[The Buckeyes]

While shopping in The Villages have you ever flipped over merchandise or looked at a clothing tag to see where the goods were made? Are you of the opinion that there is nothing that can't be made in America? Do you care?

[DeanFL]

I've thought for some time now (no action as that would require mega$) >>>

Why not develop a small chain of stores, about the size of Dollar General and such - but stocking items made SOLELY in the USA. All sorts of items incl clothes. All items would need verifiable evidence and labeling of manufacture/assembly in the USA. Perhaps items from .99 to 19.99.

Stores to locate where disposable income is relatively good, a healthy % of military veterans, and patriotic residents would support such a venture (and not mind -perhaps- paying a bit more for quality and support of USA workers. I would think The Villages proper would be an ideal location.

[EastCoastDawg]

Originally Posted by The Buckeyes

While shopping in The Villages have you ever flipped over merchandise or looked at a clothing tag to see where the goods were made? Are you of the opinion that there is nothing that can't be made in America? Do you care?

For most items, I am firmly in the "don't care" camp. There is little money to be made from the manufacture of cheap items, and few jobs would be created since most such stuff is mass produced by machines. However, as these items are cheaper when made overseas we are able to afford more of them, which creates additional jobs in the USA in distribution and running retail outlets.

[The Buckeyes]

Originally Posted by EastCoastDawg

For most items, I am firmly in the "don't care" camp. There is little money to be made from the manufacture of cheap items, and few jobs would be created since most such stuff is mass produced by machines. However, as these items are cheaper when made overseas we are able to afford more of them, which creates additional jobs in the USA in distribution and running retail outlets.

A small flaw in your analysis...if it, whatever, was made in America there would be job creation. This would be in addition to additional jobs in distribution and retail outlets mentioned above.

[Jima64]

I like that idea but worry more about where my food comes from and how is it inspected. Especially anything from China.

[leftyf]

I always check my food to see where it comes from. It's almost impossible to buy US fish anymore. Sam's club has one type out of all of the fish they sell. Walmart and Aldi's doesn't have any, at least none I can find. Not many US brands of orange juice either.

[Ooper]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

I've thought for some time now (no action as that would require mega$) >>>

Why not develop a small chain of stores, about the size of Dollar General and such - but stocking items made SOLELY in the USA. All sorts of items incl clothes.

There already is a franchised line of stores that sell only items made in America. http://www.madeinamericastore.com/

[EastCoastDawg]

Originally Posted by EastCoastDawg

For most items, I am firmly in the "don't care" camp. There is little money to be made from the manufacture of cheap items, and few jobs would be created since most such stuff is mass produced by machines. However, as these items are cheaper when made overseas we are able to afford more of them, which creates additional jobs in the USA in distribution and running retail outlets.

Originally Posted by The Buckeyes

A small flaw in your analysis...if it, whatever, was made in America there would be job creation. This would be in addition to additional jobs in distribution and retail outlets mentioned above.

Well, I am no economist (thank goodness) but my point was that, with mechanisation, a factory churning out millions of small items can be run with very few employees, hence little in the way of job creation. And if those small items cost twice as much to produce in the USA (which is why their production shifted overseas in the first place) then fewer of them would be bought, so jobs would be lost in the distribution and retail industries in the USA. So you could well end up with a net loss of jobs.

[Topspinmo]

All this IMO started with nut and bolt? Around 1966 or 1967. When top three automakers started sourcing out parts form South America. these parts had metric bolts and nuts. Once it was known this could be done with cheap labor and NO tarriffs or penalties it caught on. Once politicians got greased the blue collar worker become extinct. Especially after the NAFTA.
After the current killing off any jobs that left with the new proposed agreement with Asia the only blue collar jobs left will be burgar flippers and waiters, but who cares about blue collar jobs when every level of management could care less and only worried about greasing their pockets.

[HimandMe]

I think stores carrying only made in America goods would have a lot of business.

[handyman]

They would have my business.

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by Ooper

There already is a franchised line of stores that sell only items made in America. http://www.madeinamericastore.com/

Appears they have 4 stores, all in Western NY state - and the company is 5 years old.

Apparently this franchise hasn't caught on since no other stores have opened. Perhaps the concept doesn't warrant expansion or investment. Too bad...

[mulligan]

If a prohibitive tariff were imposed on foreign goods, all those lost jobs would come back. And while we're at it an extra tax on all profit from work outsourced by American companies to foreign countries. And while we're at it, no foreign entity, individual or corporate, may purchase/own any real estate in the US. Keep profits/dividends stateside. Make ownership = citizenship.

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by mulligan

If a prohibitive tariff were imposed on foreign goods, all those lost jobs would come back. And while we're at it an extra tax on all profit from work outsourced by American companies to foreign countries. And while we're at it, no foreign entity, individual or corporate, may purchase/own any real estate in the US. Keep profits/dividends stateside. Make ownership = citizenship.

It sounds good, but.....we would still be driving cr@p cars were it not for competition from Japanese (Toyota) imports. We would be paying at least double for our clothing, including Nike, Under Armor, etc. Apple products would be twice what they are now, which is already too much. Reducing competition, whether for manufactured goods or labor, results in inferior products including labor, and/or inflation. Neither are good for the consumer.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by mulligan

If a prohibitive tariff were imposed on foreign goods, all those lost jobs would come back. And while we're at it an extra tax on all profit from work outsourced by American companies to foreign countries. And while we're at it, no foreign entity, individual or corporate, may purchase/own any real estate in the US. Keep profits/dividends stateside. Make ownership = citizenship.

Originally Posted by outlaw

It sounds good, but.....we would still be driving cr@p cars were it not for competition from Japanese (Toyota) imports. We would be paying at least double for our clothing, including Nike, Under Armor, etc. Apple products would be twice what they are now, which is already too much. Reducing competition, whether for manufactured goods or labor, results in inferior products including labor, and/or inflation. Neither are good for the consumer.

and don't forget US exports - slap tariffs on US imports and other countries will do likewise on US exports. You would end up in an isolationist economy.