[R-390] R390 VS 390A

[Barry Hauser]

Joe wrote (among other things):
> Or did I miss one of the more subtle nuances of the "world's factory"?

Well, I dunno about "subtle nuances", more like in-your-face market
economics.  As far as I can tell, it's like this:

Somewhere along the line, the US military-industrial complex developed some
kind of amnesia thing.  No sooner than something gets invented or designed,
and they plumb forget how to make another one of the dinguses.  This started
in the late '50's and got worse and worse.  Not to mention, higher incomes
made it impossible to manufacture many things to sell at a price Americans
would be willing to pay, ranging from consumer electronics down to simple
hand tools and kitchen utensils.

Fortunately, along came the Japanese who copied our stuff and improved on it
and produced mass quantities at affordable prices.  Started with tin toys
made out of soup cans and went from there.  But, like Americans the Japanese
have a tendency to get fancy from time to time, which is what they did.
They gave themselves big raises, and then, they had to go for quality big
time.  Same thing happened there, only worse -- runaway inflation,
impossible housing costs.  So, they had to farm out the work to other
countries -- even the U S of A, eventually.

Meanwhile, the concept of the workers' paradise started to come unglued.
Wasn't glued together too well in the first place.  Basic mathematical
problem:  If everyone's on the dole, who's picking up the tab? It's a major
secret -- communism isn't a low cost economic system for "everyman", it's is
in reality a high-end luxury item which ultimately manifests itself in the
form of country clubs, profit sharing, stock option plans, major medical
insurance premiums, automobile and yacht leasing, time-sharing, co-ops and
yes -- ultimately, the dreaded condominium-ism.  Truth be known, Karl Marx
just wanted to sell some books and retire on the royalties.  But don't tell
anyone.  The world can't afford for every remaining communist country (what,
2 or 3?) to go completely off their trollies, not just yet anyway.  It's
been destabilizing enough with Russia and Eastern Europe, etc.  The bugs
that were held in check have been coming out of the woodwork.

So, China, with its large population, may succeed in producing most of the
world's manufactured goods without exploding or getting too fancy or
forgetful.  And we must lend our support according to the Conehead mantra --
"consume mass quantities."  We can't make the stuff ourselves any more,
anyhow -- forgot how, dude ...  lost the plans, man ... and who's gonna flip
the burgers, etc.

OK, now what about R-390A's?  Let's see, if we get just enough of them into
China, what could happen?  R-390B's, or maybe R-390C's?  Nice future supply
of 3TF7's?  Great Wall PTO's?  We certainly can't make any more here.  And
what's more fitting?  The R-390x is a cold war piece and should come from a
participating country, not one that sat out the whole thing, right?  Sound
far fetched?  Where are repro Crosley's made?  Where can you have
practically anything made, if you're willing to do a letter of credit and
buy by the container-load?

Gotta get the hang of this New World Order thing.  Keep those smokestacks
smokin' Xu.  They don't allow 'em around here anymore.

Barry