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August 6th, 2010
The Associated Press is reporting today that China will soon be ready to deploy their new “Aircraft Carrier Killer” missile, a weapon specifically designed to destroy our super aircraft carriers in case of a conflict with China.
Here is the article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100805/ap_on_re_as/as_china_us_carrier_killer
Since WWII, our navel strategy around the globe has depended on our ability to deploy large aircraft carriers around the globe. The planes they carry being able to challenge potential enemies within their home territory.
Rather than try to match us by building their own aircraft carriers, China is cleverly developing a specialized missile meant to attack our aircraft carriers. The Dong Fong 21D will be a serious deterrent when the missile’s accuracy is improved.
Even more seriously, this weapon could eventually be sold to countries like Iran and others.
We will need to develop much better defense systems if our carrier groups are to be secure.
In the meantime, as a low tech defense, it occurs to me that huge oil tanker ships could be filled with water and sail around our aircraft carriers. That would provide decoys and a shield around our sailors.
Todd Lipscomb
Founder of www.MadeinUSAForever.com
Posted in Uncategorized |
July 24th, 2010
I have long pointed out in this blog and www.MadeinUSAForever.com newsletter that the moving of factories abroad has put our middle class under intense pressure by taking away those good manufacturing jobs.
Here is an interesting article from The Business Insider backing up that position somewhat:
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/the-u.s.-middle-class-is-being-wiped-out-here%27s-the-stats-to-prove-it-520657.html?tickers=^DJI,^GSPC,SPY,MCD,WMT,XRT,DIA
However, his points about the American worker’s expense miss the boat on the other key reasons the playing field is not level with China, etc.. Those include foreign government protection, unsafe products and working conditions abroad, China’s currency manipulation, foreign company’s lack of being liable for safety or patent infringement issues, etc.
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June 21st, 2010
As a Midwest guy that moved to the coast for work, I have to admit being really impressed on the few occasions I have seen dolphins and whales in the wild. There is something naturally playful about the dolphins and majestic about the whales.
I have a lot of friends who are really into the ocean. I understand their feelings, but what I don’t get is that nearly all of the folks I know that are really into the ocean movement drive Japanese cars. Japan kills dolphins and whales. I have seen whale meat in Tokyo that somehow ends up in the markets, though Japan supposedly only kills whales for scientific reasons. Every year Japan sends a fleet of ships to the South Pacific to harvest, oops I mean “study”, whales by killing 1000 of them.
Dolphins are slaughtered by Japanese fishermen by being trapped and clubbed violently over the head. They somehow view dolphins as competition for fish, or they are collecting some for Sea Park shows and kill the rest (young female dolphins are taken for the shows, and the rest of the group is killed). You can see some the gory details in the documentary The Cove (http://thecovemovie.com/).
The Japanese government protecting their fishing industry’s right to kill whales and dolphins is the same government that protects their automobile makers, like Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, and Honda.
The taxes that those automobile companies pay to the Japanese government when someone here buys one of their cars subsidizes their fishing industry.
If folks here would boycott Japanese products until the killing of whales and dolphins stops, it would not be long before these senseless hunts stop.
Todd Lipscomb
Founder of MadeinUSAForever.com
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June 9th, 2010
Please see this cool video from a college student concerned about the USA:
http://tinyurl.com/2dqdhyg
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May 22nd, 2010
Here is an amazing interview with Donald Trump on the China trade issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DZ-I_aEMwE
Special thanks to Robert Hall for pointing this out. Please join me in buying his USA song:
http://www.amazon.com/Dollar-to-the-Giant/dp/B001LYVFX0/ref=sr_shvl_album_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1274551830&sr=301-3
Sincerely,
Todd Lipscomb
Founder
www.MadeinUSAForever.com
Posted in Uncategorized |
May 20th, 2010
Wal-Mart often promotes themselves as the champion of the small guy.
That has proven to be quite the opposite.
For over two decades I have observed Wal-Mart’s growth, strategy, and financials as a customer and potential investor before coming to the conclusion they are actually part of the problem in our economy.
The founder, Sam Walton, truly believed in America. When a Wal-Mart opened in our town, we welcomed them. They had flags everywhere and banners saying “Wal-Mart Saved 150,000 American Jobs!”, etc. all over the store. Even at that time it quickly became clear there was a cost as small retailers in our town, who had a real commitment to the community, disappeared within a few years of Wal-Mart appearing. After Sam Walton passed away it rapidly obvious that the USA commitment at Wal-Mart was gone. It was replaced by an “ultra-low pricing” gimmick. To reach that goal, Wal-Mart became by far the single largest importer of goods from China, often at the expense of locally-made American producers. I have been told by former suppliers to Wal-Mart that pictures of their American-Made products were even forwarded to Chinese producers by Wal-Mart buyers (employees of Wal-Mart that find and purchase the products they sell). Why don’t those suppliers sue Wal-Mart? They are afraid of Wal-Mart and being blacklisted.
As our factories close and millions the customers that had been the backbone of Wal-Mart’s growth face extended unemployment, the cause does eventually come to effect.
This morning’s newspaper has the headline “Wal-Mart Struggles To Keep Shoppers”. According to The Wall Street Journal, “Wal-Mart warned that US sales continue to be slow in the coming months as the working-class customers who form Wal-Mart’s base continue to feel economic pain.” It quotes Chief Executive Mike Duke, “Our customers, particularly in the US, are still concerned about their personal finances and unemployment…”.
Henry Ford, for all his good and bad, did something brilliant at Ford Motor Company – he created a product that his own employees were able to afford. That helped spark our country’s modern middle class.
Wal-Mart, and their ilk, are doing just the opposite. By supporting Chinese industry at the expense of our own, they are causing hallowing out of economy, and thereby choking off our middle class. This has very rapidly increased the speed of the USA’s economic decline.
Todd Lipscomb
Founder
www.MadeinUSAForever.com
Posted in Uncategorized |
May 6th, 2010
Sometimes the international and domestic issues we discuss and the personal reality really do hit home, as I was in NYC’s Times Square just minutes before this latest attempted bomb attack!
I had gone to the city for some meetings with the media that hopefully will lead to a lot more press coverage of our USA issues. These meetings finished Saturday afternoon, so I bought tickets to see a concert at the Lincoln Center. It was several miles, but the weather was nice and I decided to walk and see the sites. Times Square was packed with tourists, including lots of families with a very large number of children. I stopped to compliment the mounted police on their handling of their beautiful and amazingly patient horses, when I realized the time and walked north towards the concert. Minutes later the police starting clearing the area, as those very same mounted police were the first on the scene of what turned out to be a bomb.
It was another attempted attack with all indications that radical Islamic elements were behind it.
I can attest first hand to the number of innocent civilians in the area and how it is not at all a military or government target. It was placed just down the street from the show “The Lion King”. In fact, a large portion of the crowd were international tourists, and I would venture more than a few were Islamic.
I really have to complement the NYPD on their amazing emergency police response – rapid, professional, and brave They showed true grit and American spirit. Men and women that run towards danger, to serve and protect… God bless them and keep them safe.
The cowards that planted that bomb were clearly going after innocent lives. Their motivation has troubled me since. Do they expect Americans to fight each other after an attack? Such tragedy brings us together as a people. Do they expect us to surrender? They only strengthen our resolve. Did someone promise them “paradise” to kill that young family with an infant in a stroller, the sailor on leave, the couple on a date, etc.? Surely even the dullest of their people cannot equate any just god with murdering innocent children.
I can say it was an act of repulsive cowardice. Of those that prefer shadows to the light of day. Those that would hurt that mother and baby strolling by rather than stand like a man for what they believe in. Indeed, it won’t be paradise they go to when they meet their maker.
Sincerely,
Todd Lipscomb
Founder
www.MadeinUSAForever.com
Posted in Uncategorized |
April 3rd, 2010
The Federal Government’s Consumer Product Safety Commission finally released guidelines in regards to the tainted Chinese produced drywall used in thousands of new and remodeled homes largely in the 2006 to 2007 timeframe.
Here is a link to the government website concerning this issue: http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html
Not just should the drywall be torn out, but they are also stating that much too high levels of the dangerous chemical hydrogen sulfide in it means the electrical systems, gas piping, fire sprinklers, etc. have been compromised and needs to be removed. In many instances, the total cost to do this much construction is equivalent to the cost of the home.
High levels of hydrogen sulfide is also known to cause health issues. An AP article (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Feds-Homes-with-Chinese-apf-3307134453.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode) cites reports that the levels are 100 times those of drywall produced outside China.
Many homeowners are attempting to sue the Chinese companies that made the drywall, some of which are at least partially owned by various Chinese government entities, but only one has replied to the lawsuits.
The homeowners lawyers are suggesting the US government pay for the repairs where insurance won’t, but it is clearly the responsibility of the Chinese companies and government. It is utterly ridiculous to think our government (meaning us all) should have to pay when China is clearly at fault. If the Chinese companies involved will not pay, the Chinese government must.
This should also be the case with lead poisoned toys, etc. where Chinese produced importers are not able to backup their product liabilities.
In fact, this ability of Chinese companies to get around any financial liability for the products they produce is a huge cost advantage over American producers. American companies can easily be sued, and lose everything, or even go to jail if they make these products in a dangerous way.
The safety of our citizens should not be compromised just to import cheap, chintzy goods.
Todd Lipscomb
Founder of MadeinUSAForever.com, your source for American-made products.
Posted in Uncategorized |
March 23rd, 2010
In an unusually brave move for a corporation, Google has moved to stop censoring its Chinese language search engine.
For some years now, Google and other Internet search engines doing business in China had accepted censorship rules from Beijing that left Chinese computer users unable to research or know the truth about issues like the student protests in China, worker safety, industrial pollution, or the occupation of Tibet. Google decided they could no longer tolerate China’s state control, and recently took off the censorship software. Chinese users are now free to search anything they want on the Internet.
A Chinese official quoted in this morning’s Wall Street Journal said “…express our discontent and indignation to Google for its unreasonable accusations and conducts.” Meaning Google is in serious trouble in China. They will probably be kicked out of China in the near future.
Google’s move is a refreshing. It would be great if other companies would consider these issues when doing business abroad.
Todd Lipscomb
Founder of MadeinUSAForever.com, your source for American-Made products.
Posted in Uncategorized |
March 3rd, 2010
The Greek government debt meltdown is actually threatening to become the first domino in what could easily threaten the European Union itself.
What is causing this situation? Much like our government, Greece has continued to borrow and spend much more than it’s economy can support, with a government spending deficit exceeding 12% of their total economic output (don’t laugh as our’s is approaching 10%).
However, real life is never quite so simple – also like the USA, Greece has let it’s industry falter and close. This has led to a massive trade deficit, including a $15 to $20 billion dollar annual trade deficit with Germany alone. Like a tire needs air, an economy needs the good paying jobs that only industry can bring to the middle class.
Economies are circles and without a healthy trade balance, large government spending deficits are certain. This situation in Greece also clearly shows that low paying tourism related service jobs, along with government jobs, cannot make up for the lack of industry and healthy trade.
There is talk of a temporary bailout, led by the Germans and French, with forced government austerity measures. As Greece owes German and French banks over $170 billion, it is little wonder Europe is starting to sweat. Clearly the Germans, and to a lesser degree French have been supporting Greek government bond sales the last few months behind the scenes to stave off a complete collapse. Even with all that support, interest rates for Greek bonds are rising, and all three main Greek banks credit ratings have been downgraded by S&P, etc.
What is the plan to fix this? There is no plan. It seems the Germans and French politicians, though they think little of Greece, have decided that carrying than nation for a couple years and praying for miracle is better than that country going down on their watch.
Why should they care if Greece goes down to economic ruin? We could talk in big words about European unity, but in the end it comes down to money. That $170 billion that Greece (a nation smaller than Los Angeles) owes the Germans and French is a hard pill to swallow, but Germany also needs that trade deficit to keep it’s own workers employed. Much worse is that Greece dropping off the cliff will take the other nations who let their industry die with them – Spain, Portugal, Italy, and even Britain face the same fate. Even Germany cannot carry more than one Greece, not to mention bigger nations like Spain, etc.
These are warnings we desperately need to heed while there is still time for the USA. The government budget deficit and our trade deficit are tied to the deindustrialization of the USA, just like any other nation. Just as we could not have fought WWII without our industry, we cannot stem the tide of economic decline without it being healthy.
Todd Lipscomb
Founder of MadeinUSAForever.com, a source of American-made products.
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