Obama

[Flying Scotsman]

[QUOTE=domwilson;117571]I was just remembering from my childhood how it was in the 60's and 70's.

If you wanted anything of quality, It had to say "Made In U.S.A" on it. It was engineered here and manufactured here. You worked an 8 hour job and had some security at it. Health insurance wasn't even considered a benefit. It was part of the compensation package.


Reply

I worked in the custom packaging machinery buisness for 40 years, almost all the equipment I sold in Canada had a "Made in the USA" label and was very well engineered and of high quality. In the 90's there was a change, many companies were purchased by financial groups and R and D went out the window in pursuit of offering returns to investors and share holders. The CEO's hired at this time had to look at very short term financial visions in order to keep the investors happy. End of story.

Douggie

[domwilson]

[QUOTE=Flying Scotsman;117736]

I was just remembering from my childhood how it was in the 60's and 70's.

If you wanted anything of quality, It had to say "Made In U.S.A" on it. It was engineered here and manufactured here. You worked an 8 hour job and had some security at it. Health insurance wasn't even considered a benefit. It was part of the compensation package.


Reply

I worked in the custom packaging machinery buisness for 40 years, almost all the equipment I sold in Canada had a "Made in the USA" label and was very well engineered and of high quality. In the 90's there was a change, many companies were purchased by financial groups and R and D went out the window in pursuit of offering returns to investors and share holders. The CEO's hired at this time had to look at very short term financial visions in order to keep the investors happy. End of story.

Douggie

It's all about balance. Providing a good product or service and maintain profitability.
But as greed goes up, quality goes down.

[AndyKunz]

I worked in the custom packaging machinery buisness for 40 years, almost all the equipment I sold in Canada had a "Made in the USA" label and was very well engineered and of high quality. In the 90's there was a change, many companies were purchased by financial groups and R and D went out the window in pursuit of offering returns to investors and share holders. The CEO's hired at this time had to look at very short term financial visions in order to keep the investors happy. End of story.

I hear ya, Douggie.

Problem is, those bean counters that saw engineering (R&D) as an EXPENSE rather than an ASSET are the problem.

They are the same mentality as those who view pharmaceutical companies as evil, since such a large portion of their budget is R&D. The same with Detroit's motor companies. Why engineer here, when you can get 5 Indians, Koreans, or Chinese for the same dollar?

IT'S A PLAGUE!

Unfortunately, those are the same people who are going to be in charge of other, more personal things such as healthcare. But that's another thread.

Andy

[sjslhill]

Let's see where we all end up after

Federal Health Care
Cap and Tax
Government Motors
And $1.58 in Trillions of Debt for 2009

The Postal Service is $7 billion in debt....that's the way you do it the Gov. way.

One world currency coming to a nation near you....that's my prediction and that's what they really want.