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Made In USA
- Thread starter ksandvik
- Start date
Squiers are good guitars. I must confess to that. However, if you save a little bit more money you could get an even better quality Fender. So it depends if you want a huge arsenal of basses or not, if you could save money towards an even higher quality bass or not and so on. Just now the price difference between a Squier VM and low end MIA Fender is about 400+ dollars. For some it's quite doable, for others' not. One might also re-prioritize the need to have a big amount of bass guitars, but that's just my own opinion.
I do think Fender should reintroduce a new model line below the American Special ones - MIA with less color/fretboard options but still well done, but that's another story.
An MIA Stingray costs $1400 new. A made in Indonesia Sterling Stingray costs $650 new, and uses the same parts as the MIA one. Do you really expect me to drop over double the money for what is essentially the same product because some guy name Jim made it instead of Jati?
I am one of the guys dealing in refrigerated containers. All of this is true. (You just reminded me of that last ILA West Coast strike threat, ugh!)
Seafood, by its nature, has very long supply lines. The vast majority is imported. However, not only do we employ 15 people at our office, we utilize the services of refrigerated warehouses, truckers, port workers, lumpers, inspection services, customs brokers directly. Our customers also provide significant employment in the foodservice industry using products purchased from us and other vendors like us. We buy and transport/import seafood processed in Iceland, Norway, Russia, USA, Rep. of South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the evil communist empire.
Buying US is good, but not buying US in seafood doesn't mean that no local revenue is generated.
Absolutely not, because if there were then companies would not still be shipping manufacturing jobs overseas.
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All I'm saying, start small, cables, strings et rest... Adding more manufacturing jobs to USA would really help a lot of people just now, especially the young generation just entering the work force.
I don't know of all manufacturers but DR are made in USA, I think Dean Markley, too, and Elixir supposedly.
Dunlop, also: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
You do realize that profits from items made overseas do actually go back into the American economy?
Adding more manufacturing jobs in the US surely would help those people who need a job right now, but there is more to helping our economy than just giving people jobs.
It would cost the company I work for significantly more $ to manufacture all of our products here. That cuts into profits, and that affects the pay for all of us working stateside. When people buy our companies products, whether made overseas or not, that money goes back into the US economy. Also, more people are employed in the US because we have product coming in from overseas. Our company could take on another 100 employees to make all of our products here, but then there would be less work for those involved in the importing process. Not to mention that we'd have to reduce the # of employees in our purchasing and receiving departments.
*edit*
I just wanted to note that Im not advocating for not buying American, Im just saying I dont believe that "Buying American" is really going to do all that much in the way of creating new jobs and reviving our economy. As we shift from a manufacturing based economy to one that is service based, it makes sense to me that we need to create more service based jobs.
Adding more manufacturing jobs in the US surely would help those people who need a job right now, but there is more to helping our economy than just giving people jobs.
It would cost the company I work for significantly more $ to manufacture all of our products here. That cuts into profits, and that affects the pay for all of us working stateside. When people buy our companies products, whether made overseas or not, that money goes back into the US economy. Also, more people are employed in the US because we have product coming in from overseas. Our company could take on another 100 employees to make all of our products here, but then there would be less work for those involved in the importing process. Not to mention that we'd have to reduce the # of employees in our purchasing and receiving departments.
*edit*
I just wanted to note that Im not advocating for not buying American, Im just saying I dont believe that "Buying American" is really going to do all that much in the way of creating new jobs and reviving our economy. As we shift from a manufacturing based economy to one that is service based, it makes sense to me that we need to create more service based jobs.
6jase5
Mammogram is down but I'm working manually
I'd also like to add that spending is what helps move the economy, regardless of where it's made, it's the lack of spending that has us in this situation. Now, people can't use their 2006 inflated home prices like an ATM anymore, but if consumer confidence increased and spending increased (rather tough with unemployment) that would help turn the circle around a bit.
I support mom and pop stores/restaurants more than I worry about country of origin, but that's my own personal way.
I support mom and pop stores/restaurants more than I worry about country of origin, but that's my own personal way.
Alkali Ike
Gold Supporting Member
- Jan 1, 2011
- 2,857
- 15,669
- Disclosures
- I never actually learned to play very well
I don't know. But I totally dig your avatar. It's very appropriate for the holidays! The white and red and the happy guy on the front just scream "Christmas!"...either that or it screams "Oh my gawd that dude has a chainsaw!" Either way...I dig it.
Your job disappears when your company cannot compete in the marketplace. One of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen was a former UAW worker calling for a boycott of Alabama because that state had proven attractive to a particular auto manufacturer and is not unionized. Too many people have adopted the attitude that they are owed a job, the world simply doesn't work that way and my example above illustrates that some people claiming to want to preserve "American" jobs really do mean THEIR jobs (and to heck with anyone in Alabama). Protectionism has never been a viable economic model except for those who seek to preserve their livelihoods at the expense of everyone else, including the consumer.
I used to feel this way too. However economics is a tricky science. If you buy a $300 Yamaha rather than a $1200 Fender, you'd still have $900 for your gas, car, bills etc... Some of which would be taxed for better roads (gas tax), used to buy food made by American farmers, or whatever else the average near poverty or average income musician needs/wants. It's like saying you'll only buy an American made flatscreen TV. You may pay more, but is it worth all of what you could have bought.
This is coming from someone who needs all the money he can get nowadays, and I am sure I am not alone. Everything I own bass wise is American BTW. There are plenty of import models (especially Yamaha) that are just as good as or better than some American basses.
I am actually thinking about selling my Fender Jazz to get a Yamaha, 4 new tires, a studio console, and some Xmas gifts. All of which besides the Yamaha, goes right back into the US, allows me to record (INVESTMENT!!), and makes me happy.
I used to feel this way too. However economics is a tricky science. If you buy a $300 Yamaha rather than a $1200 Fender, you'd still have $900 for your gas, car, bills etc... Some of which would be taxed for better roads (gas tax), used to buy food made by American farmers, or whatever else the average near poverty or average income musician needs/wants. It's like saying you'll only buy an American made flatscreen TV. You may pay more, but is it worth all of what you could have bought.
This is coming from someone who needs all the money he can get nowadays, and I am sure I am not alone. Everything I own bass wise is American BTW. There are plenty of import models (especially Yamaha) that are just as good as or better than some American basses.
I am actually thinking about selling my Fender Jazz to get a Yamaha, 4 new tires, a studio console, and some Xmas gifts. All of which besides the Yamaha, goes right back into the US, allows me to record (INVESTMENT!!), and makes me happy.
Bastiat's "Broken Window Fallacy" comes to mind after reading your post. Recommended reading for those interested.
+1 VERY relevant to this discussion
Having worked in a quality electronics stores for the past 5 years as a salesperson, I've noticed that the price tag is what dictates a purchase for near every American consumer. the last 3 years were spent in non-commissioned sales (the customers were aware of this) and the attitude was no different. It was cheapest this, biggest this, and "why is this so much"?
A $300 60" flat screen TV will not come close to performing (or staying together) as well as a $1,000 one or it would be on the front page of every newspaper in America. If you have to replace that $300 one every year but the $1,000 one lasts for 10 years, you could have bought the good one in less than 4 years. I realize electronics is far different than instruments (not many of us open up our LCD flat screens to tweak them), but the point I'm trying to make is that these companies use manufacturing from other countries to protect themselves financially. If one company can undercut everyone else and provide a similar product for far less money, you better believe they will be banking like crazy. Most of these major manufacturers have a variety of products and have high-end available for those who prefer that standard of product....this makes the most business sense IMO. I don't buy off what country it's made in, I buy off how well the item works/stays together.
I am going to throw a different spin on our economic woes... Some of you will not agree with my initial statements, but try to read through my reasoning with an open mind. Even if you do not agree with me, you will have to consider some of the individual points... I will try to keep this as non-politically biased as possible (from either standpoint). What I am saying is purely financial, and not meant to lend any credibility to any political party...Please do not read anything into it, that I did not intend.
Right now our tax structure is doing more to harm the nation's economy than it is benefiting us. Our current leader has initiated a Keynesian economic plan. This worked for FDR, it worked for Reagan, but it is not working now. The reason is that Keynesian economics have absolutely no provisions for the rich saving money. The economic plan is consumer based. It is contingent upon those with liquid capital spending it. If the wealthy do not spend, the economic plan fails. The economy fails if people invest in gold, and sit on it. When you tell the rich that you expect them to spend, but the return on their money is limited, AND they will be taxed more on that limited return, there is no reason for them to spend. People can claim that saving the economy is reason enough, but they do not realize that the wealthy do not need the working class. They have an exploitable working force in China... Basically, the rich have to hold confidence that the government can stabilize the economy.
This goes a step farther as well. The middle class depend on private investment for their economic class to exist. 80-85% of middle class wealth is invested in home ownership. Without private investment, there are no new homes, so no middle class growth. It is against banking regulations for them to loan for land development. Banks can only loan on a piece of property, as they see it, not on the potential. Development requires private investment. Once the engineering is done, roads are put in, underground lines are in, and individual building permits are granted, then banks can loan on individual construction projects...
So tax plans that punish the rich for making money are hurting us more than helping. For an economic rebound we need to look outside the current plan of Keynesian economics. There is going to have to be some incentives for private investment, or the recession recovery will be slow
Right now our tax structure is doing more to harm the nation's economy than it is benefiting us. Our current leader has initiated a Keynesian economic plan. This worked for FDR, it worked for Reagan, but it is not working now. The reason is that Keynesian economics have absolutely no provisions for the rich saving money. The economic plan is consumer based. It is contingent upon those with liquid capital spending it. If the wealthy do not spend, the economic plan fails. The economy fails if people invest in gold, and sit on it. When you tell the rich that you expect them to spend, but the return on their money is limited, AND they will be taxed more on that limited return, there is no reason for them to spend. People can claim that saving the economy is reason enough, but they do not realize that the wealthy do not need the working class. They have an exploitable working force in China... Basically, the rich have to hold confidence that the government can stabilize the economy.
This goes a step farther as well. The middle class depend on private investment for their economic class to exist. 80-85% of middle class wealth is invested in home ownership. Without private investment, there are no new homes, so no middle class growth. It is against banking regulations for them to loan for land development. Banks can only loan on a piece of property, as they see it, not on the potential. Development requires private investment. Once the engineering is done, roads are put in, underground lines are in, and individual building permits are granted, then banks can loan on individual construction projects...
So tax plans that punish the rich for making money are hurting us more than helping. For an economic rebound we need to look outside the current plan of Keynesian economics. There is going to have to be some incentives for private investment, or the recession recovery will be slow
