made in the usa
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Bosie ID
+1 ON THAT... Maybe the ones complaining about the foreign parts on there bike should remove said parts and wait for the same parts to me made somewhere more to there likening
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 4
From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
I'm pretty sure we would all agree to share the extra cost between the MoCo, the dealer and the customer if the real numbers would be known.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
We are no longer an economic superpower because the value of our dollar is in the toilet, and that's because we are mortgaging our grandchildren's future, not because folks try to stretch their dollars' purchasing power.
BTW, for those buying in to the theory that we just need to raise taxes on the "millionaires", most recent figures show that the total Income Tax paid by all payers was approximately $1.1 Trillion, while the federal budget deficit was $1.3 Trillion. IOW, we could DOUBLE EVERYBODY'S INCOME TAX and still not cover the deficit, let alone begin paying down the $16 Trillion in National Debt.
Though his figures are dated, I wish this young man's clarity was understood by everybody:
So.... we need to better understand global economics (particularly how currencies can be trashed), and how to become competitive. Protecting non-competitive perfomances will only make the pain worse when it inevitably comes.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I have 9 bikes and over the past few years have purchased a small fortune of parts for them. The overwhelming majority of the parts were marked made in the USA. The exemption was some electrical parts. One order was so large that a rider outside the store when I was loading the truck up asked if I was building a bike.
Quality was exceptional.
OP - Please identify out of the HD parts catalog those items we should avoid since you seem to be an expert on the subject.
In my personal opinion the OP is of low quality and full of crap.
Quality was exceptional.
OP - Please identify out of the HD parts catalog those items we should avoid since you seem to be an expert on the subject.
In my personal opinion the OP is of low quality and full of crap.
Last edited by lh4x4; Nov 11, 2012 at 04:23 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 3
From: Cheltenham, UK
I didn't say it was a good thing - it is a fact, however. We need to understand how the global economy works, and it ain't by brute force.
And now we borrow 40% of the annual federal budget (not to mention all of the debt and unfunded pension liabilities at the States level) because as a Nation, we are living beyond our means and no one is yet prepared to face that issue - the most recent election being the perfect example.
We are no longer an economic superpower because the value of our dollar is in the toilet, and that's because we are mortgaging our grandchildren's future, not because folks try to stretch their dollars' purchasing power.
China already holds 26% of all foreign-owned US T-Bills - because we are borrowing to maintain a lifestyle that is unsustainable. Currently, we as a Nation spend more on 4 categories - SS, Medicare/Medicaid, Defense and Interest on the Public Debt - than the government takes in in revenue, all taxes and fees combined. The rest of the government runs on borrowed money. We don't have the leverage to level the playing field with the Chinese, as someone noted, because we've given all the leverage to them - THEY are paying for our unsustainable lifestyle. IF WE WEREN'T BORROWING, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THE LEVERAGE.
BTW, for those buying in to the theory that we just need to raise taxes on the "millionaires", most recent figures show that the total Income Tax paid by all payers was approximately $1.1 Trillion, while the federal budget deficit was $1.3 Trillion. IOW, we could DOUBLE EVERYBODY'S INCOME TAX and still not cover the deficit, let alone begin paying down the $16 Trillion in National Debt.
Though his figures are dated, I wish this young man's clarity was understood by everybody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWt8hTayupE
No, quite the opposite - it assumes a majority of US-based companies. It's we, the shareholders of US companies that put the pressure on those companies for better profits so our nest eggs will grow. Managers really on have 3 levers they can pull - they can raise prices, lower labor costs, or lower the cost of materials. But really, lowering the cost of materials only pushes the problem up to their supplier who, being told they must lower prices, can only look to lower his labor costs or push the problem to his suppliers, and the cycle continues.
So.... we need to better understand global economics (particularly how currencies can be trashed), and how to become competitive. Protecting non-competitive perfomances will only make the pain worse when it inevitably comes.
And now we borrow 40% of the annual federal budget (not to mention all of the debt and unfunded pension liabilities at the States level) because as a Nation, we are living beyond our means and no one is yet prepared to face that issue - the most recent election being the perfect example.
We are no longer an economic superpower because the value of our dollar is in the toilet, and that's because we are mortgaging our grandchildren's future, not because folks try to stretch their dollars' purchasing power.
China already holds 26% of all foreign-owned US T-Bills - because we are borrowing to maintain a lifestyle that is unsustainable. Currently, we as a Nation spend more on 4 categories - SS, Medicare/Medicaid, Defense and Interest on the Public Debt - than the government takes in in revenue, all taxes and fees combined. The rest of the government runs on borrowed money. We don't have the leverage to level the playing field with the Chinese, as someone noted, because we've given all the leverage to them - THEY are paying for our unsustainable lifestyle. IF WE WEREN'T BORROWING, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THE LEVERAGE.
BTW, for those buying in to the theory that we just need to raise taxes on the "millionaires", most recent figures show that the total Income Tax paid by all payers was approximately $1.1 Trillion, while the federal budget deficit was $1.3 Trillion. IOW, we could DOUBLE EVERYBODY'S INCOME TAX and still not cover the deficit, let alone begin paying down the $16 Trillion in National Debt.
Though his figures are dated, I wish this young man's clarity was understood by everybody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWt8hTayupE
No, quite the opposite - it assumes a majority of US-based companies. It's we, the shareholders of US companies that put the pressure on those companies for better profits so our nest eggs will grow. Managers really on have 3 levers they can pull - they can raise prices, lower labor costs, or lower the cost of materials. But really, lowering the cost of materials only pushes the problem up to their supplier who, being told they must lower prices, can only look to lower his labor costs or push the problem to his suppliers, and the cycle continues.
So.... we need to better understand global economics (particularly how currencies can be trashed), and how to become competitive. Protecting non-competitive perfomances will only make the pain worse when it inevitably comes.
Great, balanced response
I always remind my kids not to allow common sense and reason to get in the way of a good argument :-)
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,908
Likes: 29,889
From: PNW
Not a cop out. An attempt not to delve deep into the problem, b/c all it does is start arguments. Plus, nobody wants to know. They'd rather just ACT like they care. Politics plays a big role. We proved 4 years ago we were complete morons voting Osama in. Now we might as well of just lined up in front of a firing squad. We need less entitlements keeping people out of the workforce. Less entitlements/government/taxes so we keep more money in our pockets. Less credit so people will only buy what they can afford. Tarrifs so it will cost more for imports to be imported.
I won't get involved in a political party discussion because it's us against them no matter who you vote for. "Them" being the royalty that we know as any current office holder. If you think one is worse than the other, you would be wrong. Ideology is different than practice and the folks we vote into office abandon ideology for personal gain. So knock Clinton for giving China the original Most Favored Nation status, and knock Bush for renewing it.
Oh, and "CRAP" from China? It all depends on the industry you are talking about, but that "CRAP" can be MUCH higher quality than it's American counterparts. Heck, most of the time American isn't even an option. We are so bad at some stuff that their is no option but places like China, India, Peru, Honduras, etc. The stuff we are comparable to costs at least twice as much. Even then the import is a better product.
Please provide an example. I can not think of one. I can provide numerous examples of an American product that is far superior to the best Chinese version out there. Not that they aren't capable. Like you said - it's what many Americans ask for - cheap sh*t. We're just the dumping grounds (we being the world) for the cheap sh*t they make by the billions. I have witnessed this first hand in the very industry that I work. Production changed from France to China. The result is a product that is vastly inferior even with stringent govt regulations in place that supposedly insure that a standard be maintained.
I hate it, I'm all for buying American and do when I can. We just aren't competitive in pricing and quality at the same time. Whole lot needs to change. Unions being one of them. Yep, I said it...Now I see you a "Cop out" and raise you a full fledged argument.
I won't get involved in a political party discussion because it's us against them no matter who you vote for. "Them" being the royalty that we know as any current office holder. If you think one is worse than the other, you would be wrong. Ideology is different than practice and the folks we vote into office abandon ideology for personal gain. So knock Clinton for giving China the original Most Favored Nation status, and knock Bush for renewing it.
Oh, and "CRAP" from China? It all depends on the industry you are talking about, but that "CRAP" can be MUCH higher quality than it's American counterparts. Heck, most of the time American isn't even an option. We are so bad at some stuff that their is no option but places like China, India, Peru, Honduras, etc. The stuff we are comparable to costs at least twice as much. Even then the import is a better product.
Please provide an example. I can not think of one. I can provide numerous examples of an American product that is far superior to the best Chinese version out there. Not that they aren't capable. Like you said - it's what many Americans ask for - cheap sh*t. We're just the dumping grounds (we being the world) for the cheap sh*t they make by the billions. I have witnessed this first hand in the very industry that I work. Production changed from France to China. The result is a product that is vastly inferior even with stringent govt regulations in place that supposedly insure that a standard be maintained.
I hate it, I'm all for buying American and do when I can. We just aren't competitive in pricing and quality at the same time. Whole lot needs to change. Unions being one of them. Yep, I said it...Now I see you a "Cop out" and raise you a full fledged argument.
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Not a cop out. An attempt not to delve deep into the problem, b/c all it does is start arguments. Plus, nobody wants to know. They'd rather just ACT like they care. Politics plays a big role. We proved 4 years ago we were complete morons voting Osama in. Now we might as well of just lined up in front of a firing squad. We need less entitlements keeping people out of the workforce. Less entitlements/government/taxes so we keep more money in our pockets. Less credit so people will only buy what they can afford. Tarrifs so it will cost more for imports to be imported.
Oh, and "CRAP" from China? It all depends on the industry you are talking about, but that "CRAP" can be MUCH higher quality than it's American counterparts. Heck, most of the time American isn't even an option. We are so bad at some stuff that their is no option but places like China, India, Peru, Honduras, etc. The stuff we are comparable to costs at least twice as much. Even then the import is a better product.
I hate it, I'm all for buying American and do when I can. We just aren't competitive in pricing and quality at the same time. Whole lot needs to change. Unions being one of them. Yep, I said it...Now I see you a "Cop out" and raise you a full fledged argument.
Oh, and "CRAP" from China? It all depends on the industry you are talking about, but that "CRAP" can be MUCH higher quality than it's American counterparts. Heck, most of the time American isn't even an option. We are so bad at some stuff that their is no option but places like China, India, Peru, Honduras, etc. The stuff we are comparable to costs at least twice as much. Even then the import is a better product.
I hate it, I'm all for buying American and do when I can. We just aren't competitive in pricing and quality at the same time. Whole lot needs to change. Unions being one of them. Yep, I said it...Now I see you a "Cop out" and raise you a full fledged argument.
