Questions

[nando]

Everything I'm finding says China is the number one manufacturer in the world, and has been since 2010. However, you are definitely right that we produce medical equipment, vehicles, airplanes, movies, drugs, and fertilizers. Even if we were manufacturing as much as China, we aren't technically. The way they rank which countries are manufacturing more is based on the value of those products. So even if we are producing more product in terms of value, we are producing far less actual product, and the products we produce involve an incredible amount fewer people. Most of the products we produce involve a large amount of automated work to reduce the number of actual people working.

You also have to think, if you were to get rid of everything you own that is not made in America, you wouldn't have much left. The vast majority of items in the American household are made elsewhere, mainly China.

Eh, this is going no where, I'm just uselessly ranting now.

household stuff is mostly just cheap trinkets. there's no value in it.

you said it yourself. there's more value in what America produces. China makes happy meal toys for Mcdonalds. the list of things that are made in the USA, that our company buys for big projects, is long and would be hard to explain here, but none of that stuff is made in china and even if it was, nobody will buy it because quality is critical. Also, countries like the USA, Japan, Germany, etc. can still produce stuff that nobody else can. Just not throw away garbage that you buy at walmart.

so which do you think is more important? creating more value, or making mountains of "stuff" that is basically destined for a landfill before it even rolls off the assembly floor?

also, while it takes less people to physically make the stuff that we do make, it takes a lot more skilled labor to design and engineer it, and also somebody has to design, engineer and build the machines that make the stuff with 1 guy instead of ten.

there's a reason that apples creates around 85% of the value of their products in the USA, while china produces something like 5%, even though they're physically made in china..

[Threehz]

No doubt that many of our products are more valuable (films and drugs and manure aside). Oh wait, those are a majority of our production worth.

I just hate cheap throw away shit and the direction our country has taken towards relying on it. Our economy right now is built on drugs, gambling, and entertainment. I don't believe that is a solid game plan.

[z31maniac]

No doubt that many of our products are more valuable (films and drugs and manure aside). Oh wait, those are a majority of our production worth.

I just hate cheap throw away shit and the direction our country has taken towards relying on it. Our economy right now is built on drugs, gambling, and entertainment. I don't believe that is a solid game plan.

Really. You should stop posting and educate yourself.

[Threehz]

Look at the most profitable industries in the United States. Pharmaceuticals, financials, and networking (internet, cell phones).

Also look at the top three most profitable companies: Exxon Mobile, Chevron, and Apple in descending order. Exxon and Chevron get the majority of their oil from outside of the country, and Apple has most of their manufacturing performed in China.

Nando, you say that 85% of the value of Apple products is created in the USA, but what does that mean? Are you referring to the R&D that went into making the products? If that counts then no doubt. What I found out about Apple is that they can easily support US production of their products while continuing to be one of the most profitable companies on Earth.

The production of an iPhone 4 costs Apple ~%7.01 in Chinese labor for eight hours of work. If production of every iPhone 4 was moved to the USA and the workers here were paid $21.00/hour (national average) to make them, Apple would still have a profit margin of 46%. It's completely profitable for Apple to move 100% of their production to the United States, yet they don't because they make an obscene amount more money with production in China. That is what I don't like.

People in the business world say it's necessary to move jobs to China to keep costs down for consumers. No, it just keeps profits up for upper management.

[rwh11385]

Look at the most profitable industries in the United States. Pharmaceuticals, financials, and networking (internet, cell phones).

Also look at the top three most profitable companies: Exxon Mobile, Chevron, and Apple in descending order. Exxon and Chevron get the majority of their oil from outside of the country, and Apple has most of their manufacturing performed in China.

Nando, you say that 85% of the value of Apple products is created in the USA, but what does that mean? Are you referring to the R&D that went into making the products? If that counts then no doubt. What I found out about Apple is that they can easily support US production of their products while continuing to be one of the most profitable companies on Earth.

The production of an iPhone 4 costs Apple ~%7.01 in Chinese labor for eight hours of work. If production of every iPhone 4 was moved to the USA and the workers here were paid $21.00/hour (national average) to make them, Apple would still have a profit margin of 46%. It's completely profitable for Apple to move 100% of their production to the United States, yet they don't because they make an obscene amount more money with production in China. That is what I don't like.

People in the business world say it's necessary to move jobs to China to keep costs down for consumers. No, it just keeps profits up for upper management.

Dude, if you don't want your personal electronic devices manufactured in China and here instead, buy the Nexus Q.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/made-in-the-usa-googles-nexus-q-is-symbolic-and-significant/2012/06/29/gJQAuZB5BW_story.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/28/tech/mobile/google-nexus-q-usa/index.html

Plus, as China grows and develops, it is having an accelerating wage as other countries have experienced. China itself is outsourcing for cheaper labor. As China grows, has a larger middle class, and becomes more like us, their labor wage benefit will decrease:

http://www.impomag.com/articles/2012/04/report-china-exodus-could-create-3m-us-jobs

https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/commentary/manufacturing_supply_chain_management_us_manufacturing_renaissance_which_industries/

Seven “tipping point” sectors are poised to return to the U.S. for manufacturing: transportation goods, computers and electronics, fabricated metal products, machinery, plastics and rubber, appliances and electrical equipment, and furniture. Combined with increased U.S. exports, these industry groups could boost annual output in the economy by $100 billion, create 2 to 3 million jobs, and lower the U.S. non-oil merchandise trade deficit by up to 35 percent beginning in the next five years.

[JA1991]

For my parents i'd consider a decent job like $17ish dollars an hour. considering their experience and knowledge, my mom worked for a radio station and made about that until they cut her position, my dad made about $20 an hour before he got laid off. Seeing as how neither of them went to college they are struggling finding a job that pays the same or even close to the same that they made. With the auto industry outsourcing and cutting so many jobs my father can't really find much in that line of work and my mother has started going to college to be a nurse. I myself am twenty so at this point in my life i think $13 an hour is pretty decent considering how the economy is and my lack of job experience. I know General Motors starts at $15.85 and after your 90 day probation period you get a two dollar raise. So i will consider that an above average or better than decent job given my age and lack of experience.

Please, make a point and don't be boring, but seriously :) that statement you quoted definitely wasn't the end-all answer, the problem has many factors.

So F34R, you believe that a Christian God created us, Jesus died for our sins, and for that you are grateful, end of story? Do you go to church or practice any form of.. anything?

Markseven, what about Christ made such a big impact on you? I'm glad to hear you found a way out!

JA1991, 13/hour isn't bad at all. Sorry to hear your parents are having trouble. What do you/they consider a decent job?

[Pl3wA]

If you are religious, what religion do you practice and why (or what does it do for you)?

Parents were and always will be Roman Catholic. I have a bunch of siblings, 6, and theyre split from very religious to not at all. I used to go to church every sunday, but now i find ways to avoid going. sometimes they still get me

Who was directly effected by the recession? Since it happened no one I knew and no one I've met since lost their job because of it. I know (hear) many people did, but I just want to hear directly from someone who did.

I'm 20 years old. My parents always talked about how difficult it always was because of how many kids they have, we all moved to america when i was 6. yet they still built a massive house and we live pretty comfortably. idk how.

Who is currently unemployed? I don't know anyone who has had the slightest bit of trouble finding work since the recession hit. Has anyone had trouble, or do they know people who have legitimately had trouble (not just aren't trying).

nope, got my first job a year ago. 11/hr is not bad

[pureaudio]

I often wonder about what goes on in other peoples' minds and in the world, so I'd like to hear some straight up answers.

If you are religious, what religion do you practice and why (or what does it do for you)?

Grew up Jehovah's Witness and left as soon as I could. Was/am somewhat of a Christian but that is a constantly changing thing right now for me and I am, for the most part, pretty unaffiliated with an open mind.

Who was directly effected by the recession? Since it happened no one I knew and no one I've met since lost their job because of it. I know (hear) many people did, but I just want to hear directly from someone who did.

My department I worked for was cut in half due to education budget cuts. My boss and I decided to start our own company and within 3 years are operating a profitable company with a team of 5. So personally effected by the economy but ended up being for the better.

Father-in-law owned a logging company that was one of many that sank in this time period. He lost everything he had worked for in his life and has essentially had to start over with a new career at an age that most are retiring.

These are just 2 examples that are obviously the closest but for every sad story I could give you a success story of someone who was willing to take advantage of opportunities that popped up.

Who is currently unemployed? I don't know anyone who has had the slightest bit of trouble finding work since the recession hit. Has anyone had trouble, or do they know people who have legitimately had trouble (not just aren't trying).

I know a lot of teachers who are just now being able to get jobs again. One district in my area laid off 200 teachers alone a few years back. Everyone I knew that had anything to do with the housing industry had to start over. Nobody I associate with is still having trouble at this point that I know of, everyone was smart enough to get out of their failing industries or markets.

Everywhere I've seen failure in our economy, it was well overdue and no one should have been surprised. I've only seen abundant opportunity before, during, and after the recession. Everywhere that failure is going to occur in the future, is very clear, yet nearly every day I see people supporting it, even when they know they're walking towards it.

Having started a business in the middle of this mess, I only know what its like to operate in a low economy. I think we were able to succeed because of this, nobody was ever throwing money at me so I've always had to work for it.

Anyways, these are just some questions and observations I've made. Any answers would be fantastic, thanks.

[Grand525]

In Essence

[nando]

that was really depressing. too bad voting for Romney won't change a damn thing. :(

[Kershaw]

the patriot act really needs to go. :(

[gwb72tii]

the patriot act really needs to go. :(

+1

[z31maniac]

the patriot act really needs to go. :(

Just like the IRS, it never will. Too much power.

[nando]

It's far worse than the IRS, though.

[rasputin]

No doubt that many of our products are more valuable (films and drugs and manure aside). Oh wait, those are a majority of our production worth.

I just hate cheap throw away shit and the direction our country has taken towards relying on it. Our economy right now is built on drugs, gambling, and entertainment. I don't believe that is a solid game plan.

only 2/7 of our economy is based on that, because the other 5 days we are all at work!

try it some time ;)