The false promise of "buy American"

Althea said:
The article makes points that those with a modicum of sense understand. However, the 'keep the cost down' mentality is the problem. We don't know the 'real' cost of anything in this country.

Bringing manufacturing back here will only be accomplished if everyone agrees that it is going to create short term pain.

I find it ironic that a moron who used cheap Chinese steel in his skyscrapers, now wants to 'buy American'.

If we expand the theory into the future, our steel industry will come back, along with other similar industries. The govt. won't have to spend as much on social programs.

We don't have to shut down our ports. We just have to start slowly, perhaps with tax incentives to those who use American raw materials for construction?
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Well said and right on the money.
 
Althea said:
The article makes points that those with a modicum of sense understand. However, the 'keep the cost down' mentality is the problem. We don't know the 'real' cost of anything in this country.

Bringing manufacturing back here will only be accomplished if everyone agrees that it is going to create short term pain.

I find it ironic that a moron who used cheap Chinese steel in his skyscrapers, now wants to 'buy American'.

If we expand the theory into the future, our steel industry will come back, along with other similar industries. The govt. won't have to spend as much on social programs.

We don't have to shut down our ports. We just have to start slowly, perhaps with tax incentives to those who use American raw materials for construction?
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But what you leave out is the cost of jobs lost from exporting. And in a world where we have global supply chains it's almost impossible to fully make something in America
 
cawacko said:
Sorry, unable to copy and paste from phone but this article hits on why Trump's promises or hopes that we buy more 'Made in America' isn't a reality and the downsides to our econony that come with it.


https://www.cato.org/blog/false-promise-buy-american
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its not completely wrong. There is a drive recently for more locally sourced supply chains as in certain markets they do have advantages and I would say President Trump would better serve rural and small town America in developing infrastructure in those regions to give them better access to global supply chains and markets.
 
Mott the Hoople said:
Show me any complex product that's completely locally sourced.
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you and i both know that there is none now. Leaving aside cost it seems like if any country could do it it would be america. Your main issue would be the rare raw material not available in the US
 
cawacko said:
Sorry, unable to copy and paste from phone but this article hits on why Trump's promises or hopes that we buy more 'Made in America' isn't a reality and the downsides to our econony that come with it.


https://www.cato.org/blog/false-promise-buy-american
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It is the responsibility of elected officials who tax, borrow, and spend to be prudent stewards of the public’s finances. Yet the temptation to breach that implicit contract to advance self-serving ends often proves irresistible – especially when the action finds refuge in patriotism.

Good article, but all the facts within are well known to people actually paying attention. How is it that Trump is so unaware of its pitfalls .. and if he doesn't know this, how will he produce a robust economy?

All he has are lies and a schoolboy's bluster.

This will be a huge failure of the Trump administration and another blow to its idiot supporters.
 
The girls here buy used clothes Made in the USA. Clothes made locally turn to threads after one or two washings. Not so American made.

Maybe it's all about the quality.
 
blackascoal said:
It is the responsibility of elected officials who tax, borrow, and spend to be prudent stewards of the public’s finances. Yet the temptation to breach that implicit contract to advance self-serving ends often proves irresistible – especially when the action finds refuge in patriotism.

Good article, but all the facts within are well known to people actually paying attention. How is it that Trump is so unaware of its pitfalls .. and if he doesn't know this, how will he produce a robust economy?

All he has are lies and a schoolboy's bluster.

This will be a huge failure of the Trump administration and another blow to its idiot supporters.
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Wasn't Bernie preaching something similar however with his anti-trade rhetoric?
 
Pablo Martinez said:
People should be judged for driving a Nissan, in principle, regardless of where it's made. That being said, if I see someone driving a foreign car on the road (besides German cars), I will presume that they are inept drivers. If I see a VW I will presume that the driver is an asshole, and if it's a Beamer, I will know the driver is an asshole.
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I drive a Honda Accord, bloody great car!

Sent from my Lenovo K52e78 using Tapatalk
 
"yes you are correct on the tank parts,as well as many weapons systems. It's not a security risk." a #17

There are several security risk.

a) If our indispensable supply of ball-bearings come from Jakarta instead of Peoria, then we'll need to provide military defense to Jakarta in addition to that we already provide to Peoria.

b) We not only would then need to defend the physical plant source. We'd also have to defend the transport path and transport vessels, be they boat or bird.

c) We lose quality control, and expose ourselves to sabotage, getting pebbles instead of precision steel parts.
 
cawacko said:
Wasn't Bernie preaching something similar however with his anti-trade rhetoric?
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Bernie wanted to end TPP and multi-lateral trade agreements, like Trump. Trump is in favor of new bi-lateral agreements and renegotiating the old multi-lateral ones. Bernie never said that - although it was implied
They are very similar. Trump's new emphasis is "buy/hire American
 
sear said:
"yes you are correct on the tank parts,as well as many weapons systems. It's not a security risk." a #17

There are several security risk.

a) If our indispensable supply of ball-bearings come from Jakarta instead of Peoria, then we'll need to provide military defense to Jakarta in addition to that we already provide to Peoria.

b) We not only would then need to defend the physical plant source. We'd also have to defend the transport path and transport vessels, be they boat or bird.

c) We lose quality control, and expose ourselves to sabotage, getting pebbles instead of precision steel parts.
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C is the biggest issue for me.
 
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