Do we really need help?

FirstBow · 07-05-2004, 09:52 AM

Do "we" have the resources available to self maintain comfortably?

Do you think that the U.S. could close all exports and imports of all goods
and be self supporting for the next ten years?

deadshot · 07-05-2004, 11:54 AM

first i think we could especially after we stopped the waste of spending billions helping foreign countries every time they put there hand out, as far as export import we send out more than we recieve, as far as i'm concerned all the big american companies that have gone overseas should be given a 60 day deadline to move back here, if they dont then there product stays where they are if our govt spent more money helping americans we would be better off,, just think of how many new jobs could be created here in america,,

we as americans have been forced for to long to support other nations especially the ones who hate us but love our money

Vesi · 07-05-2004, 04:58 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: FirstBow

Do "we" have the resources available to self maintain comfortably?

Do you think that the U.S. could close all exports and imports of all goods
and be self supporting for the next ten years?

No.

Economies are a global affair and thats been that way for like forever. The US isn't self supporting in many fields. Actually, no nation is.

Such a move would cause massive loss of jobs and initiate a worldwide ecomonic crisis like never seen before.

You don't need "help" but we, the worlds peoples, need each other.

Why would you want to anyway? Just check the origins of your possesions, your consumer goods and the raw materials from which these are made.

Do you drink coffee? well, not if you are going to do as you suggest. Just one example, there are countless others.

Sure, if you would be forced to, the US would stand a good chance of being self-supporting in a way, but I doubt it would be comfortable...for anyone.

A question, why would you possibly want such a thing to happen? just wondering..

BenGarrett · 07-05-2004, 07:12 PM

I agree with Vesi. Definitely not a good idea. Of course, you could potentially make it work but our comfortable way of life would certainly have to change. We wouldn't be able to drive around them Toyotas and Nissans that we like so well, drink coffee, pick up cheap gag gifts for parties that say "made in Taiwan"

and that's just the start of the list. . .

Now when we get to talking about companies that move their production overseas for the cheap labor, costing Americans jobs, and then promote their products here on the homeland, I'm right there beside ya.

FirstBow · 07-06-2004, 10:52 AM

Some things I just don't get.
We are going down hill as a country because of the "cheap" things we buy.
Thats my point. We are allowing it to happen. Its not going to be long and nothing but babies will be American made.
As far as cars, I don't and won't but anything but American.
GM, Ford, Dodge.
My import stop list is like this:
1- clothing and clothing materials
2- Vehicles and parts
3- Food products ie; corn, cattle, poultry, wheat, beans, fruits and vegetables.
4- All electronics
5- Furniture and household goods ie; washers, dryers, appliances, carpets.

If anything is imported the company/country should be charged an import tax high enough that when their product hits the streets it would cost as much as it would to buy the same product made in America.
If you bring a t-shirt in this country that cost 50 cent to make else where
and 2 dollars make here, they should pay the balance of $1.50 to have the pleasure of bringing it to America.
I see it as a way to bring jobs back home.
Farmers keep their farms and grow.
Manufacturing jobs start back up to provide for "YOUR OWN".

oldelkhunter · 07-06-2004, 11:19 AM

Quote:

As far as cars, I don't and won't but anything but American.
GM, Ford, Dodge.

Hmm lets examine this statement.. It is alright I guess for GM to buy up foreign car companies and build Cars and Trucks as well as parts in Mexico and other parts of South America. Ford also owns foreign car companies such as Volvo and Jaguar among others. Chryslers mother company is M-B who duped the state of Alabama into giving them a 250 million dollar incentive plan to build their SUVS there. Their trucks and cars are built in Mexico. Honda , Toyota and Nissan pretty much produce in US with exception of Infiniti and Lexus all the cars they sell here. That said try again to identify an "AMERICAN CAR" or you could be a Saturn Driver who knows.

[quote4- All electronics ][/quote]

Listened to some good music on a CD or DVD lately and where were they made?

[quote][5- Furniture and household goods ie; washers, dryers, appliances, carpets.
/quote]

Bought a good US made appliance lately have you. I bought a new home 3 years ago stocked with GE appliances. Will be the last time, when I spend top dollar I want something that works not some manufacturers planned obsolescence. Try to find a furniture manufacturer in the US I live in the middle of that lost industry and there are very few if any .

DaveH · 07-06-2004, 12:11 PM

It would require some getting used to and would be difficult--at first. But we surely could support ourselves without needing ANY other countrie's goods or services. It helps to encourage competitive pricing and we can get some goods easier with free trade, but it's not necessary to our survival.

BTW--my coffee comes from Puerto Rico-and that's an American territory!

oldelkhunter · 07-06-2004, 01:03 PM

Quote:

It would require some getting used to and would be difficult--at first

Slight understatement

FirstBow · 07-06-2004, 08:22 PM

It use to be everybody was trying to build as good as the American's.
Then the gates of hell opened up and the "fair trade" run quality out of the U.S. for cheaper products. In turn we had to try to cut corners just to keep afloat.
As before, we need to look out for US.
Somebody has to put the brakes on sometime.
As far as car parts and music and what ever you think of I try to first "BUY AMERICAN".
You say alot of things we use are imports? DUH?
Thats what I'm saying, to much is imported and forcing the American Products to go cheap to survive.
So oldelkhunter, you say we just keep on letting it go on and drive the "Local Business" out?
Sure then lets just go ahead and let the ever body else in and do what they want also, How cheap can you go? How many more hotels/motels Quick Stop/Pantry, Gas stations and farm's you want to sell next week?
Who you gonna sell them too? Oh yea I know, who ever is making the money somewhere else but here.
I'm tired of seeing imports of cheaper goods and driving us out.
Cheap labor running amuck.
Dang more people owning company's that don't even live here much less an "American by Birth"!

eldeguello · 07-07-2004, 09:30 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: FirstBow Do "we" have the resources available to self maintain comfortably?

Do you think that the U.S. could close all exports and imports of all goods
and be self supporting for the next ten years?

NO WAY! The world is economically interdependent today, and there is no way out of it. The U.S. today consumes OVER 1/7th of the total world output of goods and services, yet we have less than 1/20th of the world's population. You figure it out! We no longer have the manufacturing capacity to meet our internal demands, even if we had the raw materials to do so, which we haven't, by the way!! A lot of Americans would starve to death before we could reconstiutute our industrial base to the extent needed to become self-sufficient once again. And the standard of living to which we would be reduced would be totally unacceptable to most Americans!

ANYONE WHO THINKS THE U.S., OR ANY OTHER 1st-WORLD NATION, COULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN TODAY'S WORLD IS COMPLETELY LOCO!!