"My company manufacturers tube audio components in the USA. My partner is Chinese so I guess our products are made in the USA by a Chinese man!"
Is your partner an American citizen? If so, it's made in the USA by an American.
Made in USA
I love to support USA products as much as I can. Even if it costs more. Id say 2nd choice Europe or Japan. Last place China.
So USA made HiFi products I have are... Magnepan, Odyssey, Geshelli, Rythmik, Schitt, Bluejean, Belden, Analog Productions( vinyl). Musichall & Monitor Audio (UK), Nagaoka, Magomi(Japan),
Other USA made HiFi I know of.. Kilpsch (high end speakers), Jeff Rowland, P.S. Audio, Emotiva?
Im sure there are more. Please continue list and lets support our own.
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I will try to tread as lightly as I can I truly feel empathy for citizens of all countries with less than stellar governments. China becomes a de facto partner with any foreign company manufacturing anything inside of it's borders. This applies to all trade secrets, labor practices, management, and patents are shared with the Chinese government. Companies move manufacturing there to take advantage of their weaker labor and environmental laws but nobody outside of China really knows what they are doing with all of the information they are gathering on foreign companies. As fractured our own government seems to be at the moment there is one thing both sides of the aisle can agree on, stop China from stealing and spying. Do you know how China became a major nuclear power, espionage, they stole plans for our W-88 from a nuclear weapons laboratory... Again this has nothing to do with average Chinese citizens at least the one's who are embarrassed by the dog meat trade that still exists there.
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I’m just a huge fan of Japanese-made products period. I think it stems from my auto plant managing days and visiting Toyota assembly plants. The cultural difference, the level of detail, etc....was so eye-opening to me. I’ve been out of the auto industry for close to 20 years now. We have a Toyota and an Acura. A much higher level of craftmanship over any GM car I’ve oned. I’ve purchased tons of top-level GM cars thru the years, and none of them comes close to Toyota and Honda. The closest were two SAABs (which had partial GM ownership). My Luxman L-595 is a flawless component. I also have a MIJ Technics 1200GR, Nagaoka cartridge and Mogami gold interconnect. I’m slowly trying to get 90% of my audio gear MIJ. Except my ZU Speakers. I just love my ZU’s |
ghasley"The west has an exceptional historical track record of treating its labor force equitably." sarcasm? read Howard Zinn’s ’Peoples History of the United States’.
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@elliottbnewcombjr yes, a large dose of sarcasm. |
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What Zinn fails to take into account adequately is the gradually rising levels of prosperity, and longevity, for the average American citizen and the benefits that other countries too have achieved by constructive partnering w the U.S. ... Why would he? He'd have to then acknowledge the superiority of capitalism over his obvious Marxist bent. Note that his book is not widely assigned in even the predominantly left-leaning institutions of "higher learning"... and it's also finally being acknowledged that Marx himself made up "fictional historical facts," for lack of better term - including a bizarre fantasy of how great life was in the Eden of some non-existent fictional perfect barter system before the greedy rise of private property - to fit his ever-changing theories, rather than making the theories fit the facts, which is ironic because Marx claimed to be offering a "scientific" look at economic history. Nevertheless, Marx, like Zinn, is a stimulating and provocative writer, and worthy of being read at least for the challenges laid down. Zinn did write a good book though, and food for thought. Does remind one of the nastiness and brutality of which the human race is capable. Met him once.
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American longevity has gone up for those making over $400,000 a year and has gone down for those making under. We’ve had the largest drop in life expectancy since the 1920s.
As for calling Zinn a Marxist, they don’t quite see it that way: All the best, |
as for longevity, Zinn's book came out by 1980, which is when your chart starts. The period that he covers, longevity had a steady upwards rise. And, even with your chart, "comparable countries" also would be capitalist countries... and yes Sweden is a capitalist country. That U.S. longevity has dipped recently, that's only recently and is no indication of the long-term trend. As far as those particular Marxists are concerned, they characterize, reading the article, that Zinn claims economic exploitation as some sort of "happy accident," which he certainly does not claim. Zinn is not a "pure" Marxist - which actually is impossible to define, as Marx himself constantly shifts about throughout his writing career, an uncomfortable fact that many avowed "Marxists" avoid - and I did not claim he was one; but he does have the Marxist bent and is not a fan of capitalism (though I'm sure he enjoyed the royalties from the marketing and sale of his book...). |
No doubt he enjoyed the royalties as anyone rightly would. They helped to keep him going, getting out his message, and probably feathered his nest egg some. I seriously doubt anyone is a pure anything nowadays and just an amalgam of various disciplines. Take economist Richard Wolff for instance. An American economist of good standing with Marxist underpinnings who believes in a better form of capitalism for all. I always hated pigeonholing people. All the best, |
Buy USA. Joined the USN in 1959, dumbly unknowing, between the Korean and Vietnamese wars. Fortunate to have visited virtually all of the Mediterranean countries of Europe, plus some of the Asian and Middle eastern countries as well. A decade and a half after WWII, German pill boxes and the ruins of the war were still quite evident evident and profoundly impressive for a 17 year old "Warrior". Not. Quite amazing for a city slum kid, who 8 years old, impatiently watched "Industry on Parade" and war newsreels from the Pacific, Europe and Africa while waiting for the 17 cent Saturday cartoon show to start. So after a peaceful enlistment I return home (quite hung ho) to start college on the GI Bill and to be frustrated by naive 18 year olds burning flags and protesting the Vietnam War. My first Eco 101 course taught me one basic rule that I have never forgotten. Every dollar spent is a vote for what you personally believe in - taught not in a political sense, but an economic sense. So I to have read Zinn nearly twenty years ago and like any person of average intelligence, I compared what he states as fact and how he writes it to my own evaluation and understanding of history based on what I have learned before Zinn. What Zinn has to do with the quality of sound through variously sourced audio equipment? I dunno. Don't care. But when I cast MY dollar votes I try very hard not to support a non-democratic, tyrannical, radical or American hating country. I don't care what their stuff sounds like. I will do nothing to contribute to the success of such a country. If you seek refuge or comfort from Zinn, if you do not believe in supporting the industry and workers of your country and the friends of your country as best you can, if you just do not care about anything except how you brain interprets the sound your ears collect, by all means cast your dollar votes as you see fit. Please also remember you can still vote with your feet.
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A People's History of the United States (2015, first edition 1980) walks you through the United States' past from the perspective of the marginalized, the disenfranchised and the oppressed. These blinks describe a history of uprisings, protests and activism in the face of a government built for the rich. The Zinn Education Project approach to history starts with the premise that the lives of ordinary people matter — that history ought to focus on those who too often receive only token attention (workers, women, people of color), and also on how people's actions, individually and collectively, shaped our society. Zinn's point, however, is that “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” can be forms of control. Put another way, he's arguing that the Founding Fathers pacified their people by giving them just enough freedom and power not to rebel, while still preserving an unjust status quo. I studied History & Political Science in the early 70s at UCLA (double major). I had an excellent professor on dialecticism of Hegel, Marx and Freud (Wolfenstein, a protege of Angela Davis). Unlike today, I was treated with respect by the professor and deemed a bourgeois liberal Jew (I'm rather Conservative and religious). My comment is that Zinn's attitude is antithetical to my view of history and the United States/consitution/bill of rights. Zinn's good points concern the ordinary people to compose society and their lifestyles/effect on it and history. However, he obliterates the positive characteristics which underline the society, which guide it, which nuture it or destroy it. Overall, United States has a progressive and overwhelmingly positive experience for Americans and the world. Just because of it's many faults and failings does not mean it should be condemned as he does the founding fathers. While one can learn much concerning our history, his attitude is a negative one and should be discarded. The benefit of learning of the potential for governmental and elitist misconduct is to rectify it. All the negative conditions which suppressed and hurt American society of the centuries are learning points for today. While our current society is imperfect, the progressive/socialist/communist movements of today can only destroy and not elevate. Despite the potential and actual problems presented by free markets and capitalism, it is a superior system to that which Zinn professes to displace it. One of my specialties was bureaucracy in government. This is the most difficult area to reform as it is entrenched and stubbornly persists in nearly all societies.
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Trained historian and former high school teacher here…not sure why this thread has veered into this territory but I assigned Zinn to my AP US History students to provide a counter narrative to the assigned text (Blum). In today’s parlance Zinn would be considered a CSCT (Critical Social Class Theorist). He views the progression of American history through the lens of social class conflict with a particular emphasis on the struggle of those on the margins. While I viewed it an essential perspective, I did point out to my students that Zinn is an abysmal historian. In developing his arguments he ignores contrary evidence and often relies on a handful of sources which he selectively quotes. So for my students the text served as both alternate perspective and a lesson in how not to research and write in the field. |
If it's not already been said; I'd say your mostly right on the made in America as far as final assembly in some if not most all cases. Products can claim made in America even if only the final assembly and/or testing is done here. The only way to really tell is to look at the board level assemblies which will sometimes display country of origin, but even then some do not, even it they have be produced outside the US. "Counterfeit" parts abound across all platforms of industry, especially in discrete components like capacitors, diodes and chips, for example, and even in hardware such as screws and fastening components. "American Made" does not always mean "all" American made. |
It relates to the concept of thinking 'we' are good/better/best, and 'they' are not, so don't buy their stuff! Time, past, different times/eras of development ought to be considered/remembered. Which is why I mentioned 'People's History'. To criticize Zinn is changing the narrative. History is written by the Victors. His People's History simply illuminates examples of what the Victors have done along the way to become and stay Victors. I could care less what his agenda is, he collected information I am glad I became aware of. He Lies!!! Uncle Tom's Cabin (how many have actually read it?) combined with the timing of the Fugutive Slave Act was far more important than I ever understood. Of course the Southerners said she lied, made things up, we don't do those things ....After a few years she issued a separate book with complete documentation of everything in her book. If you ever wondered how religion could support slavery, reading that book gives you those answers.
I am very thankful that I found and read it. |
I am glad I was born here, have evolved into ’Democratic Socialist’ (how perfectly frightening to so many). I believe in being truthful and remembering our past, the long term effects to others from our actions, and it’s ever current repercussions. i.e. 'Black Lives Matter' How in God's name does this need to be said? Sadly most people do not read at all. This is the single book I recommend to people who don’t read (any or a lot) but want to understand how in the hell can we remain so damn racist.
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I have never seen riots or protests over lack of food in the USA in my lifetime. I lived and worked in Europe for a few years and saw poverty and begging- especially the disabled there. Society’s first priority is to care for the children and the helpless. Next, is to police crime and protect its citizens. And lastly, temper greed and unfair treatment of others. We will always have a social strata. The wealthy are needed to take risks and stimulate the economy to create jobs. The ideal is when everyone can contribute to society in their own way according to their skills, talents and abilities. What a waste when people are paid not to contribute. It is also a weight on the spirit. If only I could carry a football, perhaps I would not have had to spend my career working in a factory. I work to get the best audio gear I can afford. I am especially glad when that gear is made in the USA. My tonearm (UK), my DAC and CD Transport (Austria), my AQ power conditioner (China), Keces power supply, and my new LHY Network Bridge (China) are the only things not made, ie. assembled in the USA. Oh, tubes came from Russia. |
You probably mean Communist countries. That’s different. I grew up in one. |
I know the difference. I lived in Germany. I saw the poverty and beggars there. I saw how the government, unless you belong to a wealthy and powerful family chooses the education and career for your child. They wanted to direct where my own child would go to school. Fortunately, I was able to put him in an international school, which had several German kids from wealthy families. Every system has its flaws. The US doesn’t have a perfect record but is still the best government in the world. |
War against increasing the minimum wage! Who benefits from that? avg family in usa is 3 persons nat’l min wage is $9.50. 40 hr week, that’s $18k for family of 3. IF minimum wage was increased ALL THE WAY UP to $15., that’s $31k avg income in america is just below $75k. We benefit from the rich? "Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right
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Around 1999 I was working at a plant in a former communist country. One of the associates was talking to me and commented that he missed communism. He preferred communism over capitalism. I was surprised by that and asked him why. I know materially, he was better off than before. He said he preferred the comfort and security of someone else telling him what to do. He didn’t like having to make important decisions for himself. Perhaps some of you prefer the comfort of someone else making your important decisions for you. Not an unreasonable desire. We often times hold off making decisions until the opportunity is gone. Read your books. I’ve been in 42 countries. Every one of them have their rich and their poor. I’ve seen hard work rewarded and celebrated and I have seen the awful scourge of the exploitation of people. Money is not the answer to everything. People respecting each other and treating each other fairly would solve a lot of problems. It can start right here on these forums. |
Outside the USA items made there are most often too expensive, transport, changes due to voltage, certification costs, small sales volume and usually higher markups make them uncompetitive. Some nice products, my first DAC was an Audio Alchemy, very nice, AR speakers were well marketed in the UK and realistic in price, however typically here in Australia anything by MacIntosh for instance is at least twice the price it is worth, even stuff by Schitt is not cheap. |
@henry53 in Eastern Europe a decent speaker (5 grand) would cost 10 grand out the door and you'd have to put 10 months of your salary away for it. |
So...are you really only buying US equipment first and foremost rather than what sounds best, fits your needs etc? To each their own but I'm certainly not - I'm buying what I like the best and what fits my needs and budget and what sounds the best within my system- just like I'm not buying my cars based on where they're made. |
"A member of the Communist Party USA at the time when Stalin was enslaving half of Europe, Zinn ignored that colonialism as he focused A People’s History of the United States on the supposed horrors in American history from Columbus onward..." Architects of Woke: Howard Zinn, Hollywood, & the Fairy Tale of American Evil @noske Far from being Marx's "magnum opus" as it is sometimes portrayed, Das Kapital was cobbled together by Engels from Marx's strewn notes and journals and does not have the coherence nor the provocative effect of Marx's, and Engels', earlier writings, however flawed those writings may be. The Marx-Engels Reader, ed. Tucker, is a better overview. But, it is amazing that you persevered to read all three volumes of DK... yep, that'd be a heavy trudge! |
@dodgealum I'm very glad you didn't teach at my high school. |
Take it easy on @dodgealum because its never been in fashion for educators to present opposite sides of a given topic. Many here are old enough to have had to go search elsewhere to read Darwin, to learn about Wounded Knee, Kent State, let alone to get the truth about slavery, American exceptionalism or manifest destiny. |
ghasley"manifest destiny" I decided not to post this, thanks for the lead in "A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent" (Simon & Schuster America Collection) by Robert W. Merry Those GD Mexicans, coming into OUR Country! .......................................... Does Mexico make any audio equipment? I'll bet a lot of mexicans do make audio equipment, her in the USA!. |
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