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Who here shops at the little mom and pop local stores whenever possible, no the big box stores like best buy and walmart? Who buys American made items whenever possible?

I know I do. Haven't been in a Walmart in maybe 2 years. Haven't been bought anything from Best Buy in...well ever.

I do as well - haven't been to a Walmart in years

It's getting hard to "Buy American" on lots of items...last year, my decade-old cordless Black & Decker drill gave up the ghost...I decided to buy a good cordless tool set to replace it...

Went to Home Depot and Lowes, as the local Ace Hardware didn't have anything more than basic level gear...

I looked at B & D...all made in China...

I looked at several other brands, and finally bought Ryobi as only one piece in the 9 piece set was made in China...two pieces were made in Thailand, some in Mexico, some in Malaysia and one piece in the U.S....I could not find a power tool set (except some extreme high end stuff) made totally or mostly in the U.S....

It's depressing...

Col Hogan wrote:It's getting hard to "Buy American" on lots of items...last year, my decade-old cordless Black & Decker drill gave up the ghost...I decided to buy a good cordless tool set to replace it...

Went to Home Depot and Lowes, as the local Ace Hardware didn't have anything more than basic level gear...

I looked at B & D...all made in China...

I looked at several other brands, and finally bought Ryobi as only one piece in the 9 piece set was made in China...two pieces were made in Thailand, some in Mexico, some in Malaysia and one piece in the U.S....I could not find a power tool set (except some extreme high end stuff) made totally or mostly in the U.S....

It's depressing...

It is depressing. Corporate Greed has put us in the toliet.

We shop WalMart once-a-week for staple groceries....sure, I prefer to shop at local shops, especially for specialized backpacking equipment, but refuse to pay extra for everyday items. However, we do shop the majority of our food zat Ingle's, a supermarket chain started up the road in Asheville that has done quite well and donates their time and monies to the local economy....also shop at Greenlife and Earthfare for specialty vegan food as well as local farmer's markets for produce in season...

dbackjon wrote:

Col Hogan wrote:It's getting hard to "Buy American" on lots of items...last year, my decade-old cordless Black & Decker drill gave up the ghost...I decided to buy a good cordless tool set to replace it...

Went to Home Depot and Lowes, as the local Ace Hardware didn't have anything more than basic level gear...

I looked at B & D...all made in China...

I looked at several other brands, and finally bought Ryobi as only one piece in the 9 piece set was made in China...two pieces were made in Thailand, some in Mexico, some in Malaysia and one piece in the U.S....I could not find a power tool set (except some extreme high end stuff) made totally or mostly in the U.S....

It's depressing...

It is depressing. Corporate Greed has put us in the toliet.

Not just corporate greed, jon...it's been a collective effort...

American's want "the lowest price"...if one company makes all American stuff, they won't last that long as it just takes one competitor to make their stuff in China, which sells for the lowest price...

Yea, corporations are not blameless...but we have to look in the mirror too...

My wife seems to live by wal-mart, but I never go in there if I can help it (which isn't hard). I try to stay to mom and pop shops as best I can. Unfortunately, there are just some items you have to go to Best Buy, Lowe's, etc. to get.

Biff wrote:My wife seems to live by wal-mart, but I never go in there if I can help it (which isn't hard). I try to stay to mom and pop shops as best I can. Unfortunately, there are just some items you have to go to Best Buy, Lowe's, etc. to get.

Hey, Lowe's is local....headquartered in North Wilkesboro, NC I think....

I agree it is a collective effort, but when companies move production of profitable products to China to pad their bottom line (and not cut the prices charged to consumers), then it is corporate greed.

Nike could easily make $150 shoes here in the US.

Col Hogan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:
It is depressing. Corporate Greed has put us in the toliet.

Not just corporate greed, jon...it's been a collective effort...

American's want "the lowest price"...if one company makes all American stuff, they won't last that long as it just takes one competitor to make their stuff in China, which sells for the lowest price...

Yea, corporations are not blameless...but we have to look in the mirror too...

Yep I accept my part in this problem as I save $1.97 of tub socks....

Appaholic wrote:

Col Hogan wrote:
Not just corporate greed, jon...it's been a collective effort...

American's want "the lowest price"...if one company makes all American stuff, they won't last that long as it just takes one competitor to make their stuff in China, which sells for the lowest price...

Yea, corporations are not blameless...but we have to look in the mirror too...

Yep I accept my part in this problem as I save $1.97 of tub socks....

Putting your fellow Carolinans out of work. Socks, underwear - I do specifically buy American made products.

Clothes - harder to buy, but I at least try to get Central American or Mexican clothes - keep them working down there so they don't come up here

Appaholic wrote:

Col Hogan wrote:
Not just corporate greed, jon...it's been a collective effort...

American's want "the lowest price"...if one company makes all American stuff, they won't last that long as it just takes one competitor to make their stuff in China, which sells for the lowest price...

Yea, corporations are not blameless...but we have to look in the mirror too...

Yep I accept my part in this problem as I save $1.97 off tube socks....

Well Appa, if you and the ol'lady would just get it on a couple more times a week you wouldn't go through so many tube socks.

Appaholic wrote:

Biff wrote:My wife seems to live by wal-mart, but I never go in there if I can help it (which isn't hard). I try to stay to mom and pop shops as best I can. Unfortunately, there are just some items you have to go to Best Buy, Lowe's, etc. to get.

Hey, Lowe's is local....headquartered in North Wilkesboro, NC I think....

As a former Lowe's employee (god, did that job suck, but I learned a lot) you are correct.

dbackjon wrote:

Col Hogan wrote:It's getting hard to "Buy American" on lots of items...last year, my decade-old cordless Black & Decker drill gave up the ghost...I decided to buy a good cordless tool set to replace it...

Went to Home Depot and Lowes, as the local Ace Hardware didn't have anything more than basic level gear...

I looked at B & D...all made in China...

I looked at several other brands, and finally bought Ryobi as only one piece in the 9 piece set was made in China...two pieces were made in Thailand, some in Mexico, some in Malaysia and one piece in the U.S....I could not find a power tool set (except some extreme high end stuff) made totally or mostly in the U.S....

It's depressing...

It is depressing. Corporate Greed has put us in the toliet.

Either corporate greed or the fact that unions have driven up the price to the point that nobody would BUY American because it'd cost twice what it's produced for overseas.

Take off the blinders, Jon.

In terms of shopping locally, I do my best. I go to Hy-Vee and Fareway (both Iowa companies). If I have to go to a big box store, I go to Target over Wal-Mart. (Target being based in Minneapolis and just generally better) WM drives me batty anyway, with the screaming brats running around unchecked to wreak havoc on people who just want to buy shit and get out.

I also frequent the local health food store on occasion, I love Just Tomatoes' dried peaches and strawberries.
http://www.justtomatoes.com

Oh, and I LOVE farmer's markets in the summer. mmmmmm...

AZGrizFan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:
It is depressing. Corporate Greed has put us in the toliet.

Either corporate greed or the fact that unions have driven up the price to the point that nobody would BUY American because it'd cost twice what it's produced for overseas.

Take off the blinders, Jon.

Yes - tell that to the non-union employees of Thermos...

dbackjon wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Either corporate greed or the fact that unions have driven up the price to the point that nobody would BUY American because it'd cost twice what it's produced for overseas.

Take off the blinders, Jon.

Yes - tell that to the non-union employees of Thermos...

OK. You've given one example. But to blame this on "corporate greed" is just too damned easy, Jon. My explanation is just as plausible as yours.

AZGrizFan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:
Yes - tell that to the non-union employees of Thermos...

OK. You've given one example. But to blame this on "corporate greed" is just too damned easy, Jon. My explanation is just as plausible as yours.

Oh, it is not the only explination, but a major one.

I actually should put that as "shareholder greed"

dbackjon wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
OK. You've given one example. But to blame this on "corporate greed" is just too damned easy, Jon. My explanation is just as plausible as yours.

Oh, it is not the only explination, but a major one.

I actually should put that as "shareholder greed"

Oh, you mean all those shareholders who live/work in small American shops locally and have their IRA's/401k's invested in these companys? THOSE greedy shareholders?

AZGrizFan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:
Oh, it is not the only explination, but a major one.

I actually should put that as "shareholder greed"

Oh, you mean all those shareholders who live/work in small American shops locally and have their IRA's/401k's invested in these companys? THOSE greedy shareholders?

No - the big investor/corporate raiders that were focused on quarterly profit instead of long-term viability.

Can we stop crying about what used to be and start creating what could be?

The loss of those jobs was a natural occurance from an economic perspective. It cost less to manufacture the goods overseas and ship them to market than it did to produce them locally, so the manufacturing was moved overseas. Instead of trying to turn back time and upset the natural order of things why don't we focus on retraining those people for jobs that are relevant today?

This focus on bringing back the good ole days of American manufacturing is going to do more harm than good in the long-term.

So what jobs should we train them for?

AZGrizFan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:
It is depressing. Corporate Greed has put us in the toliet.

Either corporate greed or the fact that unions have driven up the price to the point that nobody would BUY American because it'd cost twice what it's produced for overseas.

Take off the blinders, Jon.

It's the fault of the women....they wanted it all, couldn't be happy staying at home....created dual income families, retailers raised prices because the people had the disposable income, people paid it because they could, now you can never go back to one-income family....fokking greedy women..

(PFL in 5...4....3....2....)

Appaholic wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Either corporate greed or the fact that unions have driven up the price to the point that nobody would BUY American because it'd cost twice what it's produced for overseas.

Take off the blinders, Jon.

It's the fault of the women....they wanted it all, couldn't be happy staying at home....created dual income families, retailers raised prices because the people had the disposable income, people paid it because they could, now you can never go back to one-income family....fokking greedy women keeping all them sammiches to themselves..

(PFL in 5...4....3....2....)

You forgot one line.

dbackjon wrote:So what jobs should we train them for?

Jobs that we believe will be in demand such as health care, education, etc. Jobs that require skill and innovation (not mind-numbing assembly line work) such as specialized manufacturing. There are no sure things.

Americans are the most innovative people on the planet. We've proven that with our ability to improve computer technology exponentially rather than incrementally. We need to apply a similar approach to other industries such as energy efficiency and we will create new markets and new jobs.

We're not entitled to keep our old jobs or get 4%+ raises every year. As individuals, we're each responsible for demonstraing our value to employers and that means we have to continue to learn and grow and might occasionally require that we take a step backward and reinvent ourselves.