We are not alone/ An editorial

[dk99358]

I agree that labor is the big one but the cost of regs add up. So do the 'hidden' labor costs like employers share of Social Security and pension plans. I seem to remember (and trusting my memory can be a bad Idea at times) that Lionel's employees belonged to the UAW. If so, how much was Lionel's share of the pension plan?

Been to the doctor lately? Heard about HIPPA (I think that's the acronym)? How much did locking file cabinets and paper shredders cost them? How much does it still cost them while the secretary is shredding paper instead of doing real work?

IMO, the cost of regs is very hard to figure but a very real cost nonetheless.

Dale

[rlplionel]

QUOTE: Originally posted by easter

Did anyone catch the 60 min. that was on last month about how americans are going overseas, southeast asia, India for surgical operations because the cost is 1/3 what it is here. You go to a hospital over there,it's like checking into a hotel in Vegas.

A friend of mine was recently in a car accident in Bangkok. She broke her jaw and disfigured her face pretty badly. She spent 8 days in a private room in Thailand's best hospital, was treated for her injuries and had plastic surgery done on her face. Total cost = $4,700, which she put on a credit card. The cost for the same procedure and hospital stay in the U.S. would have easily been in the six figures.

Robert
http://home.surewest.net/rlplionel/Robert.htm

[Anonymous]

I would like to point out that no one has mentioned Weaver Models in this discussion. Yes, their higher end locomotives as well as some of their rolling stock are made overseas, but the vast majority of their product line is made in the U.S.A. Even more interesting, most of their American made products are priced lower than their foregn made MTH/LIonel/K-Line conterparts!
Ok, so maybe the level of detail on an Atlas O reefer may be a little better, but as a patriotic American, I will buy the Weaver product and support the American worker.
Certain economists like to argue that in the long run the migration of low skilled manufacturing jobs overseas will benefit the American economy. Well, the closure of the Lionel factory in Michigan certainly didn't benefit the assembly line workers who lost decent jobs and are now probably working in McDonalds for half the money and no benefits.
"we have met the enemy and he is us!"

[Anonymous]

Only car that is still made and hand assembled here in the USA is the Covette in Bowling Greene KY.

Most GM cars are made in Mexico, or in Canada, since its cheaper.

In my town alone, Ford closed a plant making rangers(small pickups) and mazdas(same truck, diff name) as well, as Fridgidare closed another plant down..... More loss of jobs.

[Anonymous]

I rarely read or buy Hot Rod anymore, car craft is much better.... yet none have articles on Gbodys - Monte Carlos, Grand Nationals, Cutlass, Hurst Olds, 442's......

[jimhaleyscomet]

I think just one thing makes China, India, and Mexico competitive. That one thing is hunger. When you are hungry you are willing to work a lot harder and for less. You can be hungry for food or money or material recources. Our economy has been so productive that very few people truely hunger for money any more. We would all like a little more, but most are unwilling to work 80-160 hours a week and invest to build wealth.. Some folks are still willing to work that hard and I bet that most of them make an large amount of money (think new immigrants).

You can live in the US at a standard of living third world folks dream about even if you make very poor life decisions. If you make wise life decisions like limiting the number of children you have, getting the right education, and always spending slightly less than you make you can really create wealth in this economy.

China is not the enemy....Our decisions can be our own worst enemy and also our own best friend.

Jim H

[Blueberryhill RR]

I agree with Big Jim. I have a hundred sections of Lionel "O" guage track that is marked......" Lionel and NY". Made in the USA. They are rusty and were in a flood, but I'm cleaning them and using them. Just a personal thing. It's good to see items made in USA. Someone once said " You'll never defeat the USA in a war, but you can defeat them in the financial market".

[FJ and G]

Blueberryhill RR writes: "You'll never defeat the USA in a war, but you can defeat them in the financial market""

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Trouble is, you need a good economy to have a good military.