| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
I missed this story. That's probably a good thing, considering that I need Heart Surgery. http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/us-bridges-roads-b uilt-chinese-firms-14594513?tab=9482930?ion=120685 3&playlist=14594944 This should be rewarded by an AK-47 round through the center of the crainium. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
Another story that will be swept under the rug. | ||
| Hootowl |
Can't blame them really. China is dumping steel on the market. Finished goods for less than the market rate for the steel. Buy hey, WJC gave them most favored nation trade status, so I guess we'll just have to live with it. I want to know why we're not doing most of our trade with India, a democracy with labor rates on par with China, as opposed to a communist country that hates us. Wal-mart should be filled with 'made in India' labels. Actually, 'made in Ohio' labels would be better, but that's never going to happen. Not in my lifetime anyway. | ||
| Moxnix |
Ah, yes. And such quality control and high manufacturing standards, the bridge will last forever. | ||
| Cowboy |
I want the union people to pay strict attention to this--When our country is 100% consumed by goverment this is what you will be facing.---Did you not hear them say these companys are goverment owned and they set the wages. ( Damn listen up american workers) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
how is this treason, do they not already own us ? We cant afford to pay them anymore - the only thing we have left is land, work, people. we are a third world nation - that is the pure definition of it. and we let it happen. Starting with Nixon and worse every President since. when does it get better ? not in my life time - they have been saying we are a paper tiger for a good 40 years .... we are just finally showing it. go google 'jobs & china' it is truly amazing how many American companies are there, and hiring. | ||
| Blake |
No. They do not own us. America is not a third world nation. Wild statements like that can obliterate credibility. | ||
| Blake |
Imagine that you are an ideologically loyal Communist in China; what is your opinion of the current situation with America? You've bet the farm on free enterprise and given vast sums of your wealth to America. But what if you succeed in convincing America that Communism is the way to go, and they nationalize everything and as is always the case in such revolutions, refuse to honor their debt? Oh, and they also stop importing from you. War? The razor cuts both ways. No? | ||
| Buellkowski |
I want to know why we're not doing most of our trade with India India's supply chain bureaucracy and graft is far worse than China's, IMO. It's somewhat easier if you're a Commonwealth trading partner. That said, I see a few iron storm drain grates around here with "INDIA" cast into them. And don't forget our extensive information technology trade with India. | ||
| Cowboy |
Tell the truth how is your solialist President working out for you. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
I tend to agree with City. We may not look completely like a third world nation, but we getting there fast. | ||
| Blake |
Examples please. Detroit? Okay. Outside of inner city blight, what else? Socialist, maybe. Diff than 3rd world. See Haiti. | ||
| Strokizator |
And such quality control and high manufacturing standards, the bridge will last forever. The Great Wall is still there. Not everything they make is crap although it sure seems that way. I don't see how we can cut our forests, chip the wood, send it to China where they make it into OSB, ship it back to us and it costs less than a domestically made product. | ||
| Strokizator |
Oh yeah, what's the problem with the Chinese building bridges and stuff? Didn't they build our railroads back in the 1800's? | ||
| Cowboy |
Then we had a labor shortage Now we have a job shortage If there is a labor shortage we need to cut out all benefits to the slackers that want worl. | ||
| Hootowl |
Those Chinese folks that built the railroad were in the US doing it, and had every intention of remaining in the US as citizens. They were immigrants. We're just buying stuff from China now. Two different scenarios. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Is there not a bidding process for these projects? Were American companies prevented from bidding? The rule is that American companies MUST be used unless the cost differential creates undue expense. Either the cost differential was extreme OR no American companies bid. The "we don't have enough welders" excuse seems lame. If the cost was out of range, the question is how do we make the cost of using American companies more competitive. I'm NOT advocating busting the union here. If our companies are operating at a 40-50% tax rate (state and federal) and the Chinese are not, Chinese companies will ALWAYS underbid US companies. We help business owners looking to sell their business to create ESOP arrangements. The advantage is that an ESOP is a non-taxable vehicle. This allows that business to operate with extra capital since the profits aren't being taxed. This turns these companies into acquisition monsters. Hauchens is a mom and pop grocery store in KY. About a decade ago, they became an ESOP owned company. They now own Hilliard Lyons, a national investment firm and they own controlling interest in P&C Bank. If you don't like that Chinese labor is used, complain about why American companies aren't more competitive. My guess is that those most upset with this also advocate for higher taxes on the wealthy and higher taxes on corporations. There is a pattern here. | ||
| Court |
Amazing to me that folks continue to follow Obama blindly . . . Wonder where that money you put up to save GM is going? http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-01-30/new s/31004717_1_joel-ewanick-general-motors-gm-operat ion Reason, collectively, escapes us. It's the same lunacy that has us holding Congressional hearings trying to induce Holder to finally decide WHAT he remembers, struggles to explain why we had to provide a $24,000/unit subsidy for every Volt made (sales in January plummeted to 600 units and dealers are now refusing delivery) and has the National Park Service on Capital Hill explaining that pitching a tent in a Park and sleeping for 3 months is not "camping" (which is against the law and would promptly get their asses tossed out) if the persons primary motivation is not "to sleep". We act like idiots we become subject to being treated like idiots. The upside is, and I have to thank the Obama gang, these idiots are so predictable that it makes investing fun again. My investments ended 2011 with a 30.53% gain. Logical? No way in heck, but as long as I know the next card being turned over is stupid . . .I can play the game. My goal is to keep returns high and cut taxes to 50% of last year and do it all perfectly legally. With Obama . . you just need to realize that the goodies are intended for and packaged for "pals" . . . . wonder why 80% of the stimulus funds for "Green Energy" went to folks who are "Obama Bundlers"? We deserve better leaders. | ||
| Oldog |
there is a shortage of "Skilled" qualified welders, We tested 100 of them at work to get 15 to pass the 6g test, some things we have done in the past few years have been re-work from "qualified persons" one of which had the tank wall failed would have been a disaster many folks I speak to that Voted for BHO will not do so again, many chose him over Mcain as they were unhappy with the repubs, the deals for favors should be against the law why it is not is beyond me, if not why is Blago going to jail? | ||
| Hootowl |
"Either the cost differential was extreme" It is. China is dumping finished steel goods on the market for LESS than the market cost of steel. No one can compete with that. | ||
| Court |
I've been on 2 large jobs where all the welds made by the "qualified" union welders had to be cut out and redone by folks brought in from out of state. | ||
| Oldog |
I'll Bet the median age of the outa staters is > 35 I hope that this country wakes up soon and demands better, of its "Servants" | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Wonder how many qualified welders are currently on unemployment somewhere. Have to be at least enough to finish a bridge project in California. "We'll pay you your unemployment AND this income as a contract laborer plus room and board if you'll travel to California for this project." | ||
| Nm5150 |
I am a member of Local 798 Pipeliners out of Tulsa and we have members from all over the country that travel all over the country to work.On our jobs every weld is x-rayed or ultra sonic tested and the repair rate is usually around 1% or less.There are plenty of good welders in this country. | ||
| Court |
We were doing the same testing, the same standard test you likely use, and were rejecting over 80% of the welds. The union of course demanded that they be done by union welders. But, alas, they just couldn't do it. So we end up with 2 union welders watching a non-union guy who's batting 100%. For me, a union member since 1969, both embarrassing and a poignant reminder of some of the fine bus welders I used to work with like Buddy Spencer and Dayton Hawkins . . their work was pure art. I'm starting another fairly large ($600M) project this week and we're changing a few rules. | ||
| Kenm123t |
The UA guys in south fla cant even run propress or silver solder with out 50-60% FAILURE RATE! Other than the Nuke plant guys and the small bunch that works the shut down The do not have that many good welders. Tampa local has had excellent welders when doing work in that area. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Oldog, still hiring?! | ||
| Fahren |
If you buy cheap Chinese crap from Walmart, you have no business being critical of this story. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Cheap Chinese crap from Walmart is the symptom not the problem. If Walmart was the ONLY store selling cheap Chinese crap, I'd say that Walmart is the problem. Name a major retailer that ISN'T selling cheap Chinese crap. Crickets.......... The EASY answer is to blame "greed". The real answer is that it has become too expensive to operate many businesses here in the US. The problem has NEVER been the American worker. Relative to the world, our workers are more productive per hour worked than any other nation. As such, we should be the center of manufacturing for every other nation to come here, but they don't. Why? Here's what I'm talking about:  Only countries who's economic system is more restrictive upon business than the United States seem to be moving here. We rank 72 out of 183 countries in taxation.  http://lincicome.blogspot.com/2011/10/stifling-ame rican-businesses-global.html http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings | ||
| Cityxslicker |
cheer up, cheep crap from Walmart is about to dominate healthcare DAMHIK |
