where and who do you work for

Self employed for the past 11yrs, Partner of an Architectural/Engineering firm in Chicago.

I would like to think of myself as a very loyal individual to my family, friends and country. My kids are all happy and healthy, my buddies are all launched and having fun is a huge priority for me. I will always own a boat, specifically a Correct Craft unless it becomes "Collect Claft". My new car dollar will always be spent on domestics and the comment about Capri pants was outstanding as was Alan's poke above! Yew Funny Guys!

Sayonara

Finally some americans... PLBC, new truck???!?!? where the pics? I buy american because I like cold beer, rare steaks, and big hooters. If you don't buy American, you might as well be a communist.

Work? It's way over rated. I used to work. Now I get paid to talk. (It's like living in a dream and it's a whole lot more fun than work).

I represented and sold a Jap industrial product in my early years (after selling for Armco Steel) and I could not identify with the "buy American" rhetoric. Then I did a flip-flop and became a strong "buy American" advocate and a fan of Pat Bucannan. However, I am now reading "The World is Flat" by Tom Friedman and I am questioning my beliefs. I may even become a Democrat, maybe. (I have an appointment with my shrink to discuss it.) I recommend the book if you need to add something to your water closet / library shelf. It'll make you think about the whole "buy American" attitude.

Just in case you get angry about my political view, everything I said above is a lie. So you can't call me a Republican and you can't call me a Democrat but you can call me a liar.

Oh yeh, this is a CC site so I better say something about CC's to make this post relevent.

CCs are cool aren't they? (The old ones just don't have a suitable spot to mount a speedometer.)

JIH, good book mentioned there. Huge in the business college programs, I'll start reading it soon.

The world is changing and many values are melting into the air. Governments all over the world, are struggling with trying to make their values solid.

If we teach our children to live well in the world our fathers built, they will live under the bridges our fathers built.

Our biggest challenge is to teach our children to live well in the new world. The reason this is difficult is because we, ourselves, do not know.

Sorry guys, I just couldn't help myself. (But, you can quote me on all of the above.)

My big worry: will the gasoline supply for my '68 ever run out? How long do we have? What will become of this forum?

Let's just hope richard from PN doesn't browse over this post- he might be offended.

Then why are they still coming to American for schooling?

Anyone can churn out crappy engineers. (This mostly applies to India)

M3Fan wrote: Let's just hope richard from PN doesn't browse over this post- he might be offended.

Joel, I should have thought twice before I posted that. I still see a little light handed humor in it though. If anythings going to start a war it will probably be the redneck thread that I am staying miles away from.

If I offended anyone sorry. I'm Italian straight from The Hill in Providence so knock yourself out and let me have it if anyone feels the need. I grew thick skin a long time ago and I'll laugh right along with you.

Greetings from China, or close enough Taiwan... I've refrained from the posting because of the crap I would get, but hell I didn't start the whole debate 30 years ago, so screw it.... I run a small sourcing company that has been in business that (Hollywood, you're going to love this) provides offshore parts to the American a$$emblers of major cooking appliances. Castings, forgings, stampings and the like.

Hell I think the country has gone hell in a handbasket, but unfortunately this has gone on way before people realize. The problem really stems from our own greed. Not only does (from high end to low end) our general costs of manufacturing has gone so way out of control, that if we as a nation didn't start with importing decades ago, your F-150 pick up truck would cost $50 grand by now, and a Harley would be 40 G's.

When the US, no sorry, the worlds economic bases of manufacturing, logistics and retail sales is based on the world negotiations of said Walmart Corp, it's time to take notice.

We can't blame other countries for the goods we buy or the jobs we loose. Who do you think funds these efforts??? The very companies that you buy the so called US made product. That's who. It doesn't matter whom who patronize as consumers, the fact is the country as a whole has sold out.Imports are ramped, yet exports are nill.. Blame our own economic greed for profit, quartery reports, and the need to hold retail prices to make the consumer happy.. I'm over here right now dealing with these phuck'n yahoos, so you can buy a BBQ under $1000 bucks...

There's no stopping it people.... OK, I'm done, it's late and karyokee(sp)has ended.. Kerist, just get me home already.... Sorry to offend... I just make a living so I can buy old boats, pull my kids around a lake, drink beer with my friends and sooner or later die hopefully with a nickle in my hand..
Moj'

I'm an engineer for John Deere and I design/develop diesel engine components.

My wife and I drive GM vehicles and I own two Correct Crafts. I drive GM because I like their engines, the rest of the vehicle(s) are ok, not bad, not great, just ok.

I now look where just about everything is made before I buy it. I try to buy American when I can provide the American product is made well and not outrageously priced. I try not to buy Chinese (or any other communist nations) products but sometime it's the only choice. I am a long time wearer of Doc Marten's shoes but since they've moved production from England to China and haven't dropped the price I will never buy another pair.

It's definitely a complicated problem, a lot of it boils down to the greed and laziness of the American population. We want it and we want it now, and cheap, and we don't want to work for it. If you don't like foreign products don't buy them, if enough people think like you eventually it will hit the companies in the pocket book and they'll have to make a change.

On the other hand Americans can do their part to help keep jobs in this country too. We have to change with the times but we also have to look back to the work ethic we had 100 years ago. These days the general attitude is one of entitlement, we feel we deserve things just because we do. If instead we all worked diligently at our jobs all day long, production would go up and costs/unit would go down making it easier to keep jobs in the US. There was a news show a couple weeks ago on the hundreds of billions of lost revenue companies in the US lose because of slacking off in the work place.

Moving manufacturing capacity overseas scares me to death. What happens when we no longer have the manufacturing expertise and capability in this country and someone wants to attack us. We won't have the ability to build the weapons to defend ourselves.

It's a long rant and probably somewhat scattered. Despite our problems the US is still the greatest country in the world!

Where am I going and why am I in this handbasket?

Nautique2001 wrote: 81nautique wrote: Ken, I was born and Braised on the east coast and now live in the Midwest. Talk about sounding a little out of place, everyone talks funny out here. Ah, yes, good ole Providence, RI. I live about 45 minutes NW of Providence. Did you hang out in Central Falls? Ken

You got it, Pawtucket, Lincoln,Woonsocket(where they say things like "throw me down the stairs my shoes" or" OK on three everybody push on the rope").

We used to ski on a little tiny place outside of Central Falls called Barney's pond and then later on Falls Pond in Attleboro , Ma.

In January of this year quotas on the amount of textiles that could be imported from CHina expired. Our government did nothing to implement new quotas or impose tarriffs to keep their imports competitive with the rest of the world.

There has been a hugh outcry from the textile world and much lobbying with the only effect being that jobs that weren't lost south of the border have now been lost to China.

Reason being, we need China to intervene with the madman in North Korea and we can't put our foot down in regards to trade and still expect China to help with Kim Jong Il. Our leaders are afraid to "upset" our trade "parnters" and continue to pay the price. Meanwhile China who could snuff out N Korea in one day continues to play the "Mediator" to peacefully resolve the problem when they're good and ready to. In the meantime our leaders don't have the balls to stand up to the Chinese and level the playing field.

Not a lot of fact in there to substantiate my view but that's what I believe.

MY70/81 wrote: Hey Ken, do you have those Carb Numbers for me? It looks like you are back in town.

Yes, I do. Sorry for the delay:

EOJL-9510-CA
List - 9392
2805
also: 9864D stamped on float cover

Let me know if this makes any sense.

PLBC wrote: Think of your country before your personal wealth

Is it me or does this sound slightly communist?