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wheel interested · 11-17-2008, 11:53 PM

I was just really shocked when I read that this evening. Didn't mean to hijack the thread but kind of thought backing American workers and how America takes care of its own was all related thus here I am.

I don't think there is a lack of food. But I do think feeding everyone young and old should be a higher priority. I don't have facts but why let that stop me from forming an opinion.

I think before rockets are sent up into space and explode at 10 million dollars or so, we should make sure every one is eating at home before we worry about widening out.

I know these are tough times and I know it puts a lot of people on edge and causes bitter conclusions about the economy and who are the fat cats but when I thought about the words of that article and the term very low food security and going hungry, I thought how fortunate we are and what as citizens we could do. There is more to the article than I copied and pasted. It was searing to me.

Legislation, is that the key? Food drives is that the answer? Perhaps we of the WBCCI and Air Forums could do a little something collectively.

wahoonc · 11-18-2008, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispyboy

That would be enough for me to spend the extra $$ to try this tire out. I have Coopers on 3 of my 4 vehicles and all have done well. All of our fleet trucks/cars (100 +/- vehicles) at work run Cooper tires when the OE tires wear out.

I run Coopers on some of my vehicles. We tried them on my wife's F150 with the 17" wheels and they were awful, switched back to the OEM Goodrich's. My other trucks run them with no problems.

Aaron

joe3957 · 11-18-2008, 08:33 AM

[
Just as a point of interest, Bud is no longer an American owned company. If you wish to drink American beer it is Sam Adams or Sierra Nevada. You just can't tell anymore.[/quote]
I forgot this point, which does tie to this whole thread, do I now boycott BUD (which isn't on my list of beers to drink) because the profit goes to Europe?
In the case of Toyota yes they pay the non union labor less, but at the same time the president of that company makes a few hundred thousand dollars a year and is honored almost embarrassed to do so. President of the big three are making in the ten of millions per year, with their hand out for the government to pay them more.
I guess the way I see it, I want American Labor. I want reasonable pay to execs and if that comes by buying from a company that is from a country that limits that pay so be it. Toyota and Honda are increasing jobs in this country...GM?

ROBERT CROSS · 11-18-2008, 12:19 PM

Lets all buy Planet Earth products..

The "global" economy is here to stay, we all just 'gonna have to deal with it. Like it or not.

I still stay away from Wallyworld though, fwiw.

Pschoerrn · 11-18-2008, 12:55 PM

[quote=wheel interested;639153]

Never mind cars what can we do to feed our own country?
/quote]

carol, sorry to jump in, but you already did something! On the 4th of November - and on this side of the big pond we are very very happy about that

... But you are totally right and it is not only an american problem, it is global as everything mankind in doing on this planet... ...or better - to this planet???

Back to the main discussion...

Here in Germany the Government is thinking of giving a big big 2 billion euro credit to Opel Motors or even putting Opel under Government Control... What really bothers me and I am sorry to say that - Opel is belonging to GM and the money that we German Tax payers have to pay is running directly to Detroit. It is the same with our National (government ruled!) Small business Bank IKB - it lost 8 billion euros in the big crash and was sold to an american hedgefond. The CEO's of the IKB now have to pay back their benefits of (I think!) 6 million euros, but guess what, not to the Government (and the Taxpayers...) but to the hedgefond...

I don't say that globalisation is bad - not at all - otherwise we wouldn't be meeting on these forums, you wouldnt drink european wine and beer, wouldn't drive german cars and we wouldn't own our Airstream and I could't have married at Aspen, CO... But something is really wrong on this planet... We always speak of buying european or american or of think global buying local... but if a sand shovel in china is falling down it is influencing the whole planet... (literally

(wrong spelling?)). Sure there are so many things that we must (without any discussion!) buy locally, just but more to protect our environment and stop stupid shipping of food and goods around the world... Did you know, that is cheaper to buy a chicken from the Netherlands in Africa than buying a chicken that was raised locally in africa?? It is so stupid, but is is global business... We need to think about what we are doing, we need to step back when we do stupid businesses, but we need to think global, just to be able to act local! Or we need people in charge that CAN think and who ARE responsable and who are willing to CHANGE our planet - the economic and this planet is what we need, but they will survive us...

...i think i went off topic.... Sorry...

Bjoern

Jim & Susan · 11-18-2008, 03:23 PM

Bjoern, don't worry about yer spelling at all, your English is much better than my German ever was! And you always have good comments. Always interesting reading.

I have a question that I'm almost afraid to ask. To wit, why does everybody beat up on Walmart so much? How are they any different than any other large retailer? I'm going to go duck behind a chair now.

Jim

Sixty3TW4US · 11-18-2008, 03:46 PM

Walmart is one of the few companies in this economic situation that is showing a fairly good profit. I'm not a economic specialist, however as i see it Walmart is non-union, so they don't have all the s--t that goes along with unions, like the United Auto Workers union (UAW). They also purchase a large amount from China, cheep stuf, sell it at a low price, and they sell ALOT of it. Jim i think they beat up on Walmart because thy are jealous. All that said i don't buy from Walmart because i don't like cheep crap from China

ROBERT CROSS · 11-18-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

I have a question that I'm almost afraid to ask. To wit, why does everybody beat up on Walmart so much? How are they any different than any other large retailer? I'm going to go duck behind a chair now.

Jim

Jim,

I don't shop at Wallyworld because I feel I just don't fit in.

You see, I'm skinny and I don't own a sweat-suit.

purman · 11-18-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheel interested

I was just really shocked when I read that this evening. Didn't mean to hijack the thread but kind of thought backing American workers and how America takes care of its own was all related thus here I am.

I don't think there is a lack of food. But I do think feeding everyone young and old should be a higher priority. I don't have facts but why let that stop me from forming an opinion.

I think before rockets are sent up into space and explode at 10 million dollars or so, we should make sure every one is eating at home before we worry about widening out.

I know these are tough times and I know it puts a lot of people on edge and causes bitter conclusions about the economy and who are the fat cats but when I thought about the words of that article and the term very low food security and going hungry, I thought how fortunate we are and what as citizens we could do. There is more to the article than I copied and pasted. It was searing to me.

Legislation, is that the key? Food drives is that the answer? Perhaps we of the WBCCI and Air Forums could do a little something collectively.

Yeah, it's nice to say kids go hungry, but what does that mean??? Do they get 1 meal 2, how many a day.

Most, and I'm not saying all is because of bad decsions by the parents... buying BEER, CIGS, PULL tabs and gambaling instead of buying food.... I see it all the time...

Then there on Welfare, They have big tvs, cable or satellite tv, videos games you name it.... This is why kids go hungry... Parents with screwed up priorities....

Buy american when you can but don't buy for the sake of buying,,, And thats what people do....

dreadydreame · 11-18-2008, 04:49 PM

Thanks for this site. I am sad to say the kids and I went to a parade and they handed out American flags. The flags had stickers holding them rolled up. The stickers said made in China. It really made me sad. I always think about buying quality stuff but this really made me think about needing to buy American.

Jim & Susan · 11-18-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Jim,

I don't shop at Wallyworld because I feel I just don't fit in.

You see, I'm skinny and I don't own a sweat-suit.

Ah, I get it now. I made the mistake of going there on weekday morning. Yeehaw, it was weird!

But, on the other hand, the kinds of things I buy there are always much cheaper. Trying to think of the last few trips over the last few months. I bought oil and filters for the cars. Name brands, much cheaper than the auto parts stores. I bought a newspaper (Sunday only, the Atlanta paper is a rag). I bought some fetilizer over the summer. I bought 2 sets of tires for the kids cars (American made) (We had, at the time, two kids in college, one has since graduated). Beer. See the point I'm trying to make? I guess for me it's about paying attention to where and HOW I spend my money. I'm in a mode these days of paying very close attention to where the products I buy are made. And how much they cost. and who has the best price.

We got royally screwed on a MAGNAVOX TV (cheap, cheap, cheap Chinese made CRAP) a couple of months ago. DO NOT, I can't stress this enough, DO NOT EVER buy a product from Phillips Magnavox. This is a $hit company. Sorry folks for my language, just the reality of the world today. Those jerks will never, ever get another dime from me.

Jim

wheel interested · 11-18-2008, 05:05 PM

Jason I also abhor parents that would allow their children to go hungry to spend any expedable income so irresponsibly and selfishly as you have outlined. I don't think you would meet with any disagreement from any of us here. There are so many abuses and injustices.

Again I think I intruded upon this thread and it would rightly have been better posted elsewhere.

Someone direct me to the social and community services forum.

Sorry, but it stunned me to know the extent and it put other matters in a whole different perspective for me.

If there is any kind of commonality to the thread discussion and my post perhaps it is to be mindful of helping others and leaving no one behind.

Global indeed, you are so right Bjorn and Robert. We are in this all together and the globe is shrinking. To me buy American meant to help local industry and workers so that they can be productive and make a living but not to imply importing or exporting is a negative thing or a taboo. It all does get very complicated very fast and much of it unbeknownst to the individua, at least to me.

mi silver · 11-26-2008, 07:42 AM

I always try to buy American. Yes I know it's tricky to.But when we stop trying is when all the foriegn multinationals win. IT's all about jobs. You buy foreign and sooner later it hurts American workers and companies.PLUS I believe Amereican products generally are of better quality.Look at shoes Dexter use to make good shoes, Now they are of really poor quality made in China.And the cost is not really different .
ITs simple american jobs = american products.
Keeping buying foriegn goods and your job may be gone for good.
Always look for the Made in USA label , GOD Bless our country and god bless our unions!!

ROBERT CROSS · 11-26-2008, 07:51 AM

Just got the annual L.L. Bean Christmas catalog.

Try and find any American made products. It ain't easy.

ROBERT CROSS · 11-26-2008, 08:26 AM

I try not to think of it as buy American, more like support your "local" merchants.

When the Wallyworld sooper store opened in Herkimer Co. N.Y. A lot of the main-street stores in the area were closed with-in 2 years. They just could not compete with the "loss leaders." Even some of the roadside produce stands are closed. My Gram-in-Law is now 15 miles from the groceries she used to get three miles away.

mistermcfrug · 11-26-2008, 04:32 PM

I live in Santa Fe, NM, a place that has a government forced minimum wage soon to be over $10/hr this January, I think. I've been noticing comments in the local paper about buying local.

While I might be going against the grain here, I must say that I go out of my way to buy out of the area, my own area. I strongly object to forced minimum wage laws. If someone else wants to spend more than is necessary to acquire a product, then by all means, buy locally. Just don't expect anyone to feel that same obligation.

Larry in MO · 11-26-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermcfrug

While I might be going against the grain here, I must say that I go out of my way to buy out of the area, my own area. If someone else wants to spend more than is necessary to acquire a product, then by all means, buy locally. Just don't expect anyone to feel that same obligation.

Well, sir, you have hit on the current problem with "buy American". Usually,
it is going to cost you more money to do it. I can see both sides but I think it boils down to money w/ a lot of people.

ROBERT CROSS · 11-26-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermcfrug

I live in Santa Fe, NM, a place that has a government forced minimum wage soon to be over $10/hr this January, I think. I've been noticing comments in the local paper about buying local.

While I might be going against the grain here, I must say that I go out of my way to buy out of the area, my own area. I strongly object to forced minimum wage laws. If someone else wants to spend more than is necessary to acquire a product, then by all means, buy locally. Just don't expect anyone to feel that same obligation.

wholey c8@p, is that a State/local mandate or what?

RBolton · 11-26-2008, 05:42 PM

Every couple decades the American (USA) people have been called on to make a huge sacrifice to make and keep this country great. Who would have ever thought that supporting your local merchants would turn out to be a sacrifice. But it is, and it's one we should all be willing to make. We're all very patirotic until it hits us in our pocket books. If we had all been taking care of our local economies then we would not be faced with government mandated minimum wages and tax supported bailouts. If we won't make the sacrifice on our own then we'll be forced to on somebody else's terms.

Roger

purman · 11-26-2008, 07:28 PM

Well no wonder the American companies are in trouble...

And this may sway some people to buy an American car or truck, but I'm not swayed so easily.

I support my local shops if the product is good, Don't if it crap. I will pay more for the same type of item if it is made better and will last longer.

I don't buy to many plastic toy's for my kids any more, even if they are made in the USA.. They just don't hold up.

Quality is what I'm looking for..