As for Class Envy, why did you say...

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how mnay letterheads out there can afford a new caddy or lexus or other over-priced gas guzzling, environment-destroying piece o' crap

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...and....

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as you drive past them in your air conditioned SUV, after all, you've got yours

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Who are you to decide who deserves what?

Why is it ok for Al Gore and Dick Gephardt to own and drive a SUV and not me?

Yes Bill, you are absolutely right.....America sucks. Its evil. In fact, it probably got what it deserved 9/11. After all, we are the most free nation on earth. And since no other country is as free as the US, the US must be doing something wrong. It must have stolen something away from another country to have this much freedom.

The US has the most first-time millionaires in the world each and every year. You know as well as I do that no one can become a millionaire unless they steal it from the poor. I just want to know where the poor got the money so the "rich" could steal it.

The US is so evil. Its so evil because it is one of the few countries whose forrests are actually growing in size, unlike Asia and Africa. The US must stop buying their lumber immediately! Who cares if Asians and Africans lose their jobs.

The US is pure evil because the cost of oil is so much cheaper than in other countries like Finland. The US must follow those other countries' example of raising taxes on gasoline and heating oil $3 to $5 per gallon. That'll teach them greedy, evil millionaires, won't it. But wait....if we do that, what will that do to the poor?

Bill, you can gripe about how bad America is, but I've yet heard you come up with one single solution in any of our previous discussions as how to fix these "problems" without infringing on the freedoms as guaranteed in the Constitution.

[ December 24, 2001: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]

I didn't make myself clear. I didn't mean to imply that is what you were doing or saying. Please accept my apologies.

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[ December 24, 2001: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]

I buy what I can that is made in the USA. It's not always possible, I concede, hence my computers.

American cars getting worse and worse? Sorry, that one doesn't fly. Statistically, the gap is now very narrow between the US and Japan. In fact, I bought a new Mazda MPV van made in Japan some years ago because I had purchased a Chevy S10 Blazer that was a lemon. I vowed never to buy US autos again....but guess what? The Mazda was the biggest piece of crap I ever bought and every bit as much a lemon as the Blazer.

I also bought a Honda Accord - made in Marysville, Ohio which was an awesome car. So, I don't think our workforce is inferior to Japan or else it would have been riddled with poor fit and finish/etc.

Who was it that infiltrated our nuclear labs at Los Alamos and stole all our top secret nuclear documents? Hmmmm, wonder what they want with our nuclear defense plans?

This wouldn't have happened if Clinton hadn't sold his sole to those (illegal political donor) devils.

And bombs on Japan? I think most Americans agreed they had it coming. They DID surrender to us and made many long reaching consessions to OUR satisfaction.

There are no military tensions with Japan....there are with China. All's I'm saying is I personally am boycotting Chinese crapola wherever I can..and I'm a realist enough to know that I can't completely be China-free. It really ****ed me off when they rammed our surveillance plane, and held our pilots/personnel for ransom, and then wouldn't give our plane back until they reverse engineered whatever technology they could from our plane. Who wants to buy from people like that? Not me.
Again, buy what you will...I respect everyone's right to freedom in the marketplace....I just wanted to give people something to think about in regards to where and to what ends the money we are spending is going.

Oh, and also about Japan...they aren't my first choice in products either because I will freely admit they are screwing the US in unfair and lopsided trade. But at least they make a quality product.

Sorry if I unintentionally offended anyone.

I don't think China makes a car that is in the same league with Lexus (Japan), Mercedes (Germany), or Cadillac (USA).

I agree with you that not ALL Americans want cheap, cheap, cheap. I want quality at a competitive price....which you will rarely find from China. Price yes, quality no.

If they did make quality items that were competitively priced, and weren't out to screw Americans politically and militarily wherever they can, I would consider buying from them....

I couldn't imagine having a daughter in China...the thought of routinely selling girls into prostitution and slave labor kinda turns my guts inside out.....and how can a guy in America make a living when he is competing against 30 cents an hour child slave labor in China?

I'd rather support the hardworking guy who is trying to support his family in the USA with his own hard work and ingenuity.

Bill isn't saying America sucks...he's saying China sucks and is making it hard on sole proprietorships and small business because of their cheap junk and Americans willingness to buy it.

I do agree with you on the class envy thing....the harder you work, the luckier you get.

I'm gonna shutup, cause I can see I have caused a war which wasn't my intention. Merry Christmas to all and continued success in the new year.

I just think people perceptions are often skewwed because they often believe what they are told rather than verifying it for themselves.

Here's what I see.....

North Carolina and several other southern states lost the textile industry to Mexico because Mexicans are willing to work for less than Americans are. Many blame it on NAFTA. But, when you check the facts, North Carolina was losing the textile industry back in the mid 1970's. When NAFTA was ratified, most of N.C.'s textile industry was already gone - and a lot of folks here blamed it on NAFTA. There was a lot of whining and moaning and a lot of finger pointing. There was a huge outcry about the loss of jobs and job security. But, when you check the facts, unemployment was steadily dropping. Most textile work was low pay and provided little chance for advancement. Most of these people went on to other jobs. Many got even better jobs according to the NC Dept. of Labor.

The simple fact is that most of the stuff from China is stuff we don't want to produce. That is why North Carolina has a lot of migrant workers from Mexico. We don't want to do that kind of work either. And if we don't have to, then why should we?

Here's another thing to consider....

If it weren't for some of this cheap stuff coming in, then the less fortunate here in the US would have a more difficult problem trying to improve their own situation.

No, I'm not nuts.

With the cheap stuff, a person with limited financial means can purchase attractive clothing at an extremely low cost, thereby improving his appearance (i.e. - credibility) when he goes to apply for a job. This person can purchase a vehicle at a low price and low financing. No, a KIA is not a great car, but it will get him to and from work as he as he strives to improve his improve his standard of living. Its this ability to purchase things at a low cost that help the poor improve their lives. And, as their lives improve, they have the opportunity to become one of the big boys and eventually afford to buy the really nice American made stuff if they choose.

As for China, I believe people often get the government they deserve. The same goes with us here. Two hundred and twenty-five years ago, well to do men were willing to lose not only their wealth and land, but their lives to live free. The people of China will have to do the same. 1989 Russia would be another good example. I know there are some who would think of this as being cold-hearted, but its not. History has shown over and over again that anything worth having must be earned. When it is just given, it is often never appreciated and quickly lost.

And now on to my situation. I have two franchise shops and three independent quickie vinyl shops in my town that have all but destroyed the business here with their price wars. Now, I can stand here an whine, gripe and moan about it (which I did at first), or use it to my advantage. First, it forced me to take a better look at our business. It made me a better businessman. Secondly, it pushed me into a direction that I had always said I wanted to go, but never could. If forced me to expand my skills and subsequently my market. Today, I work fewer ours and make as much if not more money. While my competition is working late nights and through some weekends, I'm going home at 12 noon on Fridays and enjoying a relaxing weekend. This is where I think we ought to thank people like China and Japan. Their business practices made us tougher and smarter. Now, Japan's economy is in near collapse. And China, well....lets just say that a lot of them still live in mud huts.

Is our system perfect? No. But, its a heck of a lot better than anyone else on this planet has and I'm darn proud of it.

Sometimes you gotta flip the coin.

Hehehe....yeah, I'm with you for the most part. Yes, I do see where cheap Chinese goods are attractive to some people...and you make a good point about their people having to force a better way of living.

Until that happens, I'm not going to personally support them, but again, as you state it may be the only option for people who do have a more limited budget.

Hope you had/have a good holiday. I'm gonna go watch my new "pearl harbor" dvd....

Of course everybody spies on everybody. But would we ram a chinese spy plane in international air space threatening their lives and an international incident? And then hold their personnel hostage? I wonder....

We prefer to ram japanese fishing boats...they are less of a threat than China.

Have a good one.

Since I have your attention:

What kind of plotters do you use? I recently purchased a Summa D60 and have had unresolveable "error on x axis" problems. The media rollers (for tracking) can't seem to keep the roll of vinyl in place either. It sporatically wants to jump off the rollers and into the back of the machine causing further faults....I'm looking at returning it and going after another manufacturer's product.

Looking for a good quality machine w/good speed/downforce. Budget? I spent about $2,400 on the Summa D60 with a stand and would rather stay around that price...but would pay more for something that is more reliable. I was looking at the Graphtec 4100 series (30") cutter which I could get for about $3,600 with a stand. It's more than i really want to spend (guess I'm looking for something with Chinese pricing haha).

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Hehehehe.....my plotters are all Gerber - enVision 375 and Odyssey. In the past I've had Roland, HTD (Newing-Hall), and Summa, too.

I prefer a pin or sprocket machine myself. I've just had way too many problems with friction fed plotters. That said, my big plotter is Gerber's Odyssey which is friction-fed. The difference with it is that the pinch-wheels move independently and a sensor is used to automatically align the material and keep it aligned. I've cut 30"x50yd. refective vinyl in one shot without any problems.

Thankyew,
Bubbette

P.S. I alredy got me the Boone's Farm Power Roller

[ December 26, 2001: Message edited by: AdrienneMorgan ]

whur kin i git me one of them "Boone's Farm Power Rollers"??????

GOTTA have one of dem Power Rollers!!!

I'll give you $2,000 to get it back! If it ain't broke, don't fix it right?!

Glad to hear it's working for you....is it doing what you intended? I could never figure out how to get rid of the posts I had on the 2 sign pages I had it advertised in, and so I still get calls on it to this day! I bet I've had 30 emails on that sucker.

Yeah, I've had a heck of a time with my D60, and have been working with Summa since I got it (them), but in all fairness...they have been extremely nice to deal with and are working hard to set it right for me...they have top notch (and friendly) personnel.

I'm hoping I was just unlucky and got the ONE bad one in a thousand if you know what I mean.

If I run across any other accessories (for the Roland) in my messy office, I'll send them on to you. Hope you had a great holiday.