Jobs!
Jobs!
Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6am. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans! (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE INTAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) (filled it with GAS from Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking for a job; he checked his Computer (Made In Malaysia), Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in.AMERICA.....
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jingle_jangle
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Try buying "only American" sometime. What's left here in terms of small goods are individual craftsmen and a bare handful of traditional small manufacturers.
Whenever I stop into a craft gallery and look at the prices for, say, a hand made rocking chair or dining set, I blanch. My second thought is that, if a guy or woman has to make a living, the prices are fair. Third thought is that without a steady flow of wealthy customers, there's no chance. Keyword is: wealthy.
In small manufacturers, a good example would be any high-end audio manufacturer.
Rickenbacker is another good example, I think largely because their infrastructure is not loaded with debt and the Halls have a commitment to fair pricing (cost plus markup, PERIOD), and don't try to charge what the market will bear for a boutique item. Fortunately RIC's products are neither as complex as high-end audio tends to be, nor are they as labor-intensive as, say, a Sam Maloof rocking chair. (With Sam's stuff, you're paying for his name, too!)
Fully 10% of China's gross product from manufacturing goes to one retailer: WALMART, who have wrecked countless small businesses, who employ people in semi-skilled labor at substandard wages with little or no benefit packages. These folks who work stocking shelves and cleaning floors, would have worked making shoes and furniture in an American factory, two generations ago.
Three generations ago, they could've made a decent living working in a factory. We were warned back then that our manufacturing base was eroding. We did what Americans always do (unless there are enemies in our midst--literally)--we did NOTHING.
Correction. We did do something. We kept right on failing to recognize that reasonably-priced quality was worth seeking out and supporting with our dollars, and went for low-cost junk to fill our houses when it was new, and our garages when it wore out. And it wore out quickly, because it was junk.
So now, we have a company located a zillion miles from any kind of cultural awareness, whose only reason for existence is to make a profit, with no social conscience, in collusion with a foreign country, stripping our own country of cash and real jobs, enslaving a sizable minority of our population, only to--what?
To continue keepin' on keepin' on. Walmart has the horrendous practice of dictating prices to their suppliers and vendors, and if Vendor A can't meet their draconian requirements for pricing and on-time delivery, Vendor B will step in, because it's his chance to strike it rich feeding the corporate maw. This applies to corporations like Mattel, who ships fully 60% of their output to Walmart. So if Walmart doesn't like a toy, Mattel can't make it and make a profit for its stockholders. Oh, yeah, Wall Street. The other partner in this mess. Can you imagine what this does for originality and creativity of thought?
It's a good indicator of how fat and lazy we've become.
Whenever I stop into a craft gallery and look at the prices for, say, a hand made rocking chair or dining set, I blanch. My second thought is that, if a guy or woman has to make a living, the prices are fair. Third thought is that without a steady flow of wealthy customers, there's no chance. Keyword is: wealthy.
In small manufacturers, a good example would be any high-end audio manufacturer.
Rickenbacker is another good example, I think largely because their infrastructure is not loaded with debt and the Halls have a commitment to fair pricing (cost plus markup, PERIOD), and don't try to charge what the market will bear for a boutique item. Fortunately RIC's products are neither as complex as high-end audio tends to be, nor are they as labor-intensive as, say, a Sam Maloof rocking chair. (With Sam's stuff, you're paying for his name, too!)
Fully 10% of China's gross product from manufacturing goes to one retailer: WALMART, who have wrecked countless small businesses, who employ people in semi-skilled labor at substandard wages with little or no benefit packages. These folks who work stocking shelves and cleaning floors, would have worked making shoes and furniture in an American factory, two generations ago.
Three generations ago, they could've made a decent living working in a factory. We were warned back then that our manufacturing base was eroding. We did what Americans always do (unless there are enemies in our midst--literally)--we did NOTHING.
Correction. We did do something. We kept right on failing to recognize that reasonably-priced quality was worth seeking out and supporting with our dollars, and went for low-cost junk to fill our houses when it was new, and our garages when it wore out. And it wore out quickly, because it was junk.
So now, we have a company located a zillion miles from any kind of cultural awareness, whose only reason for existence is to make a profit, with no social conscience, in collusion with a foreign country, stripping our own country of cash and real jobs, enslaving a sizable minority of our population, only to--what?
To continue keepin' on keepin' on. Walmart has the horrendous practice of dictating prices to their suppliers and vendors, and if Vendor A can't meet their draconian requirements for pricing and on-time delivery, Vendor B will step in, because it's his chance to strike it rich feeding the corporate maw. This applies to corporations like Mattel, who ships fully 60% of their output to Walmart. So if Walmart doesn't like a toy, Mattel can't make it and make a profit for its stockholders. Oh, yeah, Wall Street. The other partner in this mess. Can you imagine what this does for originality and creativity of thought?
It's a good indicator of how fat and lazy we've become.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
And towards the end in Rome, whatever real work was being done was by people who, though they lived there, were not considered citizens and had limited civil rights, if any...let's just refer to them as 'guest workers', shall we?
At least here and now, unlike in ancient Rome, we're spared the extra indignity of an upper class parading their extravagant lifestyle in front of us and 'fiddling' while entire cities go down...and we don't have to worry about supporting a military machine in the pursuit of world domination, thankfully...that kind of thing can really bankrupt a society.
At least here and now, unlike in ancient Rome, we're spared the extra indignity of an upper class parading their extravagant lifestyle in front of us and 'fiddling' while entire cities go down...and we don't have to worry about supporting a military machine in the pursuit of world domination, thankfully...that kind of thing can really bankrupt a society.
I didn't get where I am today by being on time...
Pfffff... the same situation here - well, similar, actually. But anyway, i'm being optimistic. Because it may change for better - i hope so...
You see, one guy said he tried to find out what's the national Russian food... and didn't manage because anything he mentioned was either Ukrainian or Georgian, etc, etc. Does it make me sad? Well... as long as the food is tasty, it doesn't... People say there's too many "guest workers" in Moscow markets? No wonder - a rare "born Moscowian" wants to work there...
You see, one guy said he tried to find out what's the national Russian food... and didn't manage because anything he mentioned was either Ukrainian or Georgian, etc, etc. Does it make me sad? Well... as long as the food is tasty, it doesn't... People say there's too many "guest workers" in Moscow markets? No wonder - a rare "born Moscowian" wants to work there...
Nothing will get you dead quicker than being deadly serious about yourself.
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jingle_jangle
- RRF Moderator
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Dane, that second paragraph was the icing on the cake and painful to read...
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
Don't want to sound like a big dope, but I think there is a big difference in modern America vs prior failed social experiments.
The very thing that creates most conflict in our society, a diverse population, I feel may indeed be our savior.
It appears that very shortly there will be no real "majority" in our nation. This may be of concern to some, but I look upon it as an indicator of how this country is rapidly changing to reflect a seemingly global change. I would suggest we are creeping toward a global economy/nation. I would think that the people, or nations, that are first to realize and get on board with this concept, shall thrive.
My thought is this country's diverse make up offers valuable tools and assets to deal with a shrinking planet undergoing rapid change. I'm thinking, and hopeful, that soon the people with the "widest view", most knowledge/information, will become the modern power brokers.
I'm not quite ready to crawl into the bunker yet.
(again, step from soapbox and bow)
The very thing that creates most conflict in our society, a diverse population, I feel may indeed be our savior.
It appears that very shortly there will be no real "majority" in our nation. This may be of concern to some, but I look upon it as an indicator of how this country is rapidly changing to reflect a seemingly global change. I would suggest we are creeping toward a global economy/nation. I would think that the people, or nations, that are first to realize and get on board with this concept, shall thrive.
My thought is this country's diverse make up offers valuable tools and assets to deal with a shrinking planet undergoing rapid change. I'm thinking, and hopeful, that soon the people with the "widest view", most knowledge/information, will become the modern power brokers.
I'm not quite ready to crawl into the bunker yet.
(again, step from soapbox and bow)
I'm just happy to be here.
I think you're right, Gary. In fact, i'd suggest multi-national culture will win in the end - the symbiosis of different cultures may be stronger than any "stuck-by-itself" culture. That's kind of like an old story of rods... That's about what i meant when i said situation might change for better... there's still lots of misunderstanding and conflicts between people of different nations in my home country, and that's the real trouble, not the imported products... Ah, what the heck! i'm sort of multi-national myself!
Nothing will get you dead quicker than being deadly serious about yourself.
J. Gary and Sheena,
Thank you so much for your posts...I'm one hundred percent in agreement with you...I happen to be very proud of the old U.S.A when it comes to the one thing (that matters) that we actually lead the world in...and that, I guess, is summed up by the word 'diversity'...
However...before we get all slap-happy here...the only thing separating us and some very badly failed social experiments is (a very small amount of) time...
Thank you so much for your posts...I'm one hundred percent in agreement with you...I happen to be very proud of the old U.S.A when it comes to the one thing (that matters) that we actually lead the world in...and that, I guess, is summed up by the word 'diversity'...
However...before we get all slap-happy here...the only thing separating us and some very badly failed social experiments is (a very small amount of) time...
I didn't get where I am today by being on time...
Dane, just wondering if the traditional American "melting pot" is alive and well? Or is the diversity you mention a break from the idea of new-comers melding into a homogeneous society? Up north we tend to emphasize "multi-culturalism" as a more inclusive way of looking at Canadian society. In other words, new-comers don't need to conform to an existing culture, but rather are quite free to do their own thing.
There ya go, Steve...
I've been thinking a lot lately about this very thing...the Indonesian name for our country (sorry, I mean the U.S.A....I know this forum consists of members from many nations...) is Amerika Serikat...they don't really have a term in their language for 'united'...'serikat' means 'woven together', like threads in a sweater or blanket, or reeds in a basket...
This image is a much more desirable one to me than the 'melting pot'...melt some stuff together sometime in a pot and see if you can tell what you started with. Whereas...weave some threads together, and you get something truly remarkable: every original color is still there, but the effect of being right next to other is nothing if not more compelling...
And just try to pull them apart...
I've been thinking a lot lately about this very thing...the Indonesian name for our country (sorry, I mean the U.S.A....I know this forum consists of members from many nations...) is Amerika Serikat...they don't really have a term in their language for 'united'...'serikat' means 'woven together', like threads in a sweater or blanket, or reeds in a basket...
This image is a much more desirable one to me than the 'melting pot'...melt some stuff together sometime in a pot and see if you can tell what you started with. Whereas...weave some threads together, and you get something truly remarkable: every original color is still there, but the effect of being right next to other is nothing if not more compelling...
And just try to pull them apart...
I didn't get where I am today by being on time...
Hi Dane, thanks for the kind words, and I hope the Indonesian spirit goes with the name.
Hi Steve, good question. I think fifty years ago the U.S.A. could have been described as a melting pot with a homogeneous society, allowing perhaps for a north/south distinction. European immigrants had dominated the rush to come to America.
I would submit that today, that is no longer the case. Since the fifties the influx could best be described as multi-national. As of late I've had the opportunity to travel much of the U.S. by motorcycle. I tend to just wander about with no hard fast plan on a destination, for the weather often determines my direction. I can't tell how often I've found myself in parts of this country that have the feel of another land. I often feel like a visitor rather than a citizen. To be honest, I've been out of my comfort zone on occasion, but amazement and curiosity usually prevail.
I can't help but think the the rest of the worlds perception of an American as a "cowboy" in the wild west is perhaps changing. Look at our Olympic teams, sports heroes, movie stars, Congress, state governors, military and sadly, the World Trade Center victims. The variety of souls must give one pause. I ask you, what does an American look like these days?
I believe there are big changes afoot here. The next U.S. President could be one of them. I hope with time, and as Dane put, in time, the U.S.A. and the rest of the world realizes they are not much different.
Ok, windbag alert went off, Peace.
Hi Steve, good question. I think fifty years ago the U.S.A. could have been described as a melting pot with a homogeneous society, allowing perhaps for a north/south distinction. European immigrants had dominated the rush to come to America.
I would submit that today, that is no longer the case. Since the fifties the influx could best be described as multi-national. As of late I've had the opportunity to travel much of the U.S. by motorcycle. I tend to just wander about with no hard fast plan on a destination, for the weather often determines my direction. I can't tell how often I've found myself in parts of this country that have the feel of another land. I often feel like a visitor rather than a citizen. To be honest, I've been out of my comfort zone on occasion, but amazement and curiosity usually prevail.
I can't help but think the the rest of the worlds perception of an American as a "cowboy" in the wild west is perhaps changing. Look at our Olympic teams, sports heroes, movie stars, Congress, state governors, military and sadly, the World Trade Center victims. The variety of souls must give one pause. I ask you, what does an American look like these days?
I believe there are big changes afoot here. The next U.S. President could be one of them. I hope with time, and as Dane put, in time, the U.S.A. and the rest of the world realizes they are not much different.
Ok, windbag alert went off, Peace.
I'm just happy to be here.
I guess it's because I am a chemist that I have no problem with the term "melting pot". If one melts a number of non-reacting substances together, they combine into a unified mass; however, if one were able to see down to the molecular/atomic level, one would see that the individual molecules/atoms are still there, unchanged, each contributing its part to the whole (which is the sum of its parts).
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca