Re: Another reason not to buy chinese stuff
I thought a lot of Fastenal's stuff was American made....?
I thought a lot of Fastenal's stuff was American made....?
Another reason not to buy chineese stuff
- Thread starter mrpowderkeg
- Start date
bgott
Well-known member
The Chinese government probably won't let any English speakers work in the plant that prints those bibles. The last I heard the Chinese government wasn't into the "God" thing.
rustbucket49
Well-known member
Completely correct. I read a really good book named The Heavenly Man - interesting about the House Churches in China and the oppression over there....
rustbucket49
Well-known member
Re: Another reason not to buy chinese stuff
I didn't think of Fastenal - they have a store pretty close by. I will start frequenting that more . Thanks for the heads up
I didn't think of Fastenal - they have a store pretty close by. I will start frequenting that more . Thanks for the heads up
Try ebay. Most of my recent tool purchases have been used "Made in the USA" tools from ebay.
Don't know if I would purchase a used power tool, but if the price is right, I might could be convinced.
Kjbakke2
ALLIANCE MEMBER
this is absolutely terrifying
i think this is one of the most tragic things knowing that because we value a dollar more than anything we will allow our planet to be raped like this.....
this has to stop
i think this is one of the most tragic things knowing that because we value a dollar more than anything we will allow our planet to be raped like this.....
this has to stop
benjamming
Well-known member
Re: Another reason not to buy chinese stuff
Try Copper State Bolt & Nut - Mfg Division in Arizona, Portland Bolt, & Pacific Coast Bolt in CA. Most fasteners at Fastenal are imported.
Try Copper State Bolt & Nut - Mfg Division in Arizona, Portland Bolt, & Pacific Coast Bolt in CA. Most fasteners at Fastenal are imported.
djd99
Well-known member
This was so disturbing to view those pictures it made me sick, It's china's fault 100 percent to not have those plants regulated to the hilt. ENOUGH SAID
fordcragar
Well-known member
In a few years, China is going to be selling airplanes in the global market. How would you like to fly across the country in one of their airplanes. Personally, I would have a real difficult time thinking about the quality of one of their planes being a place that I would trust either my families life or mine on.
Bolster
Well-known member
All Hail Our New Masters!
"China sold a record amount of its US Treasury holdings in December, ceding its place as the world's biggest foreign holder of U.S. debt to Japan." --WSJ Feb 17 2010.
I don't know how to say "All Hail Our New Masters!" in Japanese, but at least they make better tools.
How about WE stop spending ourselves into unrecoverable debt, and make our own damned tools???
"China sold a record amount of its US Treasury holdings in December, ceding its place as the world's biggest foreign holder of U.S. debt to Japan." --WSJ Feb 17 2010.
I don't know how to say "All Hail Our New Masters!" in Japanese, but at least they make better tools.
How about WE stop spending ourselves into unrecoverable debt, and make our own damned tools???
Art From De Leon
Well-known member
Re: All Hail Our New Masters!
Something like this:
http://www.videosift.com/video/I-for-one-welcome-our-new-insect-overlords
Something like this:
http://www.videosift.com/video/I-for-one-welcome-our-new-insect-overlords
the forgotten man
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2010
- Messages
- 76
this is such a complex problem, I know i dont have any definative answers, but i try my best to buy American, and that really doesnt do any thing to fix this problem, what would do the most good, is when we go to the voting polls, vote out the incumbants, make this an issue with your congressman and senators.... keep making it an issue until you get action, the kind of action that is good for America...
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american lockpicker
Banned
If you want some thing and can't find it made in the US look for a European made version. Also for electronics theres Japan, Phillipines, Indonesia, Malaysia. I've done my best to avoid Chinese(and Taiwan and Hong Kong)products and in the past 3 1/2 years I have only bought 10 things from those places.
cheap bastard
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2006
- Messages
- 614
Maybe we should start outsourcing our political and executive jobs.
surfthedrum13
Member
Here is a trailer to a movie called Manufactured Landscape. The movie is basically a video version of the pictures in the link posted earlier. The trailer is of a factory that seems to go on forever.
diogenes
Well-known member
I can't say that the pictures surprised me in the least. If you are aware of the history of manufacturing in communist (Yes, communist.) countries, you would know that one of the hallmarks is rampant environmental destruction. The Soviet Union made an awful mess of Russia and its slave states. China and the other command economies of Asia are no better and probably worse.
The difference between they and us (The US and Western Europe v. the communist states) is that we have democratic political systems which allow the people to force our governments to reform and regulate industry to keep it from killing and maiming the workers and populace. In the dictatorships, life is cheap and the only thing that matters is the wealth and power of the ruling class. The people of China don't have a say in who is in power or what their environmental policies are.
Every time I hear some Greenie rant about how America is destroying the planet and how capitalism is evil, I am reminded of the fish wife who is still carping about how hubby left his underwear on the floor twenty years ago and how it shows his utter disrespect for her.
Only in a Capitalist system can there be enough freedom for the people to have government restrict industry. Communism and Socialism require a government powerful enough to tell the people to ****** off and it has only one true purpose: Enriching the power and wealth of the rulers. People have to be bent to the will of the communist government, not vice versa. The communist rulers and their friends are the only ones who prosper. The "owners" of Chinese factories are the government and favored individuals.
If you want to argue the above, I direct you to the original post. The abuses of workers and the environment in the US and Europe during the industrial revolution were fixed by freedom. China's people don't have that freedom and nothing is going to change there until there is another Chinese revolution which brings in a representative style government. That is the difference. Worker's Paradise, my ***.
The difference between they and us (The US and Western Europe v. the communist states) is that we have democratic political systems which allow the people to force our governments to reform and regulate industry to keep it from killing and maiming the workers and populace. In the dictatorships, life is cheap and the only thing that matters is the wealth and power of the ruling class. The people of China don't have a say in who is in power or what their environmental policies are.
Every time I hear some Greenie rant about how America is destroying the planet and how capitalism is evil, I am reminded of the fish wife who is still carping about how hubby left his underwear on the floor twenty years ago and how it shows his utter disrespect for her.
Only in a Capitalist system can there be enough freedom for the people to have government restrict industry. Communism and Socialism require a government powerful enough to tell the people to ****** off and it has only one true purpose: Enriching the power and wealth of the rulers. People have to be bent to the will of the communist government, not vice versa. The communist rulers and their friends are the only ones who prosper. The "owners" of Chinese factories are the government and favored individuals.
If you want to argue the above, I direct you to the original post. The abuses of workers and the environment in the US and Europe during the industrial revolution were fixed by freedom. China's people don't have that freedom and nothing is going to change there until there is another Chinese revolution which brings in a representative style government. That is the difference. Worker's Paradise, my ***.
devilphrog
Well-known member
From the standpoint of quality and standards, would you purchase a Chinese product if it came from an ISO certified facility? I am pretty sure their quality standards are the same regardless of COO. If a certain tool came from an ISO 9000 and 14000 series facility, should it matter if it is made in China or USA. Like everybody else, I would rather buy American but my post is not referring to jobs, but quality.
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JOHNMAN
Well-known member
Here is my slanted view on the situation. Some agree. Most disagree for whatever reason.....
The solution is import taxes.
Heavily tax imports to the point where we can compete price-wise with the Made in China items.
Something HAS to level the playing field or we will all end up flipping burgers.
We also need to stop subsidizing private business that continues to move American jobs away from our country. Yank their subsidies and start taxing the imports and you will start to see a resurgence of American manufacturing.
If you want to show pictures of pollution, one needs not look any further than our own back yard.
We have enough problems of our own that we need to clean up instead of bashing China for their horrible problems.
If our government was really on our side they could increase the import taxes (which could reduce taxes that corporate America would end up paying).
Yes, this would mean that consumers would end up paying more taxes, but it would open their eyes and could potentially force them to look for domestic alternatives.
The masses will never go for such a plan as it would cost them more money (but they would be able to get a job).
I really don't blame China. I blame our lawmakers that allow the horrible imbalance of trade.
Have you ever considered the taxes or import duties required to bring foreign equipment into many foreign countries? Some places it's over 50%. Other places its closer to 100%. I think we as a country need to look at that pretty closely.
Off my soapbox.
The solution is import taxes.
Heavily tax imports to the point where we can compete price-wise with the Made in China items.
Something HAS to level the playing field or we will all end up flipping burgers.
We also need to stop subsidizing private business that continues to move American jobs away from our country. Yank their subsidies and start taxing the imports and you will start to see a resurgence of American manufacturing.
If you want to show pictures of pollution, one needs not look any further than our own back yard.
We have enough problems of our own that we need to clean up instead of bashing China for their horrible problems.
If our government was really on our side they could increase the import taxes (which could reduce taxes that corporate America would end up paying).
Yes, this would mean that consumers would end up paying more taxes, but it would open their eyes and could potentially force them to look for domestic alternatives.
The masses will never go for such a plan as it would cost them more money (but they would be able to get a job).
I really don't blame China. I blame our lawmakers that allow the horrible imbalance of trade.
Have you ever considered the taxes or import duties required to bring foreign equipment into many foreign countries? Some places it's over 50%. Other places its closer to 100%. I think we as a country need to look at that pretty closely.
Off my soapbox.
gtiboy66
Well-known member
I agree 100%
Eric Nordstrom
Well-known member
That's in my top Ten sadist things I've ever seen.
TireTracks
Well-known member
I dont even want to know what is in that yellow smoke. 
Do yourself, and your family a favor, if you buy frozen Birds Eye veggies look by the code bar to see which country they came from. Chinese veggies are already in our supermarkets. Mexico is all over Birds Eye brand also. I will only buy Birds Eye if it says USA. Tell your wife she may not be aware of this info.
logical
Well-known member
Those are standards that require you to operate the business in a certain way. It certifies your "quality operating system", not the quality of your product's design. You can make Rolex watches in a factory that is not ISO registered and you can make pot metal adjustable wrenches in one that is legitimately ISO registered.
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the forgotten man
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2010
- Messages
- 76
to an extent i agree with the tax on imports, however as always there is more to the story, we all try to buy American and i think thats a good thing, but because of the intitial price of things we buy the cheaper chinese things from walmart or where ever, its no different than taking the low ball bid on that "concrete work" or "ditch digging" from who could be using illegal immigrants.... (this isnt about illegals) its about what we do as a society, we force our selves to buy that cheaper chinese item and take that low bid on the work we want done. We have to take that painfull comittment of saying no to these products and employers who use illegals. We have to change our ways in not only how we buy products and services we must also equally change our ways in how we charge for these items....
part of that problem is that our govt (epa) has made it more than challenging for small businesses to compete, we need to vote for people who understand this and act accordingly... i believe we have a better chance now than ever before to make real changes in our govt.... let them know it doesnt matter if they have a D or a R behind their name we expect accountability.
part of that problem is that our govt (epa) has made it more than challenging for small businesses to compete, we need to vote for people who understand this and act accordingly... i believe we have a better chance now than ever before to make real changes in our govt.... let them know it doesnt matter if they have a D or a R behind their name we expect accountability.
jeffharbert
Well-known member
Over half of the food we eat is raised or grown locally, most of it organically. We're on a first name basis with some of the local farmers in our area and shop extensively at our local farmer's market. Farmer's markets aren't available everywhere in the US, but aside from that there's isn't much reason to buy imported foods. Doing real cooking is nearly always less expensive and much healthier for you than any brand of frozen food you'd care to name. We don't have to worry about which country our food comes from since much of it comes from our very own state. We do indulge in the occasional frozen pizza or bag of pizza rolls, though.
The problem isn't so much China as us Americans buying vast amounts of unnecessary cheap **** in the first place - things like the inflatable frisbees mentioned earlier. We love to overconsume, whether it's prepared foods to cheap socket sets to toys. Frankly, Wal-Mart is a huge part of the problem. When they were a young company they put a strong emphasis on selling American-made goods, but not anymore. They've totally sold out. Wal-Mart forced Huffy Bicycles to relocate their manufacturing plant from the US to China so they could give Wal-Mart a better wholesale price. Evil, if you ask me.
It was about four years ago our household started focusing on reducing consumption, cooking at home, and eliminating unnecessary ****. It's totally second nature now. While the price of something is also obviously a factor, we always consider the durability of an item first. This often means we end up not buying an item at all.
I recently bought some in-ear headphones from Amazon. They're made in China. I'm also likely going to have them for at least five years. The last several pairs of jeans I've bought are made in America. Had to order them online since they're impossible to find in stores. They're also very, very well made. Diamond Gusset and Union Line, if anyone's interested.
Cook at home, stop buying inflatable frisbees, and consider durability first before you buy anything.
The problem isn't so much China as us Americans buying vast amounts of unnecessary cheap **** in the first place - things like the inflatable frisbees mentioned earlier. We love to overconsume, whether it's prepared foods to cheap socket sets to toys. Frankly, Wal-Mart is a huge part of the problem. When they were a young company they put a strong emphasis on selling American-made goods, but not anymore. They've totally sold out. Wal-Mart forced Huffy Bicycles to relocate their manufacturing plant from the US to China so they could give Wal-Mart a better wholesale price. Evil, if you ask me.
It was about four years ago our household started focusing on reducing consumption, cooking at home, and eliminating unnecessary ****. It's totally second nature now. While the price of something is also obviously a factor, we always consider the durability of an item first. This often means we end up not buying an item at all.
I recently bought some in-ear headphones from Amazon. They're made in China. I'm also likely going to have them for at least five years. The last several pairs of jeans I've bought are made in America. Had to order them online since they're impossible to find in stores. They're also very, very well made. Diamond Gusset and Union Line, if anyone's interested.
Cook at home, stop buying inflatable frisbees, and consider durability first before you buy anything.
foolishpride
Well-known member
Save your money until you absolutely need to purchase, then buy the American made item. I can't see anyone needing to purchase items from China Freight on a regular basis.
american lockpicker
Banned
Back when I first got into tools I couldn't afford new US or EU made ones so I bought used ones and then later when I had more money I was able to sell them and use the money towards the purchase of new ones.
Art From De Leon
Well-known member
It is sad to say, but with the economy as it is, and has been shown on here again, and again, but ebay, Craig's List, and to some extent pawn shops will allow you to get truck name tools at, or near HF prices.
Then you will have something that will last, and you can be proud of owning.
Just think, the next time you skin your knuckles, you can say that you did it with your Snap on wrench. And you will truely have shown that you are a RED blooded American, unless you are a Canoockian, but I don't think they have HF in Canaduckistan.
A guy has to be careful what he buys at Harbor Freight but I have some decent tools and equipment from there that I use on a regular basis. If I have an issue with anything at all I buy from them they return my money or give me a new one with no hassle. Heck, I have a $14.00 air brad nailer I like so much I gave my $120.00 Porter Cable gun to one of my sons. I almost always check Harbor Freight first before I make a tool purchase. There is no way I would have my shop equipped as well as it is without Harbor Freight, I like the place.
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ZRX61
Well-known member
In Europe they make blocks from it for building contruction...
speed bump
Well-known member
Living 10 blocks away from one of the largest superfund sites in the country and a problem that you could technically call an ASARCO problem I am going to disagree that a lot of what are is doing was wrong. When they bought ACM co they managed to inherit a huge mess that was completely legal at the time. Hell at the time working for them was definitely worth it to, where else could you make $15/hour and have health insurance and retirement for free?
We tried that around the time Herbert Hoover was president, funny other than 6 years that we spent defeating socialism, imperialism, and fascism (probably should of hit communism while we were at it) our economy didn't reach the growth it had seen when Hoover started until halfway through Ikes presidency. All tariffs do is encourage retaliatory tariffs and considering that I live 10 miles away from the worlds largest producer of silane gas and 1 mile away from a huge copper and moly producer I don't want to get screwed like that.
e-tek
Well-known member
OMG - Do you mean to say that TODAY "we" know better???
Then why do so many people shop at WALMART?? Why is everyone so hung up on PRICE? If guys here can save 10cents they will - and we KNOW how these things are made so cheaply. But here- in the almighty educated North America, we HAVE the money t by better - yet choose not to. Why the hell is that??
Said AGAIN by someone else! They don't care and neither do MOST North Americans!!!
Ah, finally, an elightned member.....but just like in the real world, far out-numbered!
e-tek
Well-known member
Exactly the problem.
Need more proof we are the problem? http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53369
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It's not a problem for me, I like Harbor Freight.
So you believe that just because it was legal and profitable, it was ethical? A manufacturing company in my hometown used to make aircraft fasteners from the '40s through the '70s. They dumped runoff water polluted with hexavalent chromium and cadmium into a stream which went to a pond and then to a saltwater bay. Water I swam in as a kid. Water our town drank from. Water we unknowingly ate fish and clams and crabs from. Yeah, they had permits for it, and yeah, it was "legal" at the time.... just like the pictures from the China in the beginning of this thread. Luckily their company was sued into oblivion in the '80s, and good riddance. Retirement for free means f-all when your brother is born mentally retarded and your dad dies from pancreatic cancer at 57, let me tell you. Poisoning people for profit is always wrong, whether the government grants you permits for it or not.
benjamming
Well-known member
I agree. But see, that doesn't happen in a communist country. You can't sue the state-owned corporations.
diogenes
Well-known member
You can't sue the US government, or most of the states, without their permission first...
It is awful hard to use the power of government to keep manufacturers and service providers honest when they are the government. That is a serious drawback of socialism that never seems to get mentioned in the Workers Daily World editorials.