Stillwater

[Rob Wright]

Ayn Rand espoused a very selfish philosophy, no wonder most CEO's of American company's read her works. It doesn't matter how it is produced as long as you feel justified in its results. The producers of the product mean nothing. Surround yourself with riches because you [b]deserve[/bthem. The individual is most impoertant.
Rand ignored many reality's of capitalism beacause of her hatred of the Soviet system.She wrote of a capitalist utopia which is non-excistant.

Many Americans do not care where something is made as long as they can buy it for cheep. Go to friggin' Wal-Mart and look where most things are produced. Quality is a luxury of those with enough disposible income to pay enough money for one item what your average American pays for two or three of the same.

Rob Wright

[Rob Wright]

Ayn Rand was a Soviet exile who espoused an extremely selfish philosophy/ideology. Her hatred of the Soviet economic system colored her views.
It doesn't matter how or under what conditions an item is produced as long as you are happy with it. One can see an example of this by looking at the average American family and seeing how much debt they have and how many toys they have.
As long as companies do not have to pay taxes on each job they send over seas until that job comes back to the states they won't.
Also this administration has reclassified fast food hamburger cooks as manufacturing jobs.
Also, the unemployment numbers do not reflect the number of people who have stopped recieving benefits because they have not found a job. America has a large number of unemployed who are not reflected in the statistics and have never been under any administration.
We have more people living under the poverty line($18,000 for a family of four) than in 2000, and more people are without healthcare than in 2000. Three years ago I looked into insurance for myself, $650 a month for minimum coverage. Full coverage which was a joke because of all of the exceptions was $1,100 a month. There were so many restrictions that full coverage was a joke. I do better drinking my green/white tea, avoiding fried food, and walking as much as possible than listening to the doctors forced to bend to the bidding of the hmo/insurance business'.

Rob Wright

[awoodfellow]

in regards to Stillwater Kilts and my mention that the particular kilt i received had a Made in Pakistan label in it.

i am not familiar with hand made kilts by the masters that so many of you have spoken and praised. so i'll just speak of what i know. one day in the future i will have a high quality, hand made/fitted McEwan tartan kilt. and i tmost likey will not be made in America as well.

the kilt i received from Stillwater is a fine entry level kilt. i'm impressed, especially, with the waist sewing. it's fairly well put together. of course i've not put it through it's paces yet, but for the price, i'm sure i'll be happy.

Jerry is in business to make money. Aren't we all. Unless Jerry & his Stillwater Kilts shop is totally outside the laws of his state and the US govenment, Jerry is paying city, state and federal taxes. he's paying school levy taxes, property taxes and utility surcharges for other local things. so not only have i helped Jerry and his community, i've helped someone in Pakistan. at the time of purchase i was not aware that my kilt would have a Pakistan label. i would have purchased it anyway, simply because after doing some homework, i found his product most suitable to my budget and needs at the time.

i'm not going to get into a buying American vs Non-American riff for as i see it just about the only truly "Made In American" item left is the produce found at the local farmers market.

and having said that, one of our Xmarks sponsers has graciously accepted Xmarks participants as a highly valued customer and extended discounts to show their appreciation and enthusiasm to sell product. i've just spent about 300.00 US this week with them. why? because they chose to get involved and help us out. i just returned the favor. and they are not in America.

while today, September 11th, has rolled around again, i'm as American as any American can be in these days. our government has seen fit over the past years to open the gates of world trade in order to better our own chances at a world economy. some things i agree with, others i don't.

i'd like to relate a quick story from the last "buy American" craze from the late 70's. ...

my brother and i were working for a local lincoln/mercury dealer. they had on the lot a used Ford Bronco that my brother wanted to buy. he had no qualms with the price, but because of employee discount, the sales department would have received a lesser piece of the cash pie from my brother than a retail street customer. so they wouldn't talk to him. just so happened a new Toyota dealer had moved in just down the street and brother went down and bought a new Land Cruiser, F78 model i believe. anyway, our sales department got mad and stuck "Buy American" stickers all over his windshield. that action turned my stomach. i guess the moral for me is, i buy what i can afford and i buy it from where i want to.

i think that was a quarters worth!

ambrose

[Rob Wright]

Ambrose, I will never begrudge another for buying what they can afford. Most toyata's purchased today are actually made in the states. People tasking advantage of patriotic fervor really chaps my hide. I make use of local resources and after that I make use od suppliers that are not local. Peolple are ignorant and they display their ignorance with pride.

Rob Wright

[bubba]

Ambrose, he should have called the police and reported the vandalism. That's what it was and it's always been a crime.

[RockyR]

My My My all this verbage and all I said was I "prefer to buy American? Goodnes gentlemen. I really am not at all distressed if Ambrose or others buy a Stillwater Kilt, Goodness me I am glad he did!

Enjoy it Ambrose!

[akaussie]

you've done it now JohnAllen!!!

[awoodfellow]

JohnAllen,

i sincerely appreciate your thoughts whether they are pro or con to my own preferences. that is the beauty of a true and democratic society.

i tip my hat to you as a fellow kilter and for delivering a true and honest statement of your beliefs. very few people, present company excepted, have that ability.

best regards,

ambrose

[bubba]

Yeah, we kilt wearers aren't shy about sounding off.

[Colin]

I will have to admit although Jerry has a great reputation, and you all have praised his service and his kilts, I have gotten a bit turned off by the recent revelation that they are made in Asia. I would rather support our north American Kilt Makers. So Maybe I would buy a stillwater but probably not, but I don't buy Japaneses cars either. Even the ones made in Ohio!
That's just me though, If's it's not a Lincoln I don't look very long at it .......

Doesn't that rule out a Scottish made traditional kilt then?