- I had initially thought that the dealings with foreign countries regarded the acquisition of resources currently not available (or in short supply - see Logging Industry for more details regarding that). I, personally, thought it was moronic when I discovered that some corporations outsourced production and manufacturing (and in some cases, services) to foreign countries. Look, outsourcing jobs to a foreign country is nothing but a "lose-lose" scenario as it not only deprives an American thier job, it also prevents the finished product from being puchased (because that same American you laid off, in order to acquire cheap labor abroad, doesn't have any money to buy YOUR finished product). How corporations managed to ignore this glaringly obvious fallacy in reasoning...I do not know. I would have thought that when they had to literally pay out twice for the same thing (the production in a foriegn country and shipping to America) would've caused some neuron firing, but I digress. Of course, no Chinese are going to buy the products they make...they're well aware of how they make them and it's not something I'd regard as 'high quality' (lead painted toys, anyone?).
- This is ultimately, once again, the fault of the American consumer who chooses to be blissfully unaware of the items they buy because they're too concerned about themselves...I, too, share that blame because I naively trusted the corporations to have America's best interests at heart: I...like so many others, were wrong. Now we have what I call affectionately 'the hemmoraging of the American Dream' as corporations (actually, it's really just the President and/or Head of the Board of Trustees) seek to increase thier own profit margin, stocks and IRA's so they can kick it in the Bahamas until thier final days. What's been the resounding message most corporations have stated...
- "Eff America"
- What's the solution?...try your best to ONLY buy that which is made in America (...and I don't mean just because it's got a 'Made in America' sticker on it - peel back that sticker and see if it's actually made in America...instead of Taiwan, China, etc...). Insist that your retailers provide American goods and services...boycott products (...even retailers if you must) and send a clear message to these corporations that you're simply not going to support selling America off to the highest bidder. Take any/all money out off the stock market from companies outsourcing, it is no longer representing and adequate model pertaining to the actual economy and they're certainly not supporting American interests. Start establishing working business models regarding business that's not sponsored by banks, get back to grass roots production...this won't be an easy task - but Thomas Edison didn't make the light-bulb on the first try either (...it's was closer to about the 1,000th time).
- If we start working together, for America, by America and learn from these mistakes we've made...I think we got a decent shot at pulling out of this corporate sponsored mess. I like those odds a lot better then clinging onto the already proven outdated and defficient business models currently existing. Here's where it pays off to be an American - this is Free Market where unto the victor goes the spoils: this is how the younger generation, with younger minds and new ideals and dreams...save the old senile grandparent from crossing the road during oncoming traffic...at least, I hope they do. To the new millenium, I rest my hopes.
- Why pull out stocks from companies that are doing so well if thier stocks are rising even though they're employing a workforce abroad? Real simple...if you have stocks in a corporation that utilizies foreign manufacturing is simply sponsoring those corporaitions in continuing thier production (...meaning, those jobs are going to STAY over there). Even if you don't buy thier products, investing in thier corporation SPONSORS this manner of production/services - why do that when doing so keeps Americans unemployed, new American businesses inhibited and our economy weakened? For a share in a corporation whose products cannot even be afforded by the American citizen?...seriously?...yo
- Regarding Government intervention in business?...onto that regard, I will have to admit, was a success regarding GM (so far). GM's business model was able to be downsized and restructured turning it from a certain-to-fail corporation to one that has a fighting chance at survival. It was a costly venture to engage in, but it kept an American Car Company in America (...an effort I do not expect to see the Government repeat - honestly, I find it a sad day when Americans have to be shown how to run a business by our own government...that's a darn pity). So what was GM's problem?
- The problems with GM was the entire business model - it was virtually non-existant derived from outmoded agendas that were causing more cost/unit disparity then the company could afford (...foreign competition was not even addressed...O.o ). Reducing the hourly worker salary from $23 to $17/hr was a good start (no offense, folks...but making over 30k gross/year is NOT something to complain about - period). Next was the termination of the origonal retirement package that was the main cause of a majority of the corporation's woes. There still is retirement benifits with GM, but not the sheer extravegance that the corporation simply could not sustain.
- The CEO, of course, was replace...which was an obvious neccessity because if a CEO cannot direct thier corporation to an ever changing and fluctuating economy - what good are they? Finally, sponsoring motivation and innovation in grass roots meetings which spawned the designs of hybrids and fuel efficient model vehicles that can NOW give foreign competition a run for thier money.
- Once GM is clear of bankruptcy protection...I think we'll have an American company that has been proven to show that even something as unwieldy as a corporation can adapt to the fluctuating market...there should be no reason FOR a corporation to fail. My only regret is that it took Our Government, instead of the ingenuity and drive of the People, to make this happen...in America, it takes guts, bold moves and even the ability to take a loss to make it happen - welcome to the free market. The Government should not EVER have to show a corporation how to work...again...ever (...at least it better not in my lifetime).
- The only thing I'm dissappointed regarding this is that some of the manufacturing is done in Canada. It would be nice to see an enterprising American to create a sustainable, flexible business model regarding manufacturing to give our foreign competitors (and neighbors) a run for THIER money and provide an equal, if not superior, manufacturing provision. THAT is what America's about, ladies and gentlemen - ingenuity, conviction, drive, the will to and ability to change, adaptation...even settling for less then previous to get (and keep) QUALITY workmanship...in America. CEO's from corporations who have outsourced - you need to learn this. It is why I will not be supporting your companies...because your idea of adaption, is to make Americans unemployed - good luck to you.
- Banks on the other hand?...pffft, they can tank - entirely. If banking corporations are in the red then it's clear that they have absolutely no idea what they are doing and DESERVE to fail. How can you mess up addition and subtraction? No..., there's restructuring a manufacturing corporation and then there's having to send people back to elementary school...I draw the line with basic education. Seriously, Goldman-Sachs...you should've never been bailed-out in the first place. Hope the Bahamas were nice this year...it's a pity you got away with it and don't share a room with Bernie Madoff, cretins.
The American Deist,
M.D. Little.
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