Re: Nikon shifts production to China. CHINA!

David J Taylor added these comments in the current discussion du
jour ...

People have the right to get the lowest possible prices for
what they buy so it is natural to go to Wal-Mart. However,
people must also understand that when entire industries move
off-shore, the jobs don't go with them, they are lost
domestically forever. This can an inexorable domino effect
but is often so slow as not to be noticed until one wakes up
and sees unemployment figures like we have now.

.. although just recently one of our very low-priced chains
went into administration. The experts said "they had lost
their way in the retail world". Woolworths.

David, what does "went into administration" mean? I'm guessing it
is akin to our Chapter 11 bankruptcy where a company submits to
bankruptcy court supervision, attempts to reorganize itself, and
perhaps stay in business in a smaller size.

As to Woolworths, I don't think we've had any in decades.

When I replied to you, I was thinking of ENTIRE industries that
are 100% gone in the US except for plants and offices owned by
some company that has it's home in another country. Quick
examples include textiles, computers, cameras, steel to a great
degree, damn near everything that is manufactured.

The United States in quickly turning into a retail and services
economy and relying on other countries for their manufactured
goods. This isn't a cheap shot at your country, but I'd observe
that an economy that depends on another country for it's hard
commodities meets the definition of a "colony."

However, the domestic content of products we buy and likely you
buy is REALLY difficult to calculate. For example, it is damn
hard to determine what is more "American", a Chevy, Dodge, Ford,
Honda, Nissan, Toyota, or others. My 2007 Dodge Charger is
assembled in Canada with a great amount of it's parts from
Canadian suppliers, it's engine comes from Mexico and it's
transmission from Germany. Because of NAFTA and CAFTA it is
awfully difficult to tell if my car is more or less "domestic"
than, say, a performance car from Japan's Big Three - HOnda,
Nissan, and Toyota.

In 1980 while running for office, Ronald Reagan said
"Recession is when your neighbor is laid off. Depression is
when you are laid off. Revovery is when Jimmy Carter is laid
off." The last sentence is usually left off to make it more
of an economic comment rather than a campaign slogan but it
is even more true now, nearly 30 years later.

Nice one!

Thought you might like it. Except for the political crap at the
end, which I usually delete, there IS a lot to say in his simple
remark. Another big campaign "talking point" that Reagan used to
soundly defeat Carter in 1980 was "Ask yourself are you better
off than you were 4 years ago?".

Have a good one, from your Mate in the Colonies.

--
HP, aka Jerry

?How do you have patience for people who claim they love America,
but clearly can't stand Americans?? ? Sydney Ellen Wade to
President Andrew Shepherd in the movie ?The American President?
.

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