Losing homes due to mortgage crisis...now this?!

drummerboy_73

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_ ... se_drywall

I have mixed feelings on the whole mortgage crisis, since the responsibility is multifaceted, but this really sucks. Basically looks like a situation where homeowners will have no recourse or protection, while the Chinese government, builders, and insurance companies walk away with a profit.

I think one of the biggest problems facing our country right now is the lack of a domestic manufacturing infrastructure, and the demand of consumers for cheap goods that prevents us from producing anything of value. We need another industrial revolution in this country - FAST. I know there's some growth taking place in areas like environmental engineering in green energy sectors and other technical fields, which is great - but we still need food to eat, cars to drive, and homes to live in. If we're depending so much on foreign products to support this need, along with all the other issues we're facing (war in Middle East, Health Care Reform, weak dollar, etc.) we're gonna be in SERIOUS trouble.

Cosmo

Welcome to Capitalism!!!
The 'Get Government out of the way and let the market forces take over' folks are getting what they want... unregulated market where anything goes... including sulfur laced drywall, lead based painted toys and melanmine in Gerbers strained carrots and Alpo. Let the market regulate itself... right? We can trust them. Cutting costs, reduces prices to always low prices... always... and huge profits and increased stock prices.
...
Seriously... who really gives a shit about the asshole American consumer? In the big picture... the 2.5 billion Chinese and Indian consumer middle class dwarfs the piddly 300 milion Americans. and the SAME people make money... regardless of the nationality of the consumer. Go where the consumers are.
It's Capitalist for everyone.

stuckinline

drummerboy_73 wrote:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_re_us/us_chinese_drywall

I have mixed feelings on the whole mortgage crisis, since the responsibility is multifaceted, but this really sucks. Basically looks like a situation where homeowners will have no recourse or protection, while the Chinese government, builders, and insurance companies walk away with a profit.

I think one of the biggest problems facing our country right now is the lack of a domestic manufacturing infrastructure, and the demand of consumers for cheap goods that prevents us from producing anything of value. We need another industrial revolution in this country - FAST. I know there's some growth taking place in areas like environmental engineering in green energy sectors and other technical fields, which is great - but we still need food to eat, cars to drive, and homes to live in. If we're depending so much on foreign products to support this need, along with all the other issues we're facing (war in Middle East, Health Care Reform, weak dollar, etc.) we're gonna be in SERIOUS trouble.

i agree with you. this is just one more reason why i avoid buying goods made in china.

and now congress has approved importing processed chicken from china. this is pathetic.

he still stands

Chicken from China? gross man... I don't want to eat a chicken that was killed and then its dead carcass sat in a boat for 20 days to get across the Pacific.

They'll still market it in Wal-Mart as "fresh"!!!

Jeanwah

drummerboy_73 wrote:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_re_us/us_chinese_drywall

I have mixed feelings on the whole mortgage crisis, since the responsibility is multifaceted, but this really sucks. Basically looks like a situation where homeowners will have no recourse or protection, while the Chinese government, builders, and insurance companies walk away with a profit.

I think one of the biggest problems facing our country right now is the lack of a domestic manufacturing infrastructure, and the demand of consumers for cheap goods that prevents us from producing anything of value. We need another industrial revolution in this country - FAST. I know there's some growth taking place in areas like environmental engineering in green energy sectors and other technical fields, which is great - but we still need food to eat, cars to drive, and homes to live in. If we're depending so much on foreign products to support this need, along with all the other issues we're facing (war in Middle East, Health Care Reform, weak dollar, etc.) we're gonna be in SERIOUS trouble.

The reason we have all the cheap imports is because it's Cheap! American consumers want to pay less, American companies want to make more for their bottom line and that's why they outsource and have China slave labor products of American companies. The thing is, American CEOs are directly damaging the U.S. economy by choosing to look out more for their bottom line by outsourcing rather than their ethical duty of keeping our own economy afloat. Manufacturing inside the U.S. is a lot more expensive than paying China slave labor costs. And staying in America would mean less money for CEOs to pocket.

Green jobs are coming, but it's going to take a while to get the startup going. But there is something you can do. Don't buy anything from China, eat locally grown food whenever possibly, and support American-made goods.

soulsinging

God forbid we ever regulate the insurance industry. Government can't handle that. They're doing a fine job on their own!

Jeanwah

Cosmo wrote:

Welcome to Capitalism!!!
The 'Get Government out of the way and let the market forces take over' folks are getting what they want... unregulated market where anything goes... including sulfur laced drywall, lead based painted toys and melanmine in Gerbers strained carrots and Alpo. Let the market regulate itself... right? We can trust them. Cutting costs, reduces prices to always low prices... always... and huge profits and increased stock prices.
...
Seriously... who really gives a shit about the asshole American consumer? In the big picture... the 2.5 billion Chinese and Indian consumer middle class dwarfs the piddly 300 milion Americans. and the SAME people make money... regardless of the nationality of the consumer. Go where the consumers are.
It's Capitalist for everyone.

The American consumer consumes 1/3 of the world's products. 1/3!! How one country can consume so much and it's not a bigger issue astounds me. And then at the end of the day, we throw it away and repeat the cycle the very next day. http://www.storyofstuff.com/

stuckinline

Jeanwah wrote:

drummerboy_73 wrote:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_re_us/us_chinese_drywall


But there is something you can do. Don't buy anything from China, eat locally grown food whenever possibly, and support American-made goods.

agreed.

but unfortunately, the 'average' american consumer doesn't have this mindset. i am curious as to how many of these homeowners affected by the chinese drywall will still continue to buy other goods made in china?

Jeanwah

stuckinline wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

drummerboy_73 wrote:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_re_us/us_chinese_drywall


But there is something you can do. Don't buy anything from China, eat locally grown food whenever possibly, and support American-made goods.

agreed.

but unfortunately, the 'average' american consumer doesn't have this mindset. i am curious as to how many of these homeowners affected by the chinese drywall will still continue to buy other goods made in china?

Hopefully, few will continue after that drywall incident. But ya know, all those lead paint toys that came from China, I bet parents continue to shop at Walmart and purchase more Chinese cheaply made toys. Because to a lot of people, having more "stuff", means more than have few quality things made with quality materials. It's the American Way to have more crap to call your own. But, simpler living is making a comeback with the recession. I've been reading more and more that people are learning that things don't truly make them happy. Finally, people are starting to "get it".

drummerboy_73

Jeanwah wrote:

Green jobs are coming, but it's going to take a while to get the startup going. But there is something you can do. Don't buy anything from China, eat locally grown food whenever possibly, and support American-made goods.

I agree and I do try to buy American as often as I can, but unfortunately, the reality is that there isn't a lot of choice, particularly where I live (Las Vegas). We don't have many "mom and pop stores" or small business where we can buy affordable US goods. Every community has the same cookie-cutter strip mall type shopping center, and the big box retailers are all we really have. It also doesn't help that I recently got laid off from a 56K a year job I've had for 4 years and have a wife and two teenage sons to support. That's the unfortunate part about the whole vicious circle of this thing - some of us can't afford to buy higher priced American goods when we desire, and so what happens? We contribute to the demand for the cheaper imported goods due to lack of choice and affordability, which eventually, costs us jobs.

In all fairness though, this country's manufacturing infrastructure started dwindling long before Wal-Mart. Yes, they have been a major contributor, and I'm very well aware of some of their more shady practices, but my wife does work for a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, and she is quite happy there. To be honest, her benefits are very good. Her health insurance for example, costs roughly 1/4 of the cost of what my previous employer charged me, and the deductibles are half. We also get 10% off of anything we purchase from Wal-Mart, which in our situation, is a big help. Not to mention, supervisors and lower management receive some pretty nice bonuses based on store performance - a practice many companies do not participate in any longer. There are many people that have come to her store from places like Target and Kohl's who are now getting better pay and benefits.

I'd love to be able to buy more American goods and see our manufacturing and export industries increased, and I'd love to see the big box retailers offer more choice - but it would take an almost overnight and sweeping change to the mindset of the American consumer and of our political and economic policies.

Jeanwah

drummerboy_73 wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

Green jobs are coming, but it's going to take a while to get the startup going. But there is something you can do. Don't buy anything from China, eat locally grown food whenever possibly, and support American-made goods.

I agree and I do try to buy American as often as I can, but unfortunately, the reality is that there isn't a lot of choice, particularly where I live (Las Vegas). We don't have many "mom and pop stores" or small business where we can buy affordable US goods. Every community has the same cookie-cutter strip mall type shopping center, and the big box retailers are all we really have. It also doesn't help that I recently got laid off from a 56K a year job I've had for 4 years and have a wife and two teenage sons to support. That's the unfortunate part about the whole vicious circle of this thing - some of us can't afford to buy higher priced American goods when we desire, and so what happens? We contribute to the demand for the cheaper imported goods due to lack of choice and affordability, which eventually, costs us jobs.

In all fairness though, this country's manufacturing infrastructure started dwindling long before Wal-Mart. Yes, they have been a major contributor, and I'm very well aware of some of their more shady practices, but my wife does work for a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, and she is quite happy there. To be honest, her benefits are very good. Her health insurance for example, costs roughly 1/4 of the cost of what my previous employer charged me, and the deductibles are half. We also get 10% off of anything we purchase from Wal-Mart, which in our situation, is a big help. Not to mention, supervisors and lower management receive some pretty nice bonuses based on store performance - a practice many companies do not participate in any longer. There are many people that have come to her store from places like Target and Kohl's who are now getting better pay and benefits.

I'd love to be able to buy more American goods and see our manufacturing and export industries increased, and I'd love to see the big box retailers offer more choice - but it would take an almost overnight and sweeping change to the mindset of the American consumer and of our political and economic policies.

Remember, you vote with your dollar every day. And if it means a lot to you to not support Chinese slave labor goods, remember that every time you decided to purchase anything from Walmart. I find it ironic that you are realizing the downfall of the Chinese product but praise Walmart. I'm also confused by that. I, myself, was jobless for almost a year until this last July, but kept my values. I simply bought only what was necessary. Shopped thrift stores, and shared what I didn't need anymore. We lived bare minimum, but paid our bills. The mindset of the American Consumer won't change, but we can do a lot individually, for our own peace of mind.

I also know of someone who works at a Walmart Distribution center and they have shit for benefits, though. They're offered the House benefits, which lack in quality, and offered an outside insurance package -- at full price. Walmart will not pay for any of it, but offers to their employees at full cost (over $200 for employee only coverage comes out of a bi-weekly paycheck for the insurance). So I'd like to know how one store's employees have all these great benefits if another store (or distribution center) offers shit.

drummerboy_73

Jeanwah wrote:

I also know of someone who works at a Walmart Distribution center and they have shit for benefits, though. They're offered the House benefits, which lack in quality, and offered an outside insurance package -- at full price. Walmart will not pay for any of it, but offers to their employees at full cost (over $200 for employee only coverage comes out of a bi-weekly paycheck for the insurance). So I'd like to know how one store's employees have all these great benefits if another store (or distribution center) offers shit.

Can't say, but we have coverage for employee+family and it costs $28 every two weeks. This is her rate from the 2009 benefits guide, and I don't think it varies by region or type of store, but I could be wrong. We went with the highest deductible, so that may have something to do with it. I always go with the high deductible because we're all healthy and never meet the lowest deductible anyway. If anything catastrophic were to happen, we'd spend more than the $2500 anyway.

As far as your other comments, we are very conservative and thrifty when it comes to our spending, but like I said, one of her benefits is a 10% discount on anything we purchase (except food - I usually shop at Fresh 'N Easy or Smith's). So if we're going to spend $400 on a TV that's going to be a foreign product anyway, most likely Japanese or Korean (unless you want a piece of crap), then we're going to get it Wal-Mart and save the $40 rather than buy the same product at a different store for a higher price. Might not seem like a lot to some people, but when you're looking for a job, trying to pay bills, and trying to save for a child's college fund - it's a lot.