John Stossl: "Buy American" A Bad Idea

[Irving]

EDIT
On a side note, China has been debasing their own currency for years to keep the price of their products low on the international market ... in effect subsidizing foreigners who purchase Chinese goods to the detriment of the Chinese economy (the silly ChiComs really don't understand capitalism). So in reality, buying cheap Chinese products will in the long run undermine and destabilize the Chinese economy.

That's not what happened when Japan used the same market dumping technique with televisions. Japan completely destroyed the American television market, camera market, and nearly the auto market by using the exact same technique.

Other than that, I completely agree with you.

[wyome]

Buy American is cool and all....but really it should be about where you shop from. WalMart, and all the other big-box retailers, drive the price points down so low, to be consumer friendly, that they drive the manufacturers to the cheapest production facilities they can find to meet these price points and earn WalMarts business.

I say Buy American, buy from Americans who purchase made in America products.

Pay no attention to my Austrian made Glock, or Italian Beretta.

[Irving]

One thing I have heard really good things about out of China is Fenix flashlights. I also try to avoid buying Chinese; just not as hard as I should.

[hammer03]

I'll buy American if quality and price are close.

What really gets me, it when people spout the "buy American" mantra while buying a dodge/ford/chevy that was made in...



Mexico. Or Canada.

If you want the car, you like the car, that's fine you're entitled to liking any car you want (except a prius. Don't care about your excuses, it's a wretched excuse for an appliance), just don't try and tell me that you're supporting Americans when your Neon has Hecho en Mexico stamped on the block.

[DOC]

Maddow's mustache is nice, too.

Kissing her would be like kissing a fireman.

[Zundfolge]

That's not what happened when Japan used the same market dumping technique with televisions. Japan completely destroyed the American television market, camera market, and nearly the auto market by using the exact same technique.

I would argue that our government did as much harm to the television market (have no idea about cameras) and the UAW have done more damage to the US auto industry than the Japanese.

Of course their tactics (followed by massive Keynesian stimulus) ruined Japan and have left them in recession for the last decade and a half. China's fall will be harder because they don't have a well entrenched middle class and their rulers are ruthless Maoists (regardless of their current moderate pose ... if things go sideways there you can expect a lot worse than Tienanmen Square).

Note that most Japanese cars in the US market are now made in the US (and a large chunk of German ones too). So the real vibrant "American car industry" is actually the Japanese car industry relocated to right-to-work states in the US.



Anyway, I'm not worried about foreign competition harming US industries and the US economy, I'm worried about red tape and high taxes from DC, THAT is where the problem is.

[Irving]

I'm not saying that the ills of the current US Auto industry were caused by Japan, that was back in the 1970's and 80's.

[Byte Stryke]

everything being equal, I'll buy American.
Sadly, its rarely equal.

[ChunkyMonkey]

everything being equal, I'll buy American.
Sadly, its rarely equal.

I hate to inform you....

[Byte Stryke]

I know...


as I Said all things being equal I will buy American.


But equal is made in China too!