Bill, Oops, your reply should have gone to the -flyin form. (No scolding - I've done it myself.) Everyone, please direct all responses to -flyin. Thanks, Ed _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of William R. Bayne Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 11:25 PM To: [email protected]@yahoogroups.comercoupe-t...@yahoogr oups.com Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Re: [ercoupe-flyin] Walmart Aviation All, The "rise" of Wal-Mart has paralleled the "rise" of world wide free trade. America's economic "Manifest Destiny" died with tariffs and when huge ships and planes made international shipping relatively cheap. Keep in perspective that America is perhaps the only large country where the poor drive ;<) In the 1950s, China, Russia and North Korea tried premeditated aggression to improve their situations. They built bombs and bullets and a lot of people died in Korea and elsewhere before all understood that was a dead end. Conversely, China's "one child" policy changed a culture of aggression and poverty without end into a cooperative engine of commerce with unlimited future potential. Their better life was not without cost. America's economy has been isolationist...protected from competitors by great distances and artificial tariffs. No more. In terms of land, house, water, energy and medical services, America's existing concept of the "good life" is unsustainable to the most casual observer. America needs the support of Europe, Japan, India, and China to combat global warming. The latter will want to assure further future improvements to their presently low standard of living. That is not unfair, but someone somewhere must pay a price. When an educated Chinese or Indian engineer will gladly work for $1.50/hr., that does not bode well for the U.S. high school dropout who aspires to a 4,500 sq. ft. house, lots of kids, several (sequential) wives, multiple dogs, and a 4x4 truck 24" off the ground to head off-road weekends hauling a trailer full of jet skis or dirt bikes. Bubba, Bubbette and their bubbitos will have to someday downsize such priorities and dreams. The people of Germany, Japan, China and India have chosen to raise their standard of living by making and exporting useful products. Each has forsaken military aggression and has a "stake" in the new world order. I gladly reward them with my business. Russia and the middle east appear, at most, spectators and ticket scalpers on the world stage. My heart and mind cannot agree as to the wisdom of "Humanitarian aid" that saves thousands of lives in third world countries that will eventually grow up to hate America, Americans, and American values. Sigh. The industrial revolution caused world wide economic disruption to the "status quo". The "second bounce" caused by computers will be a wild ride. Understanding and productivity exploding in the scientific, technical and medical fields will change daily life at an ever-accelerating rate. There's good news and bad news. World consumers are no longer limited to "in-season foods...everything is "in season" somewhere. It's good that half our groceries are imports. Soon California and Arizona will have to allocate finite water supplies between population growth and agriculture. Guess what...food doesn't vote ;<) Different priorities and objectives must evolve if mankind is to survive. The historical way man reallocates resources between nations is by war. Time is running out to find and implement more and better options. A 32" HD LCD TV made in China at Wal-Mart costs $400 today. The same thing made here would cost $800. Wal-Mart won't buy it (or anyone else). It no longer makes economic sense to make some things here...think clothes, cars, computers, etc. In world terms, paying more to "buy American" is alms from the rich to the rich. We live in interesting times, but the immediate future has never been brighter. Americans take a back seat to no one when it comes to competition of any sort. I'm sure America, as a country, will do just fine! Just my opinion, WRB -- On Dec 30, 2008, at 15:48, Mike Willis wrote: It's not just stores - a friend of mine owns the franchises for a popular diner chain in some of the Eastern US states and sources all of his eggs from China. Mike On 30/12/08 18:39, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: Hi Ed, Excellent question. I've been paying more attention lately and it seems to have become difficult to find items made in the USA. I wonder how many people even look to see where things are made before or after purchase. Based on what little I've seen Sears seems to do a little better than some however; that's really not a definitive answer to the question you asked. I'd be very interested to hear if anyone knows of retailers that make a special effort to carry US made items, as opposedc to the lowest cost items. It is probably a small subset to begin with, and in the current economy that subset is probably also shrinking. I assume that the retailers will follow consumer buying patterns and adjust accordingly, so ultimately the US consumer is responsible. BTW - an for an interesting and eye opening read, try the book; "The History of Money" by Jack Weatherford http://www.amazon.com/History-Money-Jack-Weatherford/dp/0609801724 I found it to be a relatively easy read, and quite good. Next up; "The Creature From Jekyll Iskand", by Edward Griffin. Although somehwhat difficult to find, this ntakes a good close look at our Federal Reserve (it's not what we think). Best regards, Dan Hall N3968H ---- Ed Burkhead <[email protected] <mailto:edburkhead%40comcast.net> > wrote: > > > I haven't paid all that much attention to Wal-Mart. My memory seems to tell > me that 15+ years ago, their policy was to stock American made goods > whenever they could get them. I vaguely recall that "buy American" was one > of their selling points. > > > > Certainly, now, foreign merchandise dominates at Wal-Mart and that is a > problem for me. I'd much rather buy American if I possibly can. > > > > What chain stores do try to have American made goods? Is there anyone now > who does that? > > > > Ed > [email protected] www.ercoupe.co.uk Alon A2 Aircoupe A-188 G-HARY --
