Quote Originally Posted by Bob C.
Now, let me take a stand that will be less popular: If Scottish manufacturers did not charge such outrageously high prices, imports would not be a problem.

Hopefully this won't ignite a flame war, but this touches on one of my pet peeves.

The Scottish manufacturers are NOT charging outrageously high prices. They are charging prices that are:

1) reflective of the cost of materials
2) reflective of the cost of labor
3) in line with the life-value of the product
4) taking into account the inflated (thus lower in value) currency many First World countries are suffering from (particularly the U.S.)

So you pay $500 for a kilt. For the average American, what percentage of a week's wages is that? For some, it may be 10%, for some maybe 100%. Even if that kilt costs you a week's wages, think about how long it lasts - its value to YOU.

And put yourself in the place of the kilt-maker hand-stitching your fine new kilt. Do you object to him or her making a decent enough living to feed their kids, pay their mortgage and taxes, health insurance, car payments, etc, etc, etc? If they make (profit) $300 from a two-day project, are they getting rich? How much money do YOU make?

No, the cheap-*** imports from Pakistan are outrageously UNDERPRICED. People in Third World countries, because of their costs of living, and exchange rates, can actually live on a couple dollars a day. At 10 dollars per day, they live like kings. But they don't get that much. They get barely enough to rise to the level of middle-class squalor.

So Ali Q. Hindu makes $5 to sew a kilt. Tell me if a Scot can do it for that.

This is the hidden evil of "free trade." They tell us that "free trade" makes things cheaper. Yeah, that's true. But an unemployed former factory worker can't buy jack.

***************

And on Wal-Mart - I vaguely remember when their truck fleet had "Made in America" on their trailers. Now, they say, "Low Prices. Always." I defy anyone to find an American-made product in a Wal-Mart today.

See the film, "American Jobs," directed by Greg Spotts. Real people lose real jobs so you can buy crap that lasts 1/4 as long for 3/4 the price.

People think I'm kidding about this. I'm still using American-made power tools my grandfather used. 50 years ago. My grandchildren will be able to use the same tools. My Porter-Cable circular saw, circa 1955. My Miller's Falls belt sander. No one under 60 has even heard of one. I promise nothing you can buy at Home Despot today will last that long.

[pulling hair out] I'd best get off my soap box for now. Sorry.

I have no quarrel with you if you buy cheap imports. Times are tough for a lot of us.