[TheForge] Second Rate USA?

[Peter Hirst]

"Unskilled Labor" is a contradiction in terms, esoecially  when it comes to 
munufacturing.  I'd like to see  few examples.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Vida" <osan at netlabs.net>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 12:14 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Second Rate USA?


>
>
> ries wrote:
>
>> Where we dont compete is on low priced commodities that are mass produced 
>> by unskilled labor.
>> But we do very well, especially considering how small our population is, 
>> on things that require brains.
>
>    I agree, but we still have a large unskilled labor gap in many areas. 
> How much of a problem this really represents is open to question, I agree. 
> It could be that my rare trips to TV land, news in specific, are jading my 
> perceptions too deeply.  US media really cannot be trusted.  I get news 
> from my cousins and friends all over the globe and am surprised at how 
> differently the rest of the world is informed.
>
>    Nevertheless, costs are going up by far greater margins than they have 
> been at any time over the past 25 years (save for housing, the market for 
> which is stupid in the USA).  Much of this is related to oil, but I don't 
> think it is 100% so.
>
>    We have a good workforce - better than anywhere else, but with low wage 
> competition and wide-open borders it is difficult to compete.  The rest of 
> the world needs to come up to our standards rather than for us to devolve 
> to theirs, economically speaking.  I don't think I will be holding my 
> breath on  that one.
>
>    OK, enough of this crap.  I have to go sink fence posts.  Thrills.
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