Just what CAN America compete in?

[telewinz]

I'm running out of ideas.  Even domestic construction is relying more and more on foreign "imports". Just what manufacturing field can America stil compete with the workers whinning?

[K Frame]

You know, we may be relying on more and more imports, but our GDP is still nearly 3 times that of Japan, the No. 2 world economic power, and is larger than the GDPs of nos 2 through 5 -- combined.

That means that our economy is still doing something right despite all of the outside pressure that some seem to think means imminent, catastrophic collapse.

[El Tejon]

Couch sitting and whining about the size of our welfare checks!

We're #1, we're #1, we're #1!

*&^^%%$## emmygrants, they took our jobs!

[The Rabbi]

I remember when I got to college and had to read an article for econ called "Does America Make Anything Anymore?"  That was 1980 and the Japanese were kicking our butts.  And where is Japan today?
I'm not worried.

[Werewolf]

In a globalized economy supply and demand will dictate that nations pretty much focus on what they do best.

What the US does best is agriculture and basic research.

I read once that without all the government subsidies and rules restricting what can be grown and how much that US farmers could feed the world without much trouble.

Regarding research - we do it - others capitalize on it and pay us for the right - well - at least the honest countries do.

As far as heavy industry goes - we're still right up there. Think about our auto industry or steel industry (though non-US competitors are making a dent).

The only downside to a globalized economy that I can see is that nations become more and more dependent on each other to survive and self sufficiency goes by the way. OTOH that makes knock down drag out wars a whole lot less likely too - maybe...

[Guest]

Just what CAN America compete in?

Who cares? Everybody please quit talking about "we", america, nation, country, etc. It's sickening. What's important is how individuals and companies compete, not nations. Governments get  in the way of trade and production; they never help.

The people of north america can compete against anyone in the world, in almost anything, if the US government would get out of the darn way.

[thumbody]

American workers are some of the most productive workers you will find, but when companies can cross borders and hire 10-15 workers for the same amount they pay 1 US worker and not have environmental laws to abide with we have no chance!
 I see too many people complaining about the overpaid US factory worker and all their excessive benifits.But then theydon't give a second look at the CEO's and their huge salaries a second thought.
It used to be the ceo was paid 10-20 times the hourly rate, now it is 200-500 the hourly rate plus golden parachutes and all the perks.
 I have nothing against capitalism but when owners and management get away with selling the American worker out so they can pay slave wages things are getting out of hand.

[telewinz]

So far all I've heard is we are good at farming.  Is that ALL!  If so we better get use to a lot more unemployment in the future because even farming is becoming more and more automated.  This is sad.

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

What the US does best is agriculture and basic research.

Sorry to burst that bubble, but the research machine of the USA is pretty well shot, too. Industry percieves research as a waste of money; much cheaper to let someone else spend the money for the research and then acquire the results. Bell Labs and AT&T Labs are just shells of their former self, and have largely been hammered into consulting organizations. Grad university programs in the hard sciences are full of foreign students because of a wide perception that tech careers are a dead end. Microsoft Labs basically exists to prevent innovation that would disrupt Microsoft's monopoly. India and China are lusting after the R&D jobs, and there's no real reason why they couldn't be done cheaper (and therefore, in the eyes of our hero entrepreneurs, better ) there than here.

- NF

[Justin]

There's only four things we do better than anyone else

    music
    movies
    microcode (software)
    high-speed pizza delivery

[brimic]

music
    movies
    microcode (software)
    high-speed pizza delivery

and pushing the frontiers of technology through the porn industry. lol

[telewinz]

alas, I suspect porn imports will soon put our domestic "artists" in the unemployment line also.  But cheer-up, another pizza store opened-up last week!  That's a form of manufacturing isn't it?  I wonder if they have free delivery outside the continental US?

[Chris]

You forgot one...lawyers!

[Gun Runner]

Timber

[stevelyn]

mercedesrules;

I have to agree with everything you said except you left out .gov's most useful idiot...............Labor Unions.

Labor unions strangle economies.

[RevDisk]

There's only four things we do better than anyone else

    music
    movies
    microcode (software)
    high-speed pizza delivery

Ah, the 3M's.   It happens to be true, also.   Hiro was good at all of 'em too, in addition to being the best sword fighter online!


America still produces a fair amoung of machinery, optics, cars, etc.  No one has replaced music and movies, tho.  Both industries make billions in profit, even with crappy products and piracy.   Something folks don't consider as often is that a lot of foreign corporations are American owned.  Another source of business is buying components from abroad and assembling in America.

Still, we are losing a big chunk of our manufacturing capability, and even profitable businesses want to move for various reasons.  Off-shoring programmers has bitten many folks on the rear end.  Off-shoring has proven less of a magic way of making more profits than folks thought.

[Guest]

mercedesrules;

I have to agree with everything you said except you left out .gov's most useful idiot...............Labor Unions.

Labor unions strangle economies.

Yep.

[Waitone]

We still rule a lot of roosts but only in those area where technology, capability or market savey supports a price which allows us pay the federales, states, counties, and local government along with all the health, enviro, safety and assault lawyers.  Pull the blood sucking leviathian off our backs and the US worker will be what they are. . .the most productive on the planet.  

I am an independent sales rep selling to industrial production facilities.  About two years ago the exodus to China was well underway.  At the time it appeared to be ill-advised simply because it was not being done on the basis of rational business factors (whole 'nother story).  Anyhow I'm seeing a trend of those company coming back to the USoA because the grass really wasn't that green in China or whatever.

The real capper discussion occured about a month ago.  A communist Chinese company manufactures a product in the US for distribution to the US market.  At this point in time they buy everything from Communist Chinese companies in China and import into the us where final product is manufactured, assembled and shipped.  I was told that in short order this communist chinese company will cease getting its parts from China and source everything from US companies.  WHY you may ask:  Because chinese companies are unreliable, quality sucks, and the hassle factor of dealing with the other side of planet wasn't worth the hassle.

[telewinz]

"Because chinese companies are unreliable, quality sucks, and the hassle factor of dealing with the other side of planet wasn't worth the hassle."

Somebody better tell Walmarts, Kmart's, J.C. Penney's...you know the BIG stores that are too dumb to see the writing on the wall.  Whats the difference from a suede leather jean belt made in China ($10) and an American made suede jean belt ($30)?  I've been wearing both for three years and thus far $20 is the only difference.  I guess to prove your point (maybe) I need to wear them another 10 years.  Get a life, retrain if the competition is too tough.

[Matthew Carberry]

music
 movies
 microcode (software)
 high-speed pizza delivery

I found this thread too late, good to see there are others who read a little.

[RevDisk]

Another interesting point.  Books.   Much like movies and music, American literature is rather popular worldwide.

[atek3]

High speed lefthanded ultra-widgets... get yours now before they go up in price.

atek3

[Guest]

Arrogance is no subsitute  for intelligence. Not long ago I was complaining about a price hike to a european supplier-(they were furnishing a part for $75 that an American company charged $8.) Now the european part was perhaps 20% better., but when I told the supplier that the Chinese were going to eventually kick his butt, the reply was,"oh, they can't make this sort of quality". Now. we are talking here about some basic aluminum extrusions and zinc die casting work- I was utterly baffled by his ignorance.