Video of 1,400 More Americans Losing Their Jobs to Mexico- Sickening.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

It's interesting that I learned that exact lesson here on ATS a few years ago when I got into a debate with someone about how greedy big businesses are.

Our insatiable desire for cheap stuff drives these corporations to provide us with that cheaply made junk. It's designed and manufactured with built-in obsolescence as a primary feature. It doesn't last very long, and it's not cost effective to repair. So we just trash the old stuff, then go to Walmart and buy the next generation of technology for a price that is comparable to, or less than, the price we paid for the old one. Except the new version has even more bells and whistles.

But, to manufacture this stuff so that the price stays low enough for us to continue buying the latest and greatest toys, costs have to stay low, or continually decrease. And that means that the manufacturer's labor force has to be located in those places where costs are cheapest, and safety and environmental laws are minimal.

Our greediness for cheap stuff feeds the greediness of the big businesses. We are the instruments of our own demise.

-dex

originally posted by: DexterRiley
As I watched that video I am reminded of Ross Perot's warning back in the early 1990's about the "giant sucking sound" of jobs as they move to Mexico because of the North American Free Trade Agreement otherwise known as NAFTA.

I think that was a Bill Clinton thing if I'm not mistaken.

-dex

No kidding ! the country has been run by idiots for longer than most countries could survive. Jimmy Carter set the deal for Clinton to sell the two nuclear reactors to N. Korea ...because we can trust them... They won't build weapons they are good guys. Clinton and Chinese ballistic missile guidance tech . Iraq, Libya, Syria, not to mention the spyware NSA has made and installed all over the world which has been found and now is being installed on our own stuff as a nation.

A cyber attack to make most people believe it may be over for them is a possibility.. You won't hear much about the software because it would be tracked back to NSA.. No one is in control with enough foresight to make decisions based on national security instead of campaign contributions and under the table money deals.. Hey Bob look; we can do this ! Wow way to go John you do that and I will insure you get a pay grade promotion ! Just be sure it can't be tracked back to us...

Just one example of not thinking about the decisions made today and how they will impact the world of tomorrow...

ISIS hackers have already used stolen US credit cards to finance their terrorism because of weak encryption. ISIS hackers have stolen the names and address of US military personnel and posted them online in a KILL LIST. This happened because there was no encryption. Hackers have stolen 21 million US Government employee records, including names and addresses because OPM had no encryption. How soon will it be before ISIS posts their names and addresses online in a 21 million KILL LIST?

softwar.net...



Yet people still believe ...

a reply to: TrueAmerican

I have the solution TA. Take a leaf out of Trumps great big concrete wall plan and force him to introduce a "I'm shifting my production to Mexico or offshore" tax against all applicable companies such that it would not be commercially viable to shift their sh!t to Mexico or offshore.

Trump is a shrewd businessman and this time he will be the CEO of America and US citizens/voters will be his board of directors so I'm guessing he will tax the crap out of his product (corporate America) to keep his directors happy - that way the board will keep voting for him.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

You're seeing capitalism, competition, and free markets in action. These things do not benefit people... but that's clearly communist talk.

a reply to: Sublimecraft

I believe Trump said a while back that he was going to do something much like that to insure American companies keep those jobs here. But I believe he went even further, and wants to force American companies to bring jobs back. It's a two-pronged approach: Deport the illegal labor while bringing back good jobs. I'll say this though- if a miracle happens and he is elected, and does that- and jobs are plentiful and good paying- then there will be no excuse anymore for people not to work.

This video is just one example of the corporate sell out of American livelihoods. Yes, I realize an even stronger case could be made against much larger companies doing the same thing like Ford for example. But I wanted you all to be there when it happened with this video. People just hear about it, but don't see it. Now you see what it feels like when your life is yanked out from underneath you after working years and years to make someone else rich. That is your reward; a wage you can barely live on, and they even take that too in the end. Nice huh? No wonder people are fed up. Problem is, now they gonna starve- can't be fed up when you're starving- only desperate and ready for blood. The most dangerous man is the one with nothing left to lose.

a reply to: Ksihkehe

I voted for perot twice..

I have no proof of this... but I believe he dropped out due to a substantial threat to his family... once he got them secure he came back... thats the only way his behavior makes sense to me.

Capitalism in action. This how things work I'm afraid and I'm not even against capitalism.

There's also the fact that Americans expect to be paid enough to be able to live on. That's just greedy. What makes the average AmericanThink that after working a 70 hour week they should have enough money to pay rent and feed their kids?

a reply to: MystikMushroom

I could understand that being an issue, but only in the event that the product was not being purchased at a profitable rate.

In this instance, it seems as if there was no problem with profitability, and that the venture was not making a loss, but that someone just thought to themselves "well sure, it's good now, but it will be better if we do a crappier job, and get paid the same amount to do it!".

It makes no sense, and it shows a distinct lack of concern for the country, the workers, and the quality of the product itself, and for the end consumer.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Stop buying their products. I hope they all go to Mexico so we can start over with new businesses.

originally posted by: MOMof3
a reply to: TrueAmerican

Stop buying their products. I hope they all go to Mexico so we can start over with new businesses.

I'm not really sure that works much anymore on a small level. Nothing short of a highly publicized, all out national boycott of Carrier products will do. That'll scare 'em to death. Or at least, it should. But even that may not be enough to overcome pestilent greed.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

I believe small business and local communities will be our salvation. With the internet, going global is not the problem it use to be. Let's stop being suckers for these companies. I don't care about scaring them, I just want their traitorous ass out of here.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Not when our politicians and or their organizations can go across the border for campaign contributions:
www.presstv.ir...

The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is set to hold fundraisers in Mexico on Wednesday.

The former secretary of state will not herself take part in the two events, which are slated to be held in Mexico City one day after the New Hampshire primary vote, the Hill reported Tuesday.

Her campaign treasurer, Jose Villarreal, will instead host the events.

Ivan Zapien, a Wal-Mart lobbyist who relocated to Mexico along with the company in 2015, will also be present to co-host the fundraising dinner.

Alejandra Rangel Smith, an academic from Mexico, will be in charge of the fundraising breakfast at her house.

According to the Hill, Mexico City is not “a common destination” for hopefuls interested in overseas fundraisers.

The donors are required to assert that they are US citizens.

The donors are required to assert that they are US citizens... you wanna bet ? Yah right

originally posted by: TrueAmerican

originally posted by: MOMof3
a reply to: TrueAmerican

Stop buying their products. I hope they all go to Mexico so we can start over with new businesses.

I'm not really sure that works much anymore on a small level. Nothing short of a highly publicized, all out national boycott of Carrier products will do. That'll scare 'em to death. Or at least, it should. But even that may not be enough to overcome pestilent greed.

So, you are saying that an American based company must only employ people in America - is that what's getting your pants in a twist? Sounds like a very socialist ideal to me, are you going to be voting for Bernie Sanders?

originally posted by: uncommitted
So, you are saying that an American based company must only employ people in America - is that what's getting your pants in a twist?

Nope. I just agree with Trump in this case that if an American company wants to employ people in other countries that it should cost them out the ying yang- so that there is a SERIOUS incentive for them to employ people in THIS country instead- or at the very least- FIRST. Then maybe America could be great again as the advantage would eventually swing to the people and higher wages- instead of to the profiteers- and foreign, virtual slave labor. And lo and behold: Pay the people more money and they will buy the higher quality products manufactured here (hopefully).

But regardless, the insane trade deficit has to go. That's gotta be high on the list. Very high. It's killing us.

originally posted by: TrueAmerican

originally posted by: uncommitted
So, you are saying that an American based company must only employ people in America - is that what's getting your pants in a twist?

Nope. I just agree with Trump in this case that if an American company wants to employ people in other countries that it should cost them out the ying yang- so that there is a SERIOUS incentive for them to employ people in THIS country instead- or at the very least- FIRST. Then maybe America could be great again as the advantage would eventually swing to the people and higher wages- instead of to the profiteers- and foreign, virtual slave labor. And lo and behold: Pay the people more money and they will buy the higher quality products manufactured here (hopefully).

But regardless, the insane trade deficit has to go. That's gotta be high on the list. Very high. It's killing us.

So how many people does Trump employ outside America when the job could be done onshore to the same level of quality but for a higher wage? You are looking at capitalism doing what capitalism does and you don't like it.

a reply to: uncommitted

Well all I know is that to me, American Capitalism seemed to work a lot better for the people in this country when it was a lot more contained to our borders, and we were mostly using our own labor pool. We achieved a reasonable standard of living, that is now being watered down with International Capitalism. We are basically being forced by 1,000 cuts to devolve into a third world country. Somewhere there is a balance that can be struck. But greed crossed that balance line long ago, and now is so rampant and out of control that the average American can't even afford decent housing anymore. But it is actually a lot worse than that. People are getting desperate, man. Just like in third world countries. We've already been there done that, and going straight back to where we came from. Some would argue we're already there.

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: MystikMushroom

I could understand that being an issue, but only in the event that the product was not being purchased at a profitable rate.

In this instance, it seems as if there was no problem with profitability, and that the venture was not making a loss, but that someone just thought to themselves "well sure, it's good now, but it will be better if we do a crappier job, and get paid the same amount to do it!".

It makes no sense, and it shows a distinct lack of concern for the country, the workers, and the quality of the product itself, and for the end consumer.

In other words laissez-faire capitalism! Profit is all that matters by whatever means possible.

The defenders of capitalism will come up with the "markets gave you all this stuff" argument. But that is nonsense. The industrial revolution and mass production gave us all this stuff. The demand has always been there but one guy with a chisel can't meet all the demand but a machine driven by a steam engine can. It just so happens that the industrial revolution needed capital to kick start ( ie build) the factories. So the whole system was in the hands of the few from the start.

Capitalism is unsustainable as we are all beginning to realise. A new economic order is needed and it absolutely does not involve the means of production in the hands of the few. That thought terrifies some.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Two way street ?

Example

How much does US corn dumping cost Mexican farmers?

Here’s the conclusion:

“We estimated the nine-year cost (1997-2005) to Mexican producers at $12.8 billion (in 2000 US$), $1.4 billion per year. To put these numbers in context, the annual losses are more than 10% of the value of all Mexican agricultural exports to the United States (including beer, which Mexico, oddly, classifies as its most important agricultural export). The losses from U.S. dumping surpass the total value of Mexico’s annual tomato exports to the United States, widely touted as Mexico’s biggest NAFTA success story in agriculture.

Corn [that’s maize to us Brits] farmers suffered the highest losses. U.S. exports increased 413%, arrived at prices 19% below production costs, and real producer prices in Mexico declined 66%. We estimated losses to Mexican corn farmers of $6.6 billion over the nine-year period, over $700 million per year. These losses amount to $99/hectare per year, a crushing blow to struggling smallholders.”

oxfamblogs.org...

This is the thing I hate to see most.
This type of action KILLS communities. Companies/corporations should feel some type of responsibility when you employ people. A lot don't though.
This place basically said, "Screw you, screw your wife, your kids.. Screw your elderly parents who need your help. Screw the city we are in and screw your cats and dogs, because we don't care if you live or die."
Also,
"We are not moving operations down there for a year, so in the meantime, would you mind training your Mexican replacements, to ensure a smooth transition?"
The big shame of it is, this happens all the time in places like this one. Detroit, Flint, Cleveland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, ect.
THE VERY PLACES THAT BUILT AMERICA INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY ARE GETTING THROWN UNDER THE BUS
Best example is Flint. When GM hauled off, it left a void that has still not been filled to this day.
Now its a lead poisoned wasteland where you can buy a house for $2000.

The middle class is indeed drying up. Another brand that will go on my list not to purchase.