Tariffs and sky high audio prices.
@ghasley All I'm saying is that I don't mind paying tariffs on Chinese goods if that's what it takes to level the playing field with balanced trade agreements that give American factory workers a competitive chance. I have, for the record, worked in China and today support several factories in China. I have worked in many countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Yugoslavia, Italy, Germany, France, Holland, Sweden and Turkey. Not only do I have great respect for people of every country, I have learned that they are really no different than anyone else ... including us. International economics is a team sport, however, and there is nothing insensitive or disrespectful about not allowing some of those other teams to cheat. I don't recall knowing any South American students, but I do like the music. I just this week picked up two Laurindo Almeida albums, one with Charlie Byrd and the other with Bud Shank. Great stuff! In the international spirit, I bought the one with Charlie Byrd from Japan ... I love those Japanese pressings and happily pay the extra shipping! |
clearthink: It is has been demonstrated that the American Chief Executive (President) has successfully executed at least one phase of his tariff plan, policy, and strategy with the successful conclusion of discussions and negotiations with Mexico who has now fully complied with the terms, conditions, and requirements set forth by your CEO. This must annoy, confound, or disturb his "critics" and of course the "experts" hear who have so disrespectfully disputed the unqualified achievemnts, success, and accomplishments of the most successful CEO (President) that the US has ever had at least in recent years. Trump wisely, expertly, and successfully used the tools available to him and he is showing the truth that for him "trade wars are easy to win" and I would fully expect Americans to have faith in his abilities to continue to plan, complete, and execute his winning strategy. Pretty good. Pretty good. Except: the unqualified achievemnts, success, and accomplishments of the most successful CEO (President) that the US has ever had at least in recent years. Surely you meant to say, "EVER!" Already barely halfway through just his first term, and dogged by an opposition party with nothing to do but obstruct, and a media so biased there are entire networks devoted to running him out of office, harassed the whole time for what we now know to be baseless charges, Trump has nevertheless already appointed record numbers of judges, slashed record amounts of growth-stifling regulations, gotten the US out of more crappy agreements (Paris climate, top of the list), and achieved the lowest unemployment rates EVER for blacks, hispanics, women, the disabled, and veterans. The Greatest President Ever has accomplished so much even a news junkie like me can hardly keep up with it all! Now its early on, he still has 6 more good years to go, but already he is well into what history will show to be his greatest accomplishment, draining the swamp. Brennan is out. Comey is out. The best AG this country has had, at least in my lifetime, already has the countries best most experienced attorney hard at work and based on just what's come out so far I think we can look forward to a handful (at least) doing the perp walk and doing serious time. In short ladies and gentlemen these people from Obama and Clinton and Brennan on down to Strzok and Page were involved in a coup attempt against a sitting US president. The coup failed. Trump has the courage to not only confront this, but say plainly to the people, "We have to make sure this never happens again." The man had the perfect life, running a business he loved, with more money than he could ever spend. He sacrificed all that putting the nation first. The last one to do anything comparable was George Washington. |
A great many "Can't find my way home" (shameless hifi ref) @david_pully Very cool, Ivy League! Didn't you find that going to the best of the best school with the best of the best students from both here and around the world enhanced your educational experience? Broadened horizons? Empathy and respect for others? If nothing else, the best music and the best parties were likely showcased by the South American students right? |
@clearthink History hasn’t been written yet on the bestest, greatest, most awesome and huge administration. Its not hard to win a negotiation with a tier 3 international power whose economy is in lock step with ours. It was the trade war version of wag the dog. I dont know how you define "most successful in modern times". Is that the last year? 10 years? 20 years? 30 years? 50 years? 100 years? Reagan had a pretty good record and was internationally respected, even by our adversaries. Clinton had a good run and you could argue that the economy inherited by Obama made a pretty solid comeback. The recent tax cuts, which benefitted me personally, will go down in history as an inflection point, a point of no return for the middle class. |
It is has been demonstrated that the American Chief Executive (President) has successfully executed at least one phase of his tariff plan, policy, and strategy with the successful conclusion of discussions and negotiations with Mexico who has now fully complied with the terms, conditions, and requirements set forth by your CEO. This must annoy, confound, or disturb his "critics" and of course the "experts" hear who have so disrespectfully disputed the unqualified achievemnts, success, and accomplishments of the most successful CEO (President) that the US has ever had at least in recent years. Trump wisely, expertly, and successfully used the tools available to him and he is showing the truth that for him "trade wars are easy to win" and I would fully expect Americans to have faith in his abilities to continue to plan, complete, and execute his winning strategy.What a load, bunch and wagon full of PR, spin and outright falsehoods. This goes to show that every country has a radical, extremist and closed minded right wing element that hero worships any strongman, autocrat and tin god entity that comes their way. All the best, Nonoise |
As far as other nations sending their best and brightest to come study in the USA, is this new????? Is this a thing???? The USA used to send its best and brightest to England to study...oh wait, we still do. We send student all over the globe!!! When I was in graduate school, more than half of my classmates were International and you know what? They learned about us and our business methods and we learned about them and their business methods. I get a little jacked up at the double standard I often hear that only Americans are allowed to set out in the world and expand their holdings but are quick to cry about it when the inverse, no matter how small, occurs. Here's something to think about....If you build an isolationist wall around yourself to keep other ideas and peoples out you soon realize that all that's left inside those very walls are the same people and the same old ideas....it also begins to resemble a jail, something we are quite good at building. |
@inna You can't buy what isn't for sale! I heard this so often over the years, "The Japanese bought Pebble Beach", "They bought the Waldorf", yadayada. "The Chinese bought the rainforest"....the list goes on and on. Why doesn't anyone get angry with the seller while only the buyer gets bashed? The seller wants the enhanced value (there is coal under that mountain or oil under that meadow) and then scream and shout when the buyer who paid up for the asset tries to realize the value of their LEGAL purchase. Outlaw the extraction if that is our desire prior to an extractor of said asset paying up(that would be my desire in ALOT of places). Most areas have considerable examples of conservation easements where a non profit entity raises fund through donation or taxes and then pays a farmer/rancher a sum of money in exchange for deed restricting the property. it works quite well. They realize the financial gain and the public realizes it desire to keep open spaces. Similarly, the west has been buying or taking assets globally for generations. Things get bought and things get sold and things get taken. Look at the Middle East oil fields (at least until they were nationalized). While I absolutely despise everything the Nazi regime stood for, the US and the Soviets took their technology for nukes and rocket propulsion as the spoils of war. Someone else takes the research of someone else and enhances, streamlines, solves problems and introduces new innovations. Once again, in order to negotiate with others you must know them. Intellectual property is a western concept, one which I respect, but thinking that a patent/copyright will solely protect your ideas is outdated. To try to block free market asset sales would send the far right over the edge..."the gubment won't let me sell what is rightfully mine to sell!" ""the gubment won't let me buy sumpthin I want with my very own money". Can't have it both ways. Reverse engineering has been going on since the beginning of .... engineering. I'd bet there was a dude who had an idea of feeding the masses with loaves of bread while there was another dude who believed feeding the masses with fishes was a better approach.....and then another came along and decided to feed everyone with loaves AND fishes...and he made history! Tesla, Edison, AC, DC.... Back to the rainforest and the environment....now, wouldn't it be nice if the populace (the world) would support and fund such important purchases...call it the environmental version of a stock buyback, to purchase large blocks of land to take it off the market forever. BUT....then there's always a neighbor named Cliven....CLIVEN....really?...who believes he has a right to graze his water buffalo (or whatever herds are adjacent to the rainforest in question) on this publicly owned land. |
It is has been demonstrated that the American Chief Executive (President) has successfully executed at least one phase of his tariff plan, policy, and strategy with the successful conclusion of discussions and negotiations with Mexico who has now fully complied with the terms, conditions, and requirements set forth by your CEO. This must annoy, confound, or disturb his "critics" and of course the "experts" hear who have so disrespectfully disputed the unqualified achievemnts, success, and accomplishments of the most successful CEO (President) that the US has ever had at least in recent years. Trump wisely, expertly, and successfully used the tools available to him and he is showing the truth that for him "trade wars are easy to win" and I would fully expect Americans to have faith in his abilities to continue to plan, complete, and execute his winning strategy.
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Yeah. Another point regarding Chinese that was almost untouched in this thread is that there are so many Chinese students in American universities. They pay full price, spend a lot on living, most go back to China with the knowledge how to compete. And some stay here to steal the technology. Of course, there are also true refugees and just normal people who can't tolerate that regime. But all this is not only American problems. Look at the UK and France and even Australia. What will happen if Chinese learn before the West how to control the environment ? This would become the ultimate tool. Big part of the destruction of Amazonian forest is because of the Chinese buying up everything. And in return they give us what ? S***, that's what. |
There was a time when the conditions you would like to see were being operated under. But as jobs and manufacturing were being sent overseas (not stolen), the same movers and shakers were busy contributing to politicians to have labeling laws changed in order to fool American consumers. What you want is not what they want. All the best, Nonoise |
And with the climate change food is going to be more expensive unless major changes are made. On the other hand, so many people I heard of eat way too much, much more than they need. Besides other consequences, they spend a lot on food, probably three or four times more than I do, and then they think that $100 for a record is outrageous. So..I think we have the right to know where the parts for audio components we buy come from, conditions under which they are manufactured, standards, projected longevity etc. Then each one would make an informed decision for himself. If something is assembled in the US from mostly non-US parts it is not made in US item even if the company is US registered. If a critical part like tube or transistor is not American this is not exactly American equipment even if all the other parts are. This country became incredibly dependent on the others, both for import and export, and I think it is no go. Self sufficiency is more important than rampant consumerism. |
@glupson While its unlikely anyone would imply, because obesity rates are on the rise, that hunger isn’t one of our major challenges as a society capable of preventing it. If someone were to use that data to make a case that all is well, they are ill informed....or worse. Denying that a problem exists makes it worse, it doesn’t make it go away. |
Despite the rising levels of obesity in those who can afford to eat badly, or for those who don’t have healthy food choices but tons of fast food nearby, there are over 40 million Americans, 12 million who are children, who are classified as food insecure. That means they don’t know where their next meal will come from or have the means to get it on their own. They don’t factor into the obesity statistics, which could lead someone to think, fake news. One needs to be careful of statistics and who's using them. If, say, 20 guys are in a bar one night and their average income is $40,000 a year, you'd think they were an average American. If Bill Gates were to join them, their average income would be $255 million, and that would be misleading. All the best, Nonoise |
"...there are millions of Americans, including children, who are hungry." Statistics can be so deceiving... https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20181015obesityrpt.html |
@david_pully While I agree with you in principle, there is a measurable point on the sliding scale where consumers abandon principle en masse to migrate to value. The 1% that is often bashed is not in Walmart nor buying direct from Aliexpress. You actually made the point with your new purchase. Once something becomes commoditized, its a race to the bottom. On a macro level, the higher raw cost/labor cost nation is better redeploying that macro resource to an area of less commoditization. |
@pedroboe You are correct although it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Its bigger than that though, excellent parts come from all over the world and are used in a great deal of the “made in America by American hands” type gear. Same goes for cars, motorcycles...the whole idea of the righteous tariff imposing camp makes my head hurt a little. When no making policy they are probably advising pregnant teens on the merits of abstinence. |
I would rather pay an extra 25% for an iPhone than to lose my manufacturing job to China as happened to so many of my neighbors here in VA, NC and SC. I wonder what $100,000 amplifier comes from China? Most of my equipment was manufactured in the USA. I did , however, just buy a BluDento aptX HD wireless music receiver ... it is made in China and it is awesome! |
No matter where you choose to give, its the giving thats important. Go to guidestar.org and research any non profit you desire...that even includes the NFL LOL! You can view several years worth of their IRS 990’s and even view highly compensated individuals in many cases (there are workarounds). But consider starting locally, direct giving. Consider food banks, soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Or local music programs, whatever floats your boat. Earlier this year I got wind that the local high school choir could not afford to hire piano accompanyists so we decided to underwrite that for the year. It would have been easy to complain about why there wasn’t any money for that when I find its even easier to focus on solutions where an immediate impact can be made. Habitat for humanity is another good program. |
A lot of people reading this thread but only a few participate. Just like in reality - one does useful work and at least ten more live on it. And the one who works doesn't even get the biggest share. Anyway, tariffs are nothing, try to get guaranteed authentic Persian carpet. In New York City yes you can, a hell of a lot of money, but you can. I had to put this idea on hold until better times. Damn, it would look great on the wall between speakers and I bet it would improve the sound. Go for authentic no matter the cost and effort. And that is not Chinese electronics parts and tubes. They got authentic stuff but that's another matter. That's one reason why I am not interested in brands like VAC, Atma-Sphere, many speaker brands. First deliver quality and support your own people. I am sorry if more Chinese would be hungry, there are millions of Americans, including children, who are hungry. In reality of many this country is getting less and less fair and more and more poor. Think about it. |
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@oregonpapa Thanks for posting the link. It reminded me of those times in school where the teacher had to leave the room so they would put on a film strip! In short, that is surely an idealized version of free trade and I wish it were that simple. Life is like a game of musical chairs. When the music stops playing and your best friend is left without a chair, what do you do? As a society (I'm talking the society of mankind, not residents of Boogerville), are we willing to share our chair with someone who has no chair? Would you like to be without a chair (or food,or shelter) and absolutely no one was willing to help? The purest democracy on earth right now seems to be India. Pure democracy works but it sure looks alot like a Darwinesque -survival of the fittest - Hunger Games kind of existence. Much like being forced to listen only to a Bose Wave Radio (dig how I just threaded the needle to make this post about audio). |
On free trade and markets, here's a classic essay that should be read if you haven't done so before. I found it in video form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYO3tOqDISE |
"Now if someone is inciting or intending to incite violence or a call to action to harm or otherwise harass others, and he is certain that the Clintons, the Bushes and the Bilderbergers conspired and brainwashed his dog into convincing the Federal Reserve to cut rates right after he purchased his new monster truck with the confederate flag graphics on a 96 month 100% note and that the additional interest he has to pay could have gone toward his Marlboro and high fidelity fuse budget then that is not typically free speech. (by the way, it was me who brainwashed the dog)" Ghasley, I almost choked laughing so hard at that one. |
@inna Shouting "fire" in a crowded theater when there is no fire is not protected speech. Shouting "fire" in a crowded theater when there is a fire is heroic. If you demonstrably believed there to be a fire, that is also protected. Same word, same test for reasonableness. Hating on idiots, within reason, is ok (if not expected). Hating on people because of religion, race, ethnicity or other reasonable human difference is unfortunate and requires higher scrutiny. Now if someone is inciting or intending to incite violence or a call to action to harm or otherwise harass others, and he is certain that the Clintons, the Bushes and the Bilderbergers conspired and brainwashed his dog into convincing the Federal Reserve to cut rates right after he purchased his new monster truck with the confederate flag graphics on a 96 month 100% note and that the additional interest he has to pay could have gone toward his Marlboro and high fidelity fuse budget then that is not typically free speech. (by the way, it was me who brainwashed the dog) Maybe I’m mistaken though. The typical monster truck purchaser understands the capital markets far too well to confuse the connection, surely he would have purchased puts on LIBOR in advance of making such a wise purchase. Jokes aside, hating on others, be it tube, solid state, skin color, religious affiliation (or the lack thereof) is just a clear display of a lack of intelligence and compassion. The higher being with whom I speak on a daily basis doesn’t teach this, She teaches free will but inspires me to stay in my lane. |
