11-27-2007, 07:30 AM
Jeffhale,
I agree with most of what you said, but not all. Yes, compitition is good and Hilo, like a lot of places has suffered from a lack of it. Wally World does provide that, in spades. Some small retailers don't deserve to survive, but many that provide quality and service simply can't compete against Wally World's purchasing power. The demise of all small retailers, good and bad, does adversly effect the overall quality of life, IMHO. I'm not sure what the answer is. I don't think it's realistic for us, as a nation, to compete with China, India or third world countries, as far a labor costs. I would not want our workers to suffer the same conditions and lack of benefits as them. Free trade is not to our advantage. Tax laws need to encourage exports and ensure that import prices are not too strongly a reflection of the crap conditions and benefits that overseas workers are suffering (yes, often gladly as any job is better than none). I don't really think you want to institute a slave class in this country so that we can compete in world markets. We are a huge market. If our domestically produced and consumed products must reflect higher prices so that our workers can have decent lives, so be it. Exporting our jobs overseas will only result in having to provide public assistance to those displaced workers. I would rather pay higher prices than higher taxes. You will pay one way or the other.
As for hardware items found in Home Depot etc. I have found that most China goods are crap. I have bought brass plumbing fixtures from Home Depot as they were way cheaper, only to later find that when something breaks, which it will, you can't get parts, as by then they found a different supplier. You must buy a new cheap one. The problem is it's now hard to find the good american stuff.
Yes unions have been known to get out of hand with both demands and corruption. The auto industry being a prime example. Unfortunately employers often unnecessairly cause the formation of unions with unnecessary practices. Then there is the question of why some company officers can make a fortune while leading a corporation as it spirals into the ground. For building supplies, I wonder why no builders form a co-op to bypass the current suppliers if they are gouged so much?
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
I agree with most of what you said, but not all. Yes, compitition is good and Hilo, like a lot of places has suffered from a lack of it. Wally World does provide that, in spades. Some small retailers don't deserve to survive, but many that provide quality and service simply can't compete against Wally World's purchasing power. The demise of all small retailers, good and bad, does adversly effect the overall quality of life, IMHO. I'm not sure what the answer is. I don't think it's realistic for us, as a nation, to compete with China, India or third world countries, as far a labor costs. I would not want our workers to suffer the same conditions and lack of benefits as them. Free trade is not to our advantage. Tax laws need to encourage exports and ensure that import prices are not too strongly a reflection of the crap conditions and benefits that overseas workers are suffering (yes, often gladly as any job is better than none). I don't really think you want to institute a slave class in this country so that we can compete in world markets. We are a huge market. If our domestically produced and consumed products must reflect higher prices so that our workers can have decent lives, so be it. Exporting our jobs overseas will only result in having to provide public assistance to those displaced workers. I would rather pay higher prices than higher taxes. You will pay one way or the other.
As for hardware items found in Home Depot etc. I have found that most China goods are crap. I have bought brass plumbing fixtures from Home Depot as they were way cheaper, only to later find that when something breaks, which it will, you can't get parts, as by then they found a different supplier. You must buy a new cheap one. The problem is it's now hard to find the good american stuff.
Yes unions have been known to get out of hand with both demands and corruption. The auto industry being a prime example. Unfortunately employers often unnecessairly cause the formation of unions with unnecessary practices. Then there is the question of why some company officers can make a fortune while leading a corporation as it spirals into the ground. For building supplies, I wonder why no builders form a co-op to bypass the current suppliers if they are gouged so much?
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
S. FL
Big Islander to be.