Obama: Buy American

[Sir Bandelot]

Umm, google the computers they used on the shuttle some time. The engine design was plenty outdated too.

True, I figured on the computers.

Don't get me wrong, I recognize that the shuttle had flaws. Hell of course it did, people were killed. I'm disappointed that they ended the program before they had something else ready to go. I guess cost cutting is ultimately what forced them to do it. Sometimes it's harder to resurrect a stalled program than it is to keep it going through continuous evolution of new technology. Hope that won't be the case for NASA. I enjoy keeping up on the latest news of ongoing NASA missions to Mars, Mercury and the outer planets.

[bush_cheney2004]

.... I guess cost cutting is ultimately what forced them to do it. Sometimes it's harder to resurrect a stalled program than it is to keep it going through continuous evolution of new technology. Hope that won't be the case for NASA. I enjoy keeping up on the latest news of ongoing NASA missions to Mars, Mercury and the outer planets.

Quite to the contrary, the space shuttle program was extended too long, and was ended for lots of reasons. Suitable replacements were prototyped and canceled, and other programs continue based on priorities. The US shuttle program is not like Canadian Sea Kings or CF-188 strike aircraft that go on forever.

[Sir Bandelot]

Yup...Not terribly interesting...

I try to never get emotional around here. What's the point? It's much more interesting to discuss ideas. Interpretations are more subtle, showing how complicated issue become. If someone outright disagrees with me, I don't care. But I don't feel particularly compelled to make them look stupid either. Everyone's entitled to do their thing. Incessantly nattering and arguing about every detail is not what I come here for.

But pickin on 'Merikans? Oh Yeah

The space shuttle discussion is somewhat interesting, if you're so inclined.

[Jack Weber]

I try to never get emotional around here. What's the point? It's much more interesting to discuss ideas. Interpretations are more subtle, showing how complicated issue become. If someone outright disagrees with me, I don't care. But I don't feel particularly compelled to make them look stupid either. Everyone's entitled to do their thing. Incessantly nattering and arguing about every detail is not what I come here for.

But pickin on 'Merikans? Oh Yeah

The space shuttle discussion is somewhat interesting, if you're so inclined.

Frankly,I don't care about the Space Shuttle...

Shut the oil and gas off...Let the batards in the Mid -West freeze in the dark...

OR...Let them buy their oil from Hugo in Caracas...

They'll definately hate that!!!

Either way,they'll dance no matter what...

[bush_cheney2004]

Frankly,I don't care about the Space Shuttle...

Shut the oil and gas off...Let the batards in the Mid -West freeze in the dark...

Brilliant idea....then Ontario and east would freeze too, 'cause you can't move or refine enough of it your damn self.

Either way,they'll dance no matter what...

But to get Canada dancing, all it took was another "buy American" threat.

[Guest American Woman]

Frankly,I don't care about the Space Shuttle...

Shut the oil and gas off...Let the batards in the Mid -West freeze in the dark...

OR...Let them buy their oil from Hugo in Caracas...

They'll definately hate that!!!

Either way,they'll dance no matter what...

Or heat with another source. Oil/gas isn't by any means the only way to heat a house. But I'm sure the loss of income wouldn't have any impact on Canada - so I say 'go for it.'

Just some friendly advice from a "Yank bastard."

[GostHacked]

The USA has become more of a service industry now than a manufacturing industry. Most jobs these days seem to be in some service roll. Same as here in Canada. Over the past few decades, a lot of manufacturing has been shipped overseas.

With all the electronic equipment I use at my job (as an example) I have only 1 type of device that is made in the USA. Everything else comes from, China, Mexico, Malaysia. Among the consumer market you will find less and less electronics (again as an example) made in the USA. There are some more options among professional equipment, but that is a very small number as well.

The USA does make one thing better than anyone else, weapons of destruction. So the current state of the USAs manufacturing sector is about supporting the military. Probably has been for a long time. Obviously making bombs and bullets is more profitable and more desirable to making things that actually improve people's lives.

[Sir Bandelot]

The USA does make one thing better than anyone else, weapons of destruction. So the current state of the USAs manufacturing sector is about supporting the military. Probably has been for a long time. Obviously making bombs and bullets is more profitable and more desirable to making things that actually improve people's lives.

Ouch!

[bush_cheney2004]

From MSN Money....

Let's set the record straight:

The United States is still the world's largest manufacturer, producing 21% of global manufactured goods -- the same share it has held for 30 years. Second-place China is far behind at 15%, and Japan is third at 12%, says the National Association of Manufacturers.

U.S. manufacturing output is up almost 2.5 times since 1972.

Perhaps most importantly, factory workers and craftspeople have played a big role in leading us out of this recession. U.S. exports hit a record $173 billion in March, up 15% from a year ago and 37% from 2009. Manufacturing accounts for 17% of the 4.5% rise in U.S. real gross domestic product since the bottom of the recession in the second quarter of 2009, according to Moody's Analytics.

http://money.msn.com/how-to-invest/which-products-are-still-made-in-usa-brush.aspx?cp-documentid=6821495

The USA still manufactures a very diverse list of consumer, industrial, medical, military, and other types of products. Canada is the # 1 customer, so some here should know better.

[Bonam]

The USA still manufactures a very diverse list of consumer, industrial, medical, military, and other types of products. Canada is the # 1 customer, so some here should know better.

Indeed. Tales of America's demise have been far exaggerated.

[Guest American Woman]

I found the following interesting:

Canada’s Top Imports from US

The following products were America’s top-selling exports to Canada during the first 5 months of 2010. Smaller load-bearing vehicles and medium to large passenger autos were the top 3 export products shipped to Canadian consumers.

Small trucks … US$3.1 billion, up 149% (3.1% of Canadian imports from U.S.)

Medium-sized passenger automobiles … $2.4 billion, up 53.7% (2.4%)

Large passenger automobiles … $2.3 billion, up 114% (2.3%)

Aircraft and spacecraft including parts … $2 billion, down 14.4% (2.1%)

Automobile body parts and accessories … $1.9 billion, up 67.2% (1.9%)

Natural gas … $1.5 billion, up 6.6% (1.6%)

Piston engines except those for railway or subway … $1.4 billion, up 83.6% (1.4%)

Automobile gear boxes including parts … $1.1 billion, up 92.7% (1.1%)

Crude oil … $1 billion, up 66.3% (1%)

Petroleum excluding light oils … $1 billion, up 23.4% (1%).

link

Worldwide, aircraft and spacecraft, including parts, generated the biggest trade surpluses for the U.S. while computer processors or controllers ranked third.

link

[bush_cheney2004]

Indeed. Tales of America's demise have been far exaggerated.

Another member here said it best years ago...it's not that America's demise is upon us...it's that America's manufacturing domination can't and shouldn't continue as before with other nations' developing economies catching up, often with the help of American capital investment. Canada was one of the first nations to experience this, with more American subsidiaries than any other.

Edited September 18, 2011 by bush_cheney2004