started rising, people would start screaming how the government was screwing everything up and to put it back the way it was.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere

01-26-2005 15:18:02




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to thurlow, 01-26-2005 13:24:27  
I wish that neighbour lady had not drove off my laneway and got stuck the 3rd day of recovery. It was three weeks before I could sit without cautiously getting the boys lined up for clearance first. Resumed normal work but all movements were slow & planned. Week four was when they were not brought to my attention every few minutes.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
thurlow

01-26-2005 19:54:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to buickanddeere, 01-26-2005 15:18:02  
DAMN!!!!! !!!!! !



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RustyFarmall

01-26-2005 11:30:52




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to buickanddeere, 01-26-2005 11:19:53  
Buickandeere, you are exactly right, most of these problems started during her reign of office.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
don 10

01-26-2005 11:12:02




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Do we only care if it affects us? Its recession if our neighbor is out of work but depression if we are..Oh sure unions are all to blame .Like we have never seen a greedy company owner.. We never cared if we wernt directely affected by all the bad judgements and corrupt politicians..It all comes down to greed . We all want the most for the least.. First lets get lobyist out..Second stop trading with governments that use slave labor..Just think some of our POWs maybe working in china ..Just look at England that is where we are headed unless we can turn this thing around..We get to make the first one of everything then the next 4 million come out of China. Think about that..

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BB

01-26-2005 11:43:37




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to don 10, 01-26-2005 11:12:02  
The vast majority of these products is made by legitimate manufacturing companies paying their employees a few cents an hour. And the employees are thankful for that. THANKFUL!! In their environment, that is enough to provide for their families and afford things they could never afford otherwise. That is also why so many foreigners come to the US and are successful in starting/running their own businesses. They live frugally, and fully appreciate the freedoms and opportunities our great country allows them. We have all become so complacent with our freedoms and blessings that we take them for granted and keep wanting more and more rather than appreciate what we have.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Tim...OK

01-26-2005 14:49:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to BB, 01-26-2005 11:43:37  
Talking about them living frugally..the machine shop I work for has hired probably 25 or 30 Vietnamese machine operators..these are not $80,000 a year employees,maybe $13-14 an hour..these guys are buying and paying for $200,000+ homes in 3 to 5 years..that my friends,is living frugal..



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
TomR Ont.

01-26-2005 16:00:55




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Tim...OK, 01-26-2005 14:49:35  
All 25 living in the house $11375.00 per week, they can pay it off in less than 1 year, $591500.00, they should tighten their belt a bit buy 2 and rent one out.
We all should do it, and then where will the economy in ten years.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BB

01-26-2005 10:14:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
For everyone complaining about imports, I would only ask that you take an inventory of yourselves. Look at the label on your clothes, your shoes. Check you home furnishings, appliances, bedding, etc. Check all you tools, both hand and power. Check all else you own. Now how many of you can truly say you only buy American? I doubt there is one in a thousand. The importers are not the problem. The problem is that people want the lowest price they can find and that is what they will buy. And then they will complain about it being imported. And the salaries, perks, restrictions, requirements, regulations, etc. forced on the American manufacturers puts most of them out as far as competing with the imports on a price basis. As someone said, look in the mirror. No one wants to admit it but we are the problem.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RustyFarmall

01-26-2005 11:14:00




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to BB, 01-26-2005 10:14:12  
It still isn't our fault, I went shopping recently, I was looking for small hand tools, possibly some small power tools, and I was also looking for clothes. Guess what? I absolutely could not find anything that had a "made in the USA" label. Everything I picked up said "made in china". I came home empty-handed.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BB

01-26-2005 11:29:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to RustyFarmall, 01-26-2005 11:14:00  
I repeat, it is our fault. Maybe not you individually, but the American public in general. The reason you can't find made in USA is because no one was buying the higher priced made in USA stuff. If it don't sell, they stop making it. Then the only thing left is imports. And that is how we got where we are.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Davis In SC

01-26-2005 09:37:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
40 years ago Texiles were the backbone of the economy here, now all the mills are closed. On the conflict mentioned below, I guess we would not even have clothes to wear...



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Alberta Mike

01-26-2005 09:30:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
C'mon guys, we haven't been living in caves for the last 50 years. Times are changing and let's face it, borders mean almost nothing anymore to the global economic market. As far as quality of product goes, we make both extremes (junk vs quality) on this side of the ocean too. China often takes a rap for producing junk but they will make whatever the custormer orders. They have the ability to make anything as well and precision made as anywhere on the planet if you want to pay them for it. No need to get upset or in a snit about it, it's the way it is and nobody's going to change it. If you want, buy North American but be prepared to pay for our lifestyle at the same time. Remember that factory workers in the Asian factories don't exactly have what you and I have because they don't make as much money, it's just that simple.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Farmall Don

01-26-2005 10:02:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Alberta Mike, 01-26-2005 09:30:57  
Im glad you brought this to everyone's attention. You are not to look at things economically isolated to one country, but globally. I believe that the concept of NAFTA was not to drag down the United States, but bring the world up to a standard with the United States. Once the full effect has been established, things should balance out (Theory). Also, weather you believe it or not, the United States is the leader of techonology. Invention is what we do best. When you do what you do best, you set the pace for everyone else (globally). I hope I make sense.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ryan

01-26-2005 10:21:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Farmall Don, 01-26-2005 10:02:32  
The problem is that people are not even concious of the fact that using your logic their lifestyles have to change. The way people spend money and use energy does not coincide; we still consume and spend like we are the best, except the money isn't staying here anymore. That is my issue, you can't keep taking more money out of a box than you put in and expect to be well-off.

Ryan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Rick

01-26-2005 09:30:21




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
The problem is that American people are not smart enough to STOP buying the junk, Walmat parking lot is full every day, Sorry to say that includes me. Some where years back we got sold out buy our goverment and still are today.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ryan

01-26-2005 10:15:38




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Rick, 01-26-2005 09:30:21  
Have you heard the phrase, "Shopping our way to unemployment?" That is what we are doing.

Ryan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Steve from MO - dangit!

01-26-2005 08:13:21




Report to Moderator
 Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Funny, isn't it?

All the Accord wagons worldwide are made in the USA. Toyota's Tundra truck has more US content than the Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado. The Ford and Chevy have lots of Canadian and Mexican parts, some Japanese, and (yup) Chinese.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Crem

01-26-2005 17:07:47




Report to Moderator
 Re: Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans in reply to Steve from MO - dangit!, 01-26-2005 08:13:21  
Yeah, we are giving the Japanese all kinds of free land, services and training for their plants over here and then paying on the other end when our plants are knocked out. I wonder who will be smiling when the Japanese overtake us economically and try to call the shots for us. I'll be damned if I will ever buy a Japanese vehicle.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jonboy

01-26-2005 08:10:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Every store that I have gone into has nearly 100% made in China products. It is true that we don't want to pay the extra for the U.S made stuff, but we're shooting ourselfs in the foot. You can't tell most Americans that because they want a bargain and the stores want to make the most profit. The store is able to buy something made overseas for a $1 and resell it for $5, thats great buisness for them, but it puts everybody out of work here who's trying to make the same products.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bill Rolland

01-26-2005 14:43:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Jonboy, 01-26-2005 08:10:14  
Please, let"s not blame unions for high costs - a decent wage plus benefits ain"t why we"re in a pickle. And all this "frivolous lawsuit" stuff is sensationalized nonsense Readers Digest uses to sell magazines - the fact is lawsuits are an incredibly tiny cost of doing business (I"m president of a California Corporation). The real problems are "free trade" agreements that force US manufacturers to compete with countries where workers earn pennies an hour, there are zero environmental/safety controls, and the government subsidizes industry. And the American shopper who"s more interested in saving $1.50 on a radio than supporting American industry and keeping good jobs here.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rustyj14

01-26-2005 09:43:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Jonboy, 01-26-2005 08:10:14  
Well, you can blame the Government for everything being made in China, etc.(Bear with me,) First off, they gave lawyers the license to sue everybody! Then, they made the cost of doing business in the USA so high, the plant ownwers couldn"t make a decent profit, what with union rules, work rules, insurance rules, hospitalization rules,lay-off rules, mounds of paper work, Regulations, all manner of things that took the profit out of everything! So, the Mfgrs have the product assembled or made in China, and they only have to pay for shipping back stateside, and to their facility, from where they then send it out across the country to the stores! Now, no regulations, taxes, hospitalization, no unemployment to pay, no paper work, no factory to maintain, no environmental issues to deal with, just the local warehouse to maintain! And, thats why everything is made in China or elsewhere! It is price and competition that fuels the economy. Our tractors and mowers, etc. will probably be made overseas soon, too. I hate to see it, but it will come to pass. Grab up the good ones and store them away-you"ll need the good ones later! I"m not trying to stand on my soap-box to shout "Unfair". I"m just trying to point out why things are made in China instead of here!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ryan

01-26-2005 10:27:33




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to rustyj14, 01-26-2005 09:43:54  
I couldn't agree with you more, seems like America the free is not so free anymore. It won't be long it will be more profitable for someone who wants to work to go somewhere that is 50 years behind.

Ryan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jonboy

01-26-2005 09:54:49




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to rustyj14, 01-26-2005 09:43:54  
You are right on about that. I have heard some overseas companys don't want to do buisness in the U.S due to all the frivolous lawsuits. We actually have people who make a living off from perpously getting themselves in a situation so they can sue, I even witnessed a girl throw water on the floor and then run down the hall and fall flat in it so she could try to sue the hotel, it's crazy and people do the same things with the products they buy and thats why we have all those silly warning labels to protect companys from getting sued, like instructions to remove the peanuts from the bag before consumption on packages of airline peanuts, etc...
Maybe we do have too much, but it sure is a nice life... well except for the crazy lawsuits and such.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
DickTN

01-26-2005 08:04:45




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Babies are still made in the USA. That"s about all, though. Blame the accountants. Buy from lowest bidder and throw stuff together. Customers are so dumb we"ll buy anyway. At least, that"s the beancounters veiwpoint. Our government doesn"t help a whole lot either, with "favored nation" trade agreements. End of rant.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M

01-26-2005 09:29:44




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to DickTN, 01-26-2005 08:04:45  
China still makes way more of them !



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Coloken

01-26-2005 08:13:33




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to DickTN, 01-26-2005 08:04:45  
I have met the "beancounters" and he is us. Want some body to blame? look in a mirrow.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Duane H

01-26-2005 10:17:33




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Coloken, 01-26-2005 08:13:33  
I 100% agree with Coloken. What drives the US economy is the consumer and the consumer is us. Everyone of us basically voted that made in China was okay because we bought the stuff or at least most of us did. This all started years ago. I remember Walmart back about 20 years ago advertising made in America items. Well the consumer told Walmart that they didn"t care because we bought the cheaper foreign made stuff. Walmart is only in the business of selling what we want to buy.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
tlak

01-28-2005 17:02:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Duane H, 01-26-2005 10:17:33  
Well actually WalMart was trying to capitalize on the "made in America" while stuff was still made in America. They had signs all over the place saying American made and the public found out it was all Jap/Chi stuff. This was while Sam was still alive.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mark - IN.

01-26-2005 19:18:13




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Duane H, 01-26-2005 10:17:33  
You could be right, but actually the reason that I believe that Walmart is the way that it is, is the death of Sam Walton. He used to have a policy that actually loaned money to smaller companies to tool up if could build a product made in America by Americans, if could and to compete with foreign products. The guy would actually visit the manufacturing plants that produced products that were sold in his stores. My brother worked at a plant in Middlebury, IN. that manufactured in part, store fixtures for Walmart, and may still. Sam Walton came and toured the plant on more than one occasion when was still alive.

When he died, so did his ethics. That's my theory on why Walmart is the Walmart that it is today. Profit for the five richest kids in the world, whom did nothing more than be fathered by him, and inherit the whole thing after his untimely death. If I ever get the itch to buy made in China junk, I'll go over to Kmart and get it for less since they have no customers. Keep Americans working, buy American made, by Americans. The heck with a "global economy" and the Useless-nited Nations.

Mark

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
DickTN

01-26-2005 09:57:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Coloken, 01-26-2005 08:13:33  
Coloken, I must respectfully disagree with you. I am a retired GM project engineer. The last project that I handled was a braze furnace job (about 200K, as I recall). The job was, of course, put out for bid. AFTER the job was let, I happened to be in the purchasing agent's (read beancounter)office. He called the company to which the job was let and told them that they had to lower their price 10%. I argued that the project would suffer quality problems and was told to leave the office, because that was HIS decision, not mine. The furnace came in and the muffle began leaking in 6 months. The supplier had to use a lower quality muffle to meet price. Naturally, the engineer (me) was blamed for specifying an inferior product and the purchasing agent was promoted for doing such a wonderful job. I look in the mirror and I do NOT see a beancounter looking back at me. I see a frustrated engineer who was not allowed to do the job that would ensure quality and longevity of the project. End of story.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
26Red

01-26-2005 16:09:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to DickTN, 01-26-2005 09:57:15  
Ditto- as a engineer working in manufacturing- I see this thing all the time- some guys get it, others don't. Tell me who's going to buy all this cheap china stuff when they don't have a job to go to. Do you see the quality of living going up for the chinese people? It's going to take decades to get them on a level playing field with US goods.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RustyFarmall

01-26-2005 09:04:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Coloken, 01-26-2005 08:13:33  
Coloken, I will beg to disagree. "He" is not us. I have never owned a vehicle built by a company with foriegn headquarters. I know my Chevy truck does have quite a bit of foriegn content, there's nothing I can do about that. At least G.M. is headquartered in the U.S.A. I used to work for a ball-bearing mfg. which is Japanese owned, we all worked together to make sure our product reflected our American pride. We turned out an excellent product, and we were meeting customer demands for a lower priced product simply by increasing our efficiency. Even though we constantly proved we could produce a quality product at a competetive price, we still got downsized, and I lost my job after being there for 21 years. My job, along with several others, got sent to China. The top dogs of the company explained that their customers no longer wanted quality, the only thing they were concerned with was price, and China could produce and sell ball bearings for a fraction of what the raw materials cost us, and, you guessed it, those bearings from China are for the most part defective in one way or another. America has been crying out for quality for many years now. Who is listening?

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jonboy

01-26-2005 09:40:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to RustyFarmall, 01-26-2005 09:04:07  
The customer does care about quality, but it's quantity that the top dogs want to line their pockets with even more money and no, the company doesn't care about quality too much, they'd rather sell the customer 10 rather than 1, Thats corperate thinking. Make everything so cheap that when it breaks it couldn't possibly be fixed or rebuilt, so thats even more in the landfills. These big companys only care about 1 thing and thats making money. Unfortunatly they can get away with it because consumers buy up that junk because they see a "savings" right then. American products are also being made poorer and poorer due to us trying to compete best we can with the overseas.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
snitkawl

01-26-2005 16:04:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Jonboy, 01-26-2005 09:40:41  
Jonboy; Sometime when you have time I would like you to explain just what you think the purpose of business is. The wording of your post indicates that you think making a profit is a bad thing, and if that is your thinking, then why would anyone go into business?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jonboy

01-26-2005 17:29:33




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to snitkawl, 01-26-2005 16:04:28  
Obviously buisnesses are in buisness to make money and that wasn't the way I intended the post to sound. I was just stating the fact that most corperations only care about making big money and nothing more.
Sorry about the confusion



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Redmud

01-26-2005 08:01:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
Drive by the employee parking lots at Ford, GM, and Chrysler and see what the workers are buying. JD Freak, what do you drive?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JD Freak

01-26-2005 09:22:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Redmud, 01-26-2005 08:01:10  
I drive a ford pickup that was built in 1953. I cant even buy repop parts that are made here for it either, the motor mounts and hubcaps were made in India. I dont have a problem paying extra to buy things that are made in the USA but I dont know where to get them

Thanks Brad



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Rauville

01-26-2005 07:43:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
I know what you mean. I took my 03' Chevy truck back to the dealer for a factory safety recall. The two parts that were replaced both have "Made in China" stickers!

What would happen to our country if a conflict should come up someday that involved China? Our entire economy seems to revolve around them and their ability to provide everything from government loans to obsolete tractor parts.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
sjh

01-26-2005 08:08:18




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Rauville, 01-26-2005 07:43:43  
I saw a military program about jets, and they said it would take 10 (yes 10) years for this country to gear up to make the F-18 jet. They said all electronics are made in Japan and many other parts are made over sees.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
big fred

01-26-2005 14:43:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to sjh, 01-26-2005 08:08:18  
We are already making the F-18, in St Louis. Very few military electronics are made in Japan, but a lot are made in England, Germany, Italy and Canada, as well as the U.S. Many of the chips in the electronics are made offshore, but we have the capability to make them here as well. The bare circuit boards, same thing.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M

01-26-2005 07:41:24




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
One of the only things I can think of are some of the firearms companies are still all USA.There is still a ton of imports though.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob

01-26-2005 07:39:20




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
I'm curious...

"Repro" for "reproduction" makes sense, but where did the term "repop" come from?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

01-26-2005 09:37:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Bob, 01-26-2005 07:39:20  
Its a JD thing its saying it because of the JD POP POP



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
PAGlenn

01-26-2005 08:32:21




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Bob, 01-26-2005 07:39:20  
Just another name for repro's. I use it often.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob

01-26-2005 08:34:18




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to PAGlenn, 01-26-2005 08:32:21  
Yes, I know that, and I see it often. My question was where did the term "repop" come form. It would seem to be confusing to those not in on the little "joke", compared to just saying "repro".



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike (WA)

01-26-2005 12:23:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Bob, 01-26-2005 08:34:18  
It's been used in the hot rod and auto restoration circles for at least 20 years- my first recollection of seeing it was in a hot rod magazine years ago. Just another little slang word that caught on, for better or worse. Every pursuit has its "jargon".



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
sjsamson

01-26-2005 07:35:55




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to JD Freak, 01-26-2005 07:12:12  
you are 100% right .... i do think that we have done this to ourselves ..... go to a mall parking lot and look at the number of cars and trucks that are made by an over seas company .... the fact they are made in the u.s. seems to justify buying them ..BUT... the profit is really going to a corp. over seas .. it"s time to start giving people a "SHOT" about buying products made or owned over seas .....
I WONDER WHERE THE PROFIT FROM THOSE DODGE TRUCKS GOES NOW ???

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
bad mechanic

01-26-2005 10:01:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to sjsamson, 01-26-2005 07:35:55  
If things were still made in the USA, e.g., tv's, to auto's, we couldn't afford them, why? Unions drove prices up, an assembly line bench worker at Boieng gets $18 per hour, plus benefits. Lawyers have driven prices up for us all. We love to sue, we love to get paid alot for nothing and we love health benefits, vacations and retirement. Go figure. I remember when the electronics were mostly moved off shore, most of us felt a relief, we could finally afford to buy those things. Now we have lost our textile mills, shoe, watch makers, etc. Thanks to unions, lawyers and lazy-want-a-lot workers.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mark - IN.

01-26-2005 18:37:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to bad mechanic, 01-26-2005 10:01:48  
Wait just a minute. You may not like unions, but had it not been for unions, I'm going to guess that whatever it is or was that you get or were paid, that it would not have occured without unions to bring your wages up in the first place, and force non-union companies to pay more competively.

Let me ask you a question about your theory on how the unions have driven the manufacturing out of this country. When you go into a grocery store for instance, and say pickup a GE product, such as a "light timer" for instance, and every single model they market is made in China, you tell me how that non-union made in China product has a price tag on it as though it was made in America at a higher wage, when it was made in China for pennies? My point is that not one American hand touched it's manufacturing, union or not, yet it still costs $10 - $20, and was made for pennies. Where is the union driving that price up?

I've watched contractors build homes using illegal aliens do everything in crews from eletrical to plumbing to drywall, getting paid low wages, yet the builder still charges from $100K to $200K to $300K for those homes constructed at low wages.

I've watched contractors put in streets and infrastructure (water and sewage) using illegal alien labor operating heavy equipment, and doing not just the laboring, but also the finish concrete work, paying low wages to the illegals, yet charge big $$$ for the labor.

Watch a Walmart go up sometime. Once the outer structure is up and the windows are in place, they get covered up to block what's going on inside. The semis that deliver the store fixtures and stuff are not jam packed to the gill to have less semis deliver the stuff. On the contrary, they are packed with less stuff for easy and quick removal. Roll the truck in, get the stuff off, get it up while the next one's backing in. Watch the low wage illegal labor drive up and work during the night behind windows that block them from sight. No unions involved there.

I could go on and on and on, especially when I hear some politician say that the illegals only take the jobs that we Americans do not want, but your complaint is partly about how the unions have driven the jobs out of this country.

Well, you go into any store and find anything not made in China, and it'll be pretty hard, and there are no labor unions that I'm aware of in China, yet those products sell for some pretty seriously elevated price tags, for generally low quality out of tolerance junk - none of which had an American hand involved, union or not. It's called profit.

Although, I do agree with your point on law suits. Do you remember when then Vice-President Quayle addressed the American Bar Association and told them "In Japan, there's one trial lawyer for every 50,000 people, but in America, we have one for every 2,000 people"? Do you remember that? Like him or not, he stood in their faces at one of their sponsored functions, and punched them in the nose. He barely made it out of there with his shirt on his back, but told them the truth. Pretty gutsy, if you ask me.

Mark, IBEW Local 21, and darn proud of it.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
toomanycases

01-26-2005 22:49:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Mark - IN., 01-26-2005 18:37:04  
Mark, in regards to your comment. If they can't see that unions helped them to get where we are at today, just let them go back to the 1920's (I think that's time) and look at the so called wages that were being paid. (without any benefits)
I too was proud to carry my IBEW card back in the 50's, and I still won't cross a picket line. Sure sometimes the unions went too far, but it is nothing in comparison to what the politicans have done to us today. Look at all the un-or-under employed people we have, and what are we doing but shipping more jobs over seas. Chuck

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RustyFarmall

01-26-2005 11:28:01




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to bad mechanic, 01-26-2005 10:01:48  
The average per-capita income for the US is now at $40,000 per year. Do the math, that Boeing worker who is being paid $18 an hour is still underpaid, not by much, but if you were in his shoes, and you were trying to buy a home and support a family, you would definately feel underpaid. No, the problem is not with the labor unions, the problem is with the corporate beancounters, which is why the unions were organized in the first place, and why they are still necessary today.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Brian in NY

01-27-2005 07:35:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to RustyFarmall, 01-26-2005 11:28:01  
Not trying to nitpick here, but the average per capita income is much lower than 40k/year. The average HOUSEHOLD income is 40k/year.

Our household makes a touch more than that, but not much.

We have a comfortable life, and we don't go without anything we need. We buy lots of stuff we don't need. We have $ to have fun once in a while. Life is good. I buy USA whenever I have the opportunity. I patronize by local businesses even if it costs me a little more.
I have lots of foreign made stuff in my home...and I don't lose sleep over it. I don't think you can blame our current state of affairs on any one thing....as long as there is money to be made, big business will go after it.
Yes, someday the USA won't be the richest nation in the world, but no amount of money can ever replace these beautiful hills, our small town way of life, and the pride in knowing we live in a country where we are free to worship as we please, and work where we please. I am proud to be an American not because I think we are superior, but because I know that the American spirit will never die.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
thurlow

01-27-2005 09:45:45




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to Brian in NY, 01-27-2005 07:35:11  
Don't know, Brian, about the American spirit/way of life; I tend to be more pessimistic about the future; many cultures combined to make America what she is/was, but the core was the West/North European immigrants and their descendants. Everyone who came here (excluding those brought against their will as slaves) wanted to be American and were quickly assimilated (by the second or third generation) into the existing culture. No longer true; we are increasingly "balkanized", and too many of the current immigrants want to bring their culture with them and just live here/be a citizen, but still be hispanic, middle eastern, african, etc..... ..I don't know how old you are, but you may live to see the day when people like you (and who have your values) are no longer in the majority.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
bad mechanic

01-26-2005 12:23:46




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to RustyFarmall, 01-26-2005 11:28:01  
Wtih all due respect Mr Rusty, those assemly line jobs are non skilled postions. That does effect the economy. A skilled position ranges from $28 to the sky. If one wants to earn money, entry level is not the place to be. Just like fast foods, if that is a career, then go the Hamburger University and get upgraded, if not live with it. A union was needed in its time, today it is simply a spear in the heart of the economy.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RustyFarmall

01-26-2005 14:05:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to bad mechanic, 01-26-2005 12:23:46  
I really don't want to argue, but stop and think about what you just said, and then think about factory jobs in general. You must realize that probably 90 to 95% of all factory jobs are unskilled assembly line work. The "skilled" positions you speak of are comprised of electro-mechanical maintenance personnel, engineers, and a few assorted other positions which total from 5 to 10% of the total work force. Those $28 dollar an hour jobs are very few compared to the unskilled $18 an hour jobs.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dr.sportster

01-26-2005 13:57:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to bad mechanic, 01-26-2005 12:23:46  
Explain how a union is a spear in the heart of the economy please?Also then why would anyone hire union labor?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RustyFarmall

01-26-2005 14:14:13




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to dr.sportster, 01-26-2005 13:57:41  
Exactly, if it weren't for the unions, the workers would all still be earning something like $1.00 an hour and working 16 hour days.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dr.sportster

01-26-2005 15:01:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in the USA??? in reply to RustyFarmall, 01-26-2005 14:14:13  
Hey Bad,Unions and the G.I. bill are the makings of the middle class in America.Whether you realize it or not the union pay scale raises the non union mans wage also.Now enough of this political type B.S.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JD Freak

01-27-2005 07:22:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in USA in reply to dr.sportster, 01-26-2005 15:01:50  
Hi all,

One word is WOW....I have no idea that I would open up such a large can of worms. I am 24 and just really wondered where I could find American Made reproduction parts for tractors. But I am refreshed when I read all the responses from the folks who have their heads on their shoulders. Next time I will stick to tractor related gripes

Sorry,
Brad D



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dr.sportster

01-27-2005 12:06:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: Is anything still made in USA in reply to JD Freak, 01-27-2005 07:22:59  
JD ,If you keep reading enough of it the JD is gonna stand for Jack Daniels.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy