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geezerbob
Guest
FF, I couldn’t get anything but the logo to come up. I have been having some trouble with my browser lately so the link may be okay.
I assume that it’s the same problem we have in the US, probably more with textiles (except for carpets) than other products. If we were suddenly cut off from the rest of the world, there is no way we could clothe ourselves. Electronics are done mostly elsewhere although we still have some capacity. Metal trades are probably okay although I doubt we could ever again reach the capacity we had in WWII. We’re a food exporter. Forest products are okay but there is an ongoing dispute with Canada over their alleged dumping of lumber on the US market. Plastics are huge because an awful lot of production is by mom and pop operations. Chemicals are going full blast. Refineries are a problem because they are running at capacity and there has not been a single new one built in nearly forty years. What’s your take on it?
I assume that it’s the same problem we have in the US, probably more with textiles (except for carpets) than other products. If we were suddenly cut off from the rest of the world, there is no way we could clothe ourselves. Electronics are done mostly elsewhere although we still have some capacity. Metal trades are probably okay although I doubt we could ever again reach the capacity we had in WWII. We’re a food exporter. Forest products are okay but there is an ongoing dispute with Canada over their alleged dumping of lumber on the US market. Plastics are huge because an awful lot of production is by mom and pop operations. Chemicals are going full blast. Refineries are a problem because they are running at capacity and there has not been a single new one built in nearly forty years. What’s your take on it?
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FightingFat
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Yes that’s all it linked to, but did it move? Did you notice anything unusual or amusing about it?
It’s an interesting quandry. Consumerism drives the price down, but in a global economy, that means we have to source labour elsewhere, which means we have higher unemployment.
The difference in the UK is that people don’t support home grown industry. The Rover product is a great product, independant tests agree, but we all want German cars!!!
I think the government should procure Rover cars for the Police etc, instead of buying German, I don’t understand why this doesn’t happen really, if you go to France, everyone drives Renault and Citroen, if you go to Italy, everyone drives Fiats and Lancias (even though they are very dodgy cars).
What about the US? I bet most US citizens drive US cars? I did see a few Japanese imports last time I was there, a few Mercs and BMW’s too! I think even a Jag or two!
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Brendan
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being an engineer from Detroit, we have a bit of a saying here.
“Why don’t the Britsh make TV sets”
“They can’t find a way to make them leak oil”
“Why don’t the Britsh make TV sets”
“They can’t find a way to make them leak oil”
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geezerbob
Guest
Cars here have an identity crisis. Some BMW models are made here. Same for Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. A lot of “American” cars are assembled in Canada or Mexico and all have a lot of foreign made parts. Chrysler is now German-owned. Saab is owned by GM. Ford owns a big chunk of Mazda and all of Jaguar. BMW bought the company that makes the Mini Coopers. Who the heck knows what we drive anymore?
For the most part, police departments here drive cars that are American. Fords, mostly. BMW, which has their US plant about a hundred miles from me, donates a 5 series sedan to the highway patrol every year. Plus, there are enough Chevys, Dodges and sporty cars such as Camaros and Mustangs out there to keep drivers on their toes.
Our state was especially hard hit by foreign made textiles. Over the last forty years, we have lost most of our textile industry, prior to which we were the number one or two producer in the country. I don’t remember the total number of jobs lost, but is was monumental. Add to that all the foundry workers and machinists who supported the textile industry, and it becomes even worse. It is darned near impossible to go inta any store and buy a domestic shirt. I would pay extra to support our workers, but there are apparently none left. I think we’re down to sheets and towels now. So sad!
I sometimes wonder if we should go back to being isolationist and more self-sufficient, buying only those raw materials which are not available here and no finished products. But, that’s about as likely to happen as for the Church to start ordaining women.
For the most part, police departments here drive cars that are American. Fords, mostly. BMW, which has their US plant about a hundred miles from me, donates a 5 series sedan to the highway patrol every year. Plus, there are enough Chevys, Dodges and sporty cars such as Camaros and Mustangs out there to keep drivers on their toes.
Our state was especially hard hit by foreign made textiles. Over the last forty years, we have lost most of our textile industry, prior to which we were the number one or two producer in the country. I don’t remember the total number of jobs lost, but is was monumental. Add to that all the foundry workers and machinists who supported the textile industry, and it becomes even worse. It is darned near impossible to go inta any store and buy a domestic shirt. I would pay extra to support our workers, but there are apparently none left. I think we’re down to sheets and towels now. So sad!
I sometimes wonder if we should go back to being isolationist and more self-sufficient, buying only those raw materials which are not available here and no finished products. But, that’s about as likely to happen as for the Church to start ordaining women.
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Brendan
Guest
That one is always a hard one to determine.
Many of the Mercs and Japanese cars are built in the US, while many ‘US’ vehicles are Mexican or Canadian built.
The new Ford Mustang is built at a Mazda plant located in Michigan, and our Chrysler minivan (built in Canada) has a Mitsubushi engine made in Japan; figure that one out.
And then there’s the Jag, is it British or a Ford?
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Brendan
Guest
And Volvo.
The police generally require a rear wheel drive vehicle, that means either the Ford Crown Vic or the Chevy Caprice.
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FightingFat
Guest
So would you be willing to pay double for your clothes to support US workers Bob?
(I know I would)
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FightingFat
Guest
Well Ford own them don’t they…But they’re still made in Coventry I believe, the heart of England.
Do you work in Motor engineering Brendan? I understand there’s been a massive decline in Detroit, something to do with GM concentrating on massive engined SUV’s while the market got away from it!
(By the way, has anyone got the joke I linked to yet?)
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bogeyjlg
Guest
If the United States were cut off from the rest of the world. The rest of the world would starve.
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bogeyjlg
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As for British manufacturing, I don’t know anything that is mad in England so… what do they make (besides cars that I won’t buy)?
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geezerbob
Guest
I doubt it would be double, but yes, I would be willing to pay extra for domestic products.
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Timidity
Guest
Maybe it’s decades upon decades of consumer memory of that pure trash that was called British Leyland.
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FightingFat
Guest
LOL! Yes it could well be that! How very well informed of you Timidity!
Still, the MG convertible is a prestigious and premium value brand, there must be a way to make the company work!
I think Europe has it’s own grain mountains and wine lakes actually. Also, Africa is already starving.
Loads of stuff-
bexa.co.uk/html/member_listing_by_category.htm
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Brendan
Guest
Sort of, I do network designs for manufacturing systems (robotics, PLC’s ect…) so I’m in auto plants a lot.
The industry does have it’s peaks and valleys. GM isn’t doing so well, but Ford is.
The weak US dollar is very good for Detroit, and the economy is picking up, so things are improving.
SUV’s are the high profit item for the US autos and they are on the declince, but ‘crossover’ SUV\Station Wagons like the Chrysler Pacifica look like a good bet to fill that gap.
Oh yea, pretty obvious (at least to a car guy)
It’s a sinking Range Rover logo for those not in the know
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Timidity
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The word is “experienced”. I used to live in Northamptonshire and work in Oxfordshire. About a 30 minute drive each way. Sadly, I owned a Morris Marina.
And of course, many of my friends also owned British Leyland products, so at least I never felt alone.
For some odd reason, when I moved back to the states, I bought a MG Midget. Some people never learn, I guess.
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