[TheWarriors]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Then do as I asked from midwiz who had the same sentiment. Help ME so I can afford to pay a premium for the same stuff I get now for less. If you send me a check, I'll stop buying imports if I can find the same or better quality in the states for more.

My socks are made in the USA, but I'm pretty sure my underwear is made in Vietnam. Both are made by Hanes. I wait until they're on sale and stock up. Some of my shirts are made in India. Some in Vietnam. Most, I believe, are made in China. I can't afford to buy the clothing manufactured by American companies in America. The cheapest shirt I found among a "complete" (not really) list of American-made product manufacturers was $50. I pay $8 for my teeshirts at Walmart, and $24 for my "nice" shirts on Amazon. My Skechers shorts and skorts are made in Indonesia and China, and again - I wait til I find what I like on clearance and pay around $20 each. Or, I do without.

I finally found a pair of sneakers that don't make my neuroma act up and are slip-resistant and incredibly comfortable, at a price-point I can afford once every 2 years. They're made in China.

So. Find me all of these things, made in the USA, for the same price at the same or better quality. OR, send me money so I can afford to pay the premium to buy American.

That is just proof the past policies really didn’t work and you are an example of why we shouldn’t continue to ship jobs out of the Country. Many don’t care until it is their job and finances. Just wait until AI takes hold, the number of unemployed Lawyers, Accountants, Investment Analyst, etc, will skyrocket. If your job doesn’t include some hands on activity with people (Nurses, Plumbers, Doctors, Electricians, etc.) plan on large pay reductions and finally the unemployment line.

[Ptmcbriz]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

If tariffs…then you can buy US made. That’s the plan right?

US doesn’t manufacture most things we bring in from China.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The idea of manufacturing goods in the U.S. may sound good, but people will always buy the cheapest products regardless of where they are made.

In certain situations, I totally agree with this statement. People are looking out for their family, their money, when they shop with price in mind. If you learn to be careful with your money, you will be able to take care of yourself and your family.

And if I continue, someone is gonna get mad at me for being political.

[Ptmcbriz]

Originally Posted by phylt

IMO much ado about not much.

I feel that many of these tariffs will be targeted, and not sweeping anti-China etc.

For sure, vehicles from China and probably Mexico would be targeted - as they should be.

We DO need to manufacture MUCH more in our domestic production, especially critical pharmaceutical etc.

Our country needs to be completely prepared and focus on OUR country. So many others have taken advantage of us over the years. Especially allowing Corps et al to run amok exporting jobs and enriching themselves despite endangering the country.

Myself, I'll wait and see what happens. The sky is NOT falling. IMO the clouds are opening and the sun will shine brighter.

Every American made car requires parts that are manufactured in other countries to finish their assembly. There is no such thing as a 100% US manufactured car anymore. We simply don’t gave the manufacturer plants here anymore and it takes 5-8 years to build plants and train personnel for them. We are in for a world of hurt as Elon stated “necessary hardships “ ahead.

[Sgt Ed]

Originally Posted by phylt

IMO much ado about not much.

I feel that many of these tariffs will be targeted, and not sweeping anti-China etc.

For sure, vehicles from China and probably Mexico would be targeted - as they should be.

We DO need to manufacture MUCH more in our domestic production, especially critical pharmaceutical etc.

Our country needs to be completely prepared and focus on OUR country. So many others have taken advantage of us over the years. Especially allowing Corps et al to run amok exporting jobs and enriching themselves despite endangering the country.

Myself, I'll wait and see what happens. The sky is NOT falling. IMO the clouds are opening and the sun will shine brighter.

I agree that we need to bring industry and manufacturing back to the States. Look at the political situation with China today. Militarly they are VERY aggressive and if things happen we will be out of luck. We can not have another country have the upper hands in our products. Look what Wal Mart did to every small business in the country. The coffee is brewing, wake up and smell it.

[Ptmcbriz]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Wal-mart is where millions of people in this country can AFFORD to buy things that they need for their homes and their families. Like it or not, this country can't afford to buy American. If we could, then Wal-mart wouldn't have done so well decades after they first set up shop here.

Why would I pay $3 for a can of beans, when I can get the exact same can of beans, same size and flavor, for $1.80? Why should I pay $3.54 for a half-gallon of 2% milk at Publix when I can get a half-gallon of 2% milk for $2.45 at Wal-mart? Sure, it's just a few cents. But when you add up every item that you're saving a few cents on, then multiply it by 52 weeks you're buying it every year, you're looking at a couple thousand bucks worth of groceries that you can afford to buy.

Take those couple thousand bucks away, and you're looking at people who live on a budget, having to stop buying ANY fresh foods, buying $1.25 chicken pot pies instead of wholesome foods, using powdered milk instead of real dairy, and eating a LOT of rice and beans. Those families who are already unfortunate to be in that situation, would now have to decide which of their family members will go without lunch.

Inflation happens, no matter who is running the country. People have to pay more, but their opportunities to earn more are not as good as they were in the 1960's and 1970's. The concept of the "company man" who spends most of his adult life in one place of employment, whose employer looks after their employees, has gone the way of the dodo.

Entire party venues have gone out of business because they no longer get the annual picnics that corporations once booked them for. The "culture" of employment has changed. The lifestyles of families relying on one income have changed, and those relying on two incomes has changed. If you're wealthy, NONE of this applies to you, and you have no experience of anything the rest of the country has to endure.

But for those of us who aren't "struggling" - but are trying to maintain a "comfortable" lifestyle while not being wealthy - are having trouble doing so. For us, Wal-mart is a godsend. Walmart is the REASON why I can afford to get good beef at Publix. Walmart is the REASON we can spend money at local restaurants every so often. By saving money on groceries and other essentials, we have more available to spend somewhere else.

If you take that away, you'll see a lot of people like me, no longer spending our money outside the grocery store. We live in a global economy, whether we want to or not. And so some of us choose to make the best of what we have.

Oh it’s not just the tariffs that will raise prices, wait until there are no migrant workers to pick all the fresh fruit and vegetables in the fields. Who will pick them? Americans won’t do the job. Wait for your hand picked tomato costs $10 each, IF you can even get any because they have rotted in the fields unpicked.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Ptmcbriz

Oh it’s not just the tariffs that will raise prices, wait until there are no migrant workers to pick all the fresh fruit and vegetables in the fields. Who will pick them? Americans won’t do the job. Wait for your hand picked tomato costs $10 each, IF you can even get any because they have rotted in the fields unpicked.

Isn't it illegal to pay migrants less than the minimum wage, to not withhold the FICA taxes, or to not provide other mandatory employee benefits? It seems to me that the legal way to do it is to import the tomatoes.

[opinionist]

Tariffs are intended to bring jobs back into the United States, thereby balancing trade. An additional benefit is a reduction in taxes. If the size of government can be cut by 80%, then taxes can be reduced to zero like in the 1800s. Since 80% of the government is not within the enumerated powers limited by the Constitution, the reduction is required by law. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Ptmcbriz

Every American made car requires parts that are manufactured in other countries to finish their assembly. There is no such thing as a 100% US manufactured car anymore. We simply don’t gave the manufacturer plants here anymore and it takes 5-8 years to build plants and train personnel for them. We are in for a world of hurt as Elon stated “necessary hardships “ ahead.

Except for Elon. He is in for a world of whirlwind profits. Such a coincidence that he backs this idea 100%, don'tcha think?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Sgt Ed

I agree that we need to bring industry and manufacturing back to the States. Look at the political situation with China today. Militarly they are VERY aggressive and if things happen we will be out of luck. We can not have another country have the upper hands in our products. Look what Wal Mart did to every small business in the country. The coffee is brewing, wake up and smell it.

My coffee comes from Brazil, Columbia, Nicaragua, and Mexico. But the bags my coffee is packaged in, is made in China. Yours probably is too. Enjoy your new $4/cup kpods.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Isn't it illegal to pay migrants less than the minimum wage, to not withhold the FICA taxes, or to not provide other mandatory employee benefits? It seems to me that the legal way to do it is to import the tomatoes.

Well then we need to just all stop eating tomatoes then, since the whole point of this thread is to encourage people to buy American-made only to avoid tariffs.

The plan is to yes - impose tariffs on China. But the plan also includes ALL imports, not just Chinese imports. Anything that comes in from outside our borders will have a tariff - a price hike - attached to it.

Y'all need to start saving up.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by opinionist

Tariffs are intended to bring jobs back into the United States, thereby balancing trade. An additional benefit is a reduction in taxes. If the size of government can be cut by 80%, then taxes can be reduced to zero like in the 1800s. Since 80% of the government is not within the enumerated powers limited by the Constitution, the reduction is required by law. It will be interesting to see what happens.

My taxes are less than my expenses. The cost of inflation is higher than any taxes saved, for MOST Americans. Only the wealthiest will benefit from this "trickle down" concept. This was proven in the Reagan Administration.

Also, in the 1800's, businesses didn't have the expense of paying their workers, or paying unemployment insurance, providing health insurance, workers compensation. Why not? Because they OWNED those workers. The workers were slaves. If they worked themselves to death, they became fertilizer and were replaced with a fresh batch right off the boat.

Actually hired employees were paid pennies, most of them worked 10-12 hour shifts just to afford to live in squalor. Disease was common, health care was mostly non-existent and experimental. Indoor plumbing was considered a luxury for the wealthy.

Not interested in going back to the 1800's, but I'm sure there are some Amish farms in the US you could move to, to enjoy that lifestyle if you really want it.

[Caymus]

Originally Posted by TheWarriors

That is just proof the past policies really didn’t work and you are an example of why we shouldn’t continue to ship jobs out of the Country. Many don’t care until it is their job and finances. Just wait until AI takes hold, the number of unemployed Lawyers, Accountants, Investment Analyst, etc, will skyrocket. If your job doesn’t include some hands on activity with people (Nurses, Plumbers, Doctors, Electricians, etc.) plan on large pay reductions and finally the unemployment line.

So, Boeing machinists will not be getting the 38% pay increase(over 4 years) or the $12,000 signing bonus?

[SoCalGal]

Originally Posted by Pondboy

So who do you blame for all the goods sourced overseas?

Richard Nixon: His visit to China in 1972 was crucial in thawing U.S.-China relations after years of isolation. While this opened diplomatic channels, it was more about normalizing relations rather than directly promoting trade.

Jimmy Carter: He furthered the normalization process by officially establishing diplomatic relations with China in 1979, which facilitated increased trade but was more about political engagement.

Bill Clinton: He played a significant role in the normalization of trade relations with China, especially by signing into law the U.S.-China Relations Act in 2000, which paved the way for China's entry into the WTO in December 2001. However, this was more about facilitating China's integration into global trade frameworks rather than initiating China's trade engagement.

[ElDiabloJoe]

The thing about less expensive stuff from China, is that China has a loonnnggg history of corporate espionage, stealing our R&D and then ignoring intellectual property rights.

They have very cleverly (and purposefully) placed their students into our top research universities and aerospace companies since at least the 1980's. How do you think they went from complete isolation in the 1970's (Nixon era's ping-pong diplomacy) to nearly matching our jet, nuclear sub, and aircraft carrier technologies? I know they are historically credited with creating fireworks (gun powder) and pasta, but I suspect they stole those from other cultures hundreds of years ago also. Aside from art or literature, I cannot think of anything modern they have actually invested in, developed, and created from scratch. They are thieves of other cultures.

From my previous professional life, I have first hand experience they have sent over hundreds of pregnant women to have their babies born as U.S. citizens, only to return them to China shortly after birth. Imagine! Future Chinese government officials and military officers who are also American citizens who cannot be denied access or employment.

This may sound far-fetched, or paranoid, or "conspiracy-theory" to some but look back over the last 5 decades. China and Chinese citizens have almost always played the long game. Remember the old saying, "Three generations from Shanghai to Stanford?"

We have caught many of their government and military members and their families acting on China's behalf in our country. Even Nancy Pelosi's chauffeur and the New York Governor's Chief of Staff. Here's the thing: you send over one Romanian gymnast or one Cuban baseball player or one Russian ballerina, and they are slipping their handlers and seeking asylum. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese in America, from one of the most repressive communist nations on the globe, and no one is seeking asylum? Why is that? Family members at home threatened with imprisonment and torture, maybe? They've set up police stations on United States territory for the sole purpose of enforcing their laws on their citizens who are here for God's sake!

If one doesn't see the danger of casually buying Chinese stuff, even though it is cheaper, I fear one is short-sighted, anti-American, or ignorant. Maybe all three. Essentially you're buying cheaper things (cameras, electronics, pharmaceuticals, etc.) that were stolen from us in the first place, and now you're helping them make their thefts profitable. We're buying back from the thieves the very things they stole from us. They think we are suckers coming and going. They are right.

They are giving us something though. New York City has 2.5 times the national average in T.B. cases. A staggering 89% of their T.B. cases are from foreign born immigrants. According to New York City's most recent Annual Tuberculosis Survey, the largest single origin country of that 89%? Chinese immigrants. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downl...ual-report.pdf

Do I still buy things that are Chinese made that I can't find made in America? Yes, but I do so knowing full well I have little other option. I will pay more for American made when I have the opportunity to do so, and I strongly encourage you to do the same.