US companies doing the US good

[Dangerous Doug]

I am in the process of watching a US company cut US Operations by 50%, and shipping the jobs overseas. Disheartening, especially in this economy. Management makes decisions based upon the short-term impact on the few numbers that Wall Street looks at, to reap their bonuses despite the job losses and detrimental impact on the US economy. Greed, is not good.

Alternatively, I'm flipping through my latest issue of Road&Track (August 2009) and on pages 70-71 there is a two-page advertisement, the first paragraph reads as follows:

"What matters to you? Today, America needs fresh leadership to lead us as a nation out of this economic crisis. Leadership must come not only from our political leaders but also from the average citizen. The exporting of American jobs is a trend that must be stopped and reversed. When I walk inot my local hardware store, I typically find 85% of the goods for sale are manufactured 7000 miles away. Recognizable American brands have been forced by shortsighted management and buyers at large national chains to build factories overseas just to save a lousy $0.50 on a tape measure. To these ruthless buyers, it is all about the money. Rarely are product quality, the political system, human rights, animal rights and environmental costs to the planet considered, not to mention the cost to our society of exporting not only jobs, but an entire factory!"

It continues:

"At MacNeil Automotive, we are doing our part for the American economy and for our 300 million fellow citizens and neighbors. My philosophy is that if my neighbor doens't have a job, sooner or later I won't have a job either." [David MacNeil, Founder and CEO MacNeil Automotive]

The two-page ad continues, but I'll let you go read the rest yourself. Though I have purchased products from MacNeil Automotive, I did not know this about their corporate philosophy. I'm impressed, but I also realize that I would not have known this about MacNeil Automotive if they hadn't taken out this ad.

This got me to wondering, what other companies out there think likewise?

For me, I'm frustrated by watching the executive management of major corporations pander to Wall Street, so the execs can get their unfair share of the pie. My business goes to companies like the one portrayed here, keeping jobs in the US, sourcing whenever possible in the US, and doing their part to bolster the US economy.

So, what do you think? What matters to you?

Any other like-minded companies to add to the list?

DD

[Jamo]

MacNeil (Weatherguard floor mats) has been running those pieces for a couple of months now...impressive in my book.

[Ron61]

We need more companies that will stay here but until the greed and Union factors are ruled out, it is going to be hard to accomplish. Unions are bad, but I believe the greed is the worst factor in all companies leaving here. They claim they can't be competitive if they stay here and pay the high wages, but if we put a tariff on the imports from all foreign countries to make their goods as high as the ones made here, would that not help the situation. Just my thoughts and maybe completely off base.

Ron

[4RE KLR]

OOPs

double post

[4RE KLR]

Originally Posted by Jamo

MacNeil (Weatherguard floor mats) has been running those pieces for a couple of months now...impressive in my book.

Indeed.
We should support ONLY those companies that support the USA

[427sharpe]

When a government refuses to properly use tariffs to protect American industry it is only a matter of time before high paying industrial jobs get shipped to low paying countries. Add to that our penchant for 'lowest price wins' (WalMart, anyone?) and you have a recipe for a nation devoid of manufacturing base. All examples of ridiculously high costs associated with biased 'free' trade. I went to buy a new flag before the 4th, and it took me a full day to find one 'Made in the USA'.

[Dangerous Doug]

Originally Posted by 427sharpe

I went to buy a new flag before the 4th, and it took me a full day to find one 'Made in the USA'.

Seriously?

[Buzz]

What the companies need are consumers who are dedicated enough to pay the slightly higher prices and keep the business at home. Ultimately, the choice should lie with the consumer. More government interference in the marketplace leads to tariff wars that put money into government coffers short term and screw everyone long term.

At least by buying local you guys in the US are lucky enough to be reasonably well assured of decent quality. Supporting the buy local campaign down here requires some serious dedication and sacrifice !

[392cobra]

Originally Posted by 427sharpe

I went to buy a new flag before the 4th, and it took me a full day to find one 'Made in the USA'.

Robert,
I've been buying my "Made in the USA'' American Flags from AMVETS,American Veterans, for a number of years.
They employ Vets and the flags are made by them.

"FAQ
I am interested in purchasing an American flag. How can I obtain one?
Our most popular type is an 3'X5' all-weather nylon flag with double-stitched stripes and embroidered stars. They are a nice way to show your patriotism. We have several clients who return again and again for flags as wedding or Christmas gifts. This flag is available to you in exchange of a $30 minimum donation. Mail a check payable to AMVETS National Service Foundation 4647 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, MD 20706."

http://www.amvetsnsf.org/index.html

[427sharpe]

Thanks for the link...I finally have a source! I replace mine 2 times a year and fly it 24-7 (illuminated, of course ).
I was dead serious about my search on the 4th. I used to buy at WalMart before they became MaoMart, then switched to a local (and very good) hardware store called Turner Hardware. When I went in there, EVERY flag was made 'Not in the USA'. Finally found one at a flag dealer in Dallas. Picked up a US Navy flag as well so the stars and stripes don't get lonely.
Now I have a reliable source, and the $ does some good as well so it's a win-win!

[cobra bill]

We are one of the only countries that does not use tariffs the way they were intended, you bet its protectionism, it used to be that if a shoe cost $20 to be made in the USA and it only cost $5 from China, then the tariff was $15 to level the playing field, and so what if it goes to the government coffers, that's less we would have to pay, the tax burden is now on the middle class to make up the shortfall, every other country does it, the reason we don't is these multinational corporations, who have no vested interest in our country and barely pay taxes because they shelter it overseas have over time paid off some position to change the rules in their favor.
It's not the unions, all they are trying to get is a fair living wage for their employees, do you want us all to be Wal-Mart employees, and have to get food stamps to feed our families after working a 40 hour work week, and no healthcare, do they work any less hard then the union worker at Safeway's but they get a living wage and don't have to depend on taxpayers to offset their low wage with food stamps and emergency room healcare.
If we had affordable healthcare that would level the playing field significantly, and it would not be such a large part of union demands, but when CEO's are making in excess of 700% more than the workers on the floor, where they were only 20% higher in the 60's what does that tell you about greed on the top. And now they and the share holders have come to expect 20 to 30% profits every year, its un-sustainable in the 50s and 60s growth was 2% 3% on a good year and they were grateful for it, but the culture of greed changed everything.

[Dangerous Doug]

Cobra Bill nailed it. Short-sighted decisions by corporate executives to manage the numbers and ratios analyzed by Wall Street. Manage the ratios right, Wall Street reacts and the stock goes up in value. Execs get their near-term bonuses AND their options go up in value. Wall Street rides the upward trend on the stock price, and brokers take fees for buys on the way up, and sell orders on the way back down.

By pushing costs down (i.e. outsourcing to China, et al) you reduce your cost of goods sold, increase your profit margin, and reduce your days of inventory all in one swipe. Wall Street loves this, so corporate execs manage accordingly.

As long as we keep filling the trough, the pigs will continue to feed.

DD

[Ronbo]

CB didn't "nail it" tariffs should reflect the country your trading with's tariffs (not be used to protect incompetence). This has been the problem for some time. Really want to balance things don't allow foreign ownership of US patents either.

Foreign ownership should be balanced as well. Some of the worst examples of this are France and Sweden, both control many communications, transportation and utility companies here (once illegal in the US). BP is another one.

When you think about it any foreign business has the disadvantage of shipping costs, if you can't compete against that, well you suck and need to do something else with your life. I'm not the slightest bit interested in protecting $50/hr lug nut tightener's jobs...

CEO's salaries? Well the stock holders didn't mind (welcome to the largest Ponzi scheme ever, the US stock market), since it amounted to about $10 of the price of a car I'd say they haven't fixed Sh!t. Public trading of company stock should be outlawed, period. (Trump and Buffet may not like this, f**k 'em, they're the problem just as much as 'ol Bernie was)

In another 50 years or so it'll happen again and the "experts" will write articles about how it mirrored the last depression, like they finally are now.

If your financing your future, you have no future...