Open Thread

Another example of American excellence would be Marlboro, regarded around the world as the best cigarette, a status symbol in most Emerging markets such that poor people will put their locally made cigs in a discarded Marlboro box.

I have been through this layoff thing a number of times.
Financial services went through a period of intense consolidation. One of the spectacular disasters I saw from the front row was Enron which derailed me for a bit when it wiped out the merchant energy/gas trading world (of which I was a part); in the case of my company now, it is delayed fallout on an enterprise level from the 2008 meltdown.

I have always landed on my feet. A combination of a lot of help from my friends, luck and “failure is not an option” problem solving. I’ve done my share of suffering but this is going to work out very well for me. That I know.

About “help from my friends.” One thing I realized is that people get laid off due to nothing that they ever did. It sucks. It hurts. It is scary. I have always tried, no matter how distant the person is/was, to do anything/everything to help other people get jobs. I KNOW how tough it is and also, people never forget. That is how you make your rock solid concrete foundation. Try to help other people.

jessi and all, a few thoughts on protectionism, free markets, Made in USA, and unions… and I have worked in industrial businesses for the last 35 years, and have done (and continue to do) a fair amount of both import and export.

First thing, there is no such thing as free trade. It’s a myth. China protects its markets thru all kinds of shenanigans, usually forcing American countries to ‘partner’ with local companies, and insisting on technology transfers to get a piece of the action.

Re Japan, I’d remind you that the other day dibs laughed at DH’ contention that evil US corps were gonna clean up rebuilding Japan, he said, Japan is the most closed society in the world. Again, all kinds of barriers to doing business there.

Nor are we blameless either, altho I would say we are the most open. We have all kinds of white man’s welfare oops I mean farm price supports for example that raise the price of food. Ask Donatella.

As far as the quality of American manufactured goods and their perception, it is still true that our products are very favorably viewed around the world. My personal experience tho is that our quality is not what it used to be.

Most factory jobs today require math skills and thinking skills that are not easy to come by.

Unions have helped keep ‘buy American’ in the forefront. Many of my customers demand it, and we try and oblige.

IMO every consumer worried about the middle/working class should at least pay attention to the country of origin of whatever they buy, not only to help with our own factories but to make sure they are not getting ripped off.

For example I have no problem going into Macys to buy socks and seeing they are made in China when they only cost a buck a pair. I have a major problem, when, as happened a couple of years ago, I go into Brooks Bros and find something for Mrs D for Christmas, noticing that it costs $600, and then seeing that it is made in China. Ripoff. If I buy a luxury good it better damn well be made here, Canada, Western Europe, or Japan or the price should reflect o/w.

I think what the youth of today are talking about is that it used to be, if you work hard, you will succeed. Now, you can kick ass and still not get a job.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/opinion/21klein.html?src=me&ref=homepage

That’s what I’m talking about, there aren’t enough opportunities when you spread it across the world. Need more duplication of things you can duplicate (like cocoa is only gonna grow in certain places so you trade for that stuff)

BSM, your austerity is inspiring (same goes for your family backstory)…