NH Political Thread. For Discussion of NH Politics. (buy, college)

[WannaComeHome]

hey, hey! not all gov employees are the same - that's a mighty wide brush you're tarring with, folks.

DH is a gov employee - we don't see any stimulus money coming our way. He hasn't even had a promotion in.. 10 years? which means he probably won't get one within the next 3 years <sigh>. And just because one is a Fed doesn't mean one voted for/likes/approves Obama (or any of the presidents that have gotten elected). It just means you have a job to do.

[sgthoskins]

Like I said if you're not a taxpayer leech my comments shouldn't offend you. I don't get offended when people call Marines stupid.

[BF66389]

One thing that is really bothering me is the worry that in order to be competitive in manufacturing...our overall standard of living is going to have to fall dramatically.

[sgthoskins]

Who's worried about that?

[BF66389]

Originally Posted by sgthoskins

Who's worried about that?

Me, I feel that the relocation of manufacturing overseas in exchange for lower labor rates is a real problem; it wouldn't be if people spoke with their wallets (ie, locally made holds value for me)...but for the most part- they don't.

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by BF66389

Me, I feel that the relocation of manufacturing overseas in exchange for lower labor rates is a real problem; it wouldn't be if people spoke with their wallets (ie, locally made holds value for me)...but for the most part- they don't.

I am too. In my opinion, we need a strong manufacturing base to remain a strong country. The long term consequences are scary. I personally seek out American made whenever possible and actually sometimes it is the same price or cheaper. Plus a lot of the crap made in China or elsewhere-if it is cheaper-you end up buying two or three of those and spend the same price if your purchased one quality item made in USA. It really is a shame that "free" trade with China, NAFTA, etc. have taken a toll on our manufactruing base. As much as I would like to blame it all on NAFTA, etc., greedy unions need to take some of the blame as well. It was a problem that was building only to be accelerated by NAFTA and China "free trade".

I have come to a point in my life, that if given the choice between a product made in America by a foreign company or a foreign made product by an American company, I will choose the product made in America. I see that with our cars. Our Toyotas are great quality, great gas mileage, etc. made in USA by non union employees.

American Companies that take factories out of this country should be taxed a lot and I mean a lot. Instead in some cases they receive tax incentives for moving out of this country.

[BF66389]

Originally Posted by nicolem

American Companies that take factories out of this country should be taxed a lot and I mean a lot.

Doesn't that remove the idea of a free-market economy though? I mean even NAFTA basically just opened up trade...and the Mexican people were willing to work for less $$$. Likewise with China... It is awful, but it is a free market...

I also put my $$$ toward quality products largely made in the US, its really hard. I've been shopping for a salt & pepper grinder set at a reasonable price (under $40) for 2 months now.

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by BF66389

Doesn't that remove the idea of a free-market economy though? I mean even NAFTA basically just opened up trade...and the Mexican people were willing to work for less $$$. Likewise with China... It is awful, but it is a free market...

I also put my $$$ toward quality products largely made in the US, its really hard. I've been shopping for a salt & pepper grinder set at a reasonable price (under $40) for 2 months now.

Well I guess I don't consider NAFTA, "free trade" with China, WTO and others as "free trade". True free trade occurs in the absence of government. These are nothing more than, in my opinion and in the opinion of quite a few, government-managed trade schemes not free trade. If NAFTA were simply a free trade agreement it could have been a few pages long, lifting any barriers-not thousands of pages long. Instead NAFTA was an agreement between three countries. Being that it was an agreement, I feel we were sold out by our government. Mexico was not held to the higher environmental standards, you have the Mexican truck issue, the special interests, the list goes on and on. Look, there are even provisions in NAFTA regarding how we in our own country can inplement/enforce buy American provisions. In addition, our trade deficit with Canada and Mexico has exploded. Not many people seem to care but to me that is just as worriesome and in some cases more worriesome than our spiraling national debt. I do find it amazing that Canada has their own buy Canadian provisions but any time someone in America brings the idea up, Canada yells"you are violating NAFTA". This is nothing more than a sellout of the American people. For real free trade, we would not have needed a contract. A simple bill lifting barriers should have done the job.

Good luck in finding your salt and pepper grinders- I know how frustrating it can be to search for something actually made here. I have to say that I am finding more and more products made here than a few years ago. I am always on the lookout for quality American made products, so if I happen to run across a set, I will let you know. There are few Buy American websites out there and Amazon has recently added a section for made in USA.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by nicolem

Well I guess I don't consider NAFTA, "free trade" with China, WTO and others as "free trade". True free trade occurs in the absence of government. These are nothing more than, in my opinion and in the opinion of quite a few, government-managed trade schemes not free trade. If NAFTA were simply a free trade agreement it could have been a few pages long, lifting any barriers-not thousands of pages long. Instead NAFTA was an agreement between three countries. Being that it was an agreement, I feel we were sold out by our government. Mexico was not held to the higher environmental standards, you have the Mexican truck issue, the special interests, the list goes on and on. Look, there are even provisions in NAFTA regarding how we in our own country can inplement/enforce buy American provisions. In addition, our trade deficit with Canada and Mexico has exploded. Not many people seem to care but to me that is just as worriesome and in some cases more worriesome than our spiraling national debt. I do find it amazing that Canada has their own buy Canadian provisions but any time someone in America brings the idea up, Canada yells"you are violating NAFTA". This is nothing more than a sellout of the American people. For real free trade, we would not have needed a contract. A simple bill lifting barriers should have done the job.

Good luck in finding your salt and pepper grinders- I know how frustrating it can be to search for something actually made here. I have to say that I am finding more and more products made here than a few years ago. I am always on the lookout for quality American made products, so if I happen to run across a set, I will let you know. There are few Buy American websites out there and Amazon has recently added a section for made in USA.

I agree with you. This so-called "free-trade" we practice is not fair trade. And by the way.....who owns free-trade ? Not the citizens of the USA. I say that because when a family member tried to practice personal free trade by buying her medication in Canada she was threatned with criminal sanctions. Nothing free about that.

[nhyrnut1]

What is going on with Manchester politics is there not a primary coming up September 15th? I have seen nothing about the elections about to happen. So much for political debate.