I've operated my one-guy wood shop for 15 years. Folks sometimes ask why it costs "so much" for me to make them a table. I tell them that if they just need a table to play cards and eat breakfast at, go get one from your store of choice for $100. But if you want one a custom size, with a distinct look, something your children can argue over when you die, where maybe you can even come by and help with the finishing, come on over and we will get it done. Most of my work is not fancy but people remain amazed that someone still does this kind of thing in Los Angeles.
In the past three years, I am surprised there are any businesses left in Los Angeles. Must be an indistinct unmarked shop with security akin to Ft. Knox.
I grew up on and inherited handmade furniture from my family. Practically no one recognizes it...let alone appreciates it, or the intellect and dexterity required to craft a chest of drawers. I sit every visiting child on a 200 year old Windsor and tell them the are seated on a work of art.
A lot of people just dont understand the value of artisan goods. The search for a pair of scissors consists of opening their amazon app and buying the cheapest one they see for $3. They use it twice, it breaks, they buy another. My family thinks I'm crazy for buying a $300 pair of handcrafted industrial tailor shears. It will last so long my ghost will be using them and I find great comfort knowing that my great grandchildren will be terrified to go near them.
As I was growing up, my dad taught me to pay attention to quality for 2 major reasons. First, he said, if you can spend $10 on a pan that lasts you a year or $20 on a pan that lasts you 5 years it should be obvious what's the better choice. But more than that, and the piece of advice that's helped me the most, is that EVERY time you use that whatever-it-is you bought, you'll experience the extra quality and be happier, instead of getting frustrated by subpar equipment/tools but you saved a few bucks. I was lucky enough to be able to thank him for that advice before he passed.
So right, I buy Al-Clad cookware, cause it's made here in USA of high quality materials. I see people buying cheap clothes that barely last of Stand up to washing. I'd rather spend $20 for a t-shirt that I know is going to last.
you are so on point for tools. For years I got cheap tools but a few years ago I sprung for a good set from Milwaukie (drill, driver, multi tool) and I will never buy a cheap tool again.
He was a wise man. I never buy the most expensive tool but I also don't buy the cheapest. Like you stated, a cheap tool will continue to fail and interrupt your workday which is lost revenue that you cannot pass on to the Consumer.
Cheap tools are great, if it’s a tool you’re only going to need a few times. Tools you rely on need to be good quality. The rj11 crimp tool I’ve used twice at work in the last 4 1/2 years? The $5 version works fine. The wire strippers, multimeter, and impact driver I use all day every day? You’d better believe I bought the highest quality I could find.
My soon to be 16yo daughter will be starting welding classes in the fall. On the other side of the row my 18yo son is honors focused on economics as a freshman at Ohio State. I'm excited for both if them and their respective journeys.
You can filter products 50 different ways but not " Made in USA" and that is 100% by design. Its so disappointing, then you get sellers hijack Words like "USA" or "American" in the description but read further its says- Imported.
Even more ironic that Bezos has pledged billions to reduce carbon emissions, but the simplest way he could decrease emissions would be to increase the percentage of domestically produced goods.
14 years ago I started down this path of entrepreneurship for building sustainable factories in Mississippi using algae as a renewable material. After 12 years we found that all of our BLOOM algae resins were being purchased for footwear brands which required us to export everything to China. In 2022 we decided to bring it home! We raised local investment and built a new sneaker factory in Meridian Mississippi called "Shloop" for Made in USA sneakers using innovative technologies and sustainable materials.
Maybe if they had good-paying american jobs they could afford to buy more expensive american-made items? I am old enough to remember Sam Walton bragging about how everything in Walmart was made in America. Every item in the store had a red white & blue sticker on it that said "Made in USA". Then these companies started wanting more and more profit so they started buying from countries that used child labor. Then they wanted even more profit and started lobbying congress against raising the minimum wage. The common denominator here is corporate profits. Capitalism is not sustainable when these companies require a never-ending increase in profits. There is only so much wealth in the world. For some to have so much, it is necessary for so many others to have very little.
It isn't just corporations wanting higher profits. Government taxes and regulations causes businesses to leave too. Why deal with US regulations when you can go make the product in China which doesn't have regulations.
If the option to buy "made in America" products is available, then I will go that route. But kind of hard to go that route if the option isn't available. But you're not wrong.
Hi Mike. I like flannel shirts. I get them at Duluth trading. Made in Vietnam but cost $50-$70. If they were $120 or more I couldn't do it. It's a conundrum.
Actually it is both a National and Federal Requirement. Telling you this as a CFR certified government contract specialist. It's just every Democrat presidency chooses to ignore enforcement, let alone allow American owned industry to move overseas without penalty!
Thanks. What we buy in our federal programs is a different story, for sure. But for the everyday goods and services we use, "made in America" isn't really that important... except for pride, and GDP might, and economics, and all that... But that really isn't nearly s important as "Not made solely by our enemies" ... Because if the supply line is ever cut off... Bad juju
It is a requirement if you ever expect this country to be self sufficient again and not depend on other countries for everything from food, to gas, to clothing, and everything else! Not having a solid manufacturing base does not support good economic growth. Having nothing but basically a service industry driven economy is a recipe for disaster!
As a small manufacturer myself I have discovered that with careful sourcing you can both be made in America and maintain good margins. A major brand offered to rebrand my product and had a small run made at their Chinese factory to test and without a doubt had I gone through with the deal it would have killed my product and my whole business.
It's hard explain to people who can't understand the importance of flannel shirts,. For people like me we actually can't wait to wear our favorite shirt as the fall leaves signal the coming winter, it's a true comfort.
CHECK THE CONTENT TAG on your garment b4 purchasing to see what the fiber is. If at all possible I try to avoid synthetics as I'm not real keen on wearing 'pop bottles'.
If you are wearing cotton flannel you are doing it wrong. Wool in wintertime. Always. It is good at keeping animals warm. It breathes, it dries quicker than cotton, it keeps you warm when it's wet, it is just as fuzzy, it will stretch and retain it's shape. You can buy good durable active wear in wool. Pick your favorite camping store or catalog and buy wool stuff. You will never go back.
I think the biggest problem is that we're trying to bring back quality in a society that's been trained to desire quantity. They've learned, "That's too expensive - I won't be able to buy this dozen other things I want if I buy that." Chasing microtrends is one example. With the current political climate, things may swing back in our favor out of sheer necessity, since people won't be able to afford much in the first place. I've definitely started reaching for whatever quality I can get my hands on. Would love to see more wool and naturally-tanned leathers available here in the states.
I manufacture truck bodies. You’d be surprised how many customers I get who don’t want junk and don’t care what it costs to have something well made that will last them. It’s certainly satisfying providing something for people that do appreciate it
Yes. But flannel shirts back in their heyday weren’t considered quality. They were for everyday citizens. I wouldn’t want these things to come back as a luxury item. It’s quite predictable that the “natural” market would up-sell a cotton t-shirt for a $100+. It’s poverty chic really…
I worked in a cotton mill for 12 years...Sara Lee was next door with the dye house, knitting machines, and other areas. The mill I worked in was "raw cotton to yarn" that then went next door to Sara Lee. It was long hours and hard work.
@@catatonicbug7522I don't think the Sara Lee mentioned is the baking Sara Lee. Why would cloth yarn go next door door for more processing at a BAKERY?
@@lynnodonnell4764 Did you know that Sara Lee (yes, the "baking" company) owns nearly 60 other brands? At one time, Sara Lee owned Wonderbra, Playtex, Hanes underwear and many other clothing lines. They are a multinational company with their hands in a lot of things we don't expect a "baking" company to be in.
I learned to sew years ago. Last year I made all of my clothes for the fall. It has really made me rethink cheap store bought clothing. I would rather make it myself than buy it from China.
I really wish my local college had a community class to teach beginners how to use a sewing machine. I'd take it in a heartbeat. Followed up by a pattern making class. Yes I know there are online courses but some things are better learned face to face. Hands on skills being one of them.
It was the greatest disaster when the industry went off-shore and took all the textile mills out of this country. The fabric of our country - labor and industry needs to be back in this country! We made the greatest materials and tossed it to global labor.
PEOPLE,IT'S ALL ABOUT $$$$!!! Americans can't, and will not pay for products made in the US!! The AMERICAN WORKERS AND big AND here CORPORATIONS WANT TOO MUCH $$$!! We want inexpensive---we buy & support foreign corporations. Industries left this country, NEVER TO RETURN!! sad to say but we ARE going to LOSE this next war
Mike you are a National Asset. Been watching you for years. Unfortunately until the existing educational system that exists today is gutted and returned back to the states, our great nation will burn itself to ashes from the inside.
You are a treasure! I would love to chat w you one day. I am a former voc ed teacher turned American manufacturer (33 yrs). It has been a great American story that i have been blessed to live
today, in a stroke of luck i haven't had in decades, i found a pair of Wool ww2 surplus pants in a small. for 9 dollars. actual unblended wool. I believe i teleported to the till with them. keep up the good work Mike
Mike, I came out of my four year apprenticeship with a journeyman’s certificate and two years of college. So many “University” types don’t understand the complexity or knowledge required of the crafts. Trade theory, by itself, is worth a four degree.
Fits not that they “don’t understand”, it’s actually 2 things else entirely! 1. They don’t give a shit. 2. They’ll be damned if they do anything that may garner a callus or a bead of sweat.🙄
If you haven't heard of it yet, check out Origin in Maine. They are making boots, jeans, hoodies, hunting gear and more 100% US made down to the cotton grown in America.
A couple of years ago i started to realized that nearly everything is made in China. I dont buy as much but i read lables now. My kids and husband bought me a flagpole and USA flag and my only request was that it was made in the USA.
You have to understand. We KNOW the well made more expensive item will last much longer. But we can't put together the cost of the pricier boots at one time. We can only come up with the money for cheaper boots at any given time and if we need the boots now then we'll get the ones we can afford knowing full well we will need to replace them sooner and that it will cost more in the long run but people who live hand to mouth like i do can't afford to think link term when it comes to financial decisions we deal with immediate needs as they come up with whatever resources we have at that time.
As a chronic hobbyist, the quality (lack of) replacement parts for small engines and automotive stuff is atrocious. I'd love to buy american made or factory replacement part, but when there's a $300 price difference, it makes it real difficult...
Thank you!!! I look at every label and try to support made in America. Shirts to sheets, I am so tired of the garbage available. Please emphasize the longevity. I know I am not alone and I will pay more for quality. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Mike for your videos. This video reminds me that I desire to use what God has given me to have "Made In Texas" mean something. I have so many skills in electrical, manufacturing and others that I need to utilize them. I would hate to be the servant that was given 1 talent and he hid his Master's talent in the sand.... Thank you all for what you do. Keep up the good fight. God bless you and your families.
And the reason for low quality is not that other countries are incapable of producing higher quality products. It is Americans insatiable appetite for cheap stuff. It's the big companies that set the spec on the product. Because they know Americans will buy them. So there is no incentive for them to change. It's up to us
Making anything in America is incredibly important. I am 53 and have constantly been disappointed by the lack of effort to buy and support things that are made here! Most people I meet just don't care.
Mills and clothing manufacturing are returning to the Carolinas. It great to be able to get quality products again. I have a wonderful flannel shirt, I got off a clearance rack - in 1978. Looks brand new . Hasn't even lost a button. Worn and washed a lot. One of my favorites. Well worth the cost. It's going to still exist when I don't. Finding a good shoe repair shop is nearly impossible at the moment. The $80,000 truck is made of mostly plastic and made to break in 5 yrs.
I was a cabinet maker and made beautiful furniture, in pine, oak, maple, cherry and birch, custom one off furniture. I did this for almost 15 years, but in doing so was not making enough money to buy the wood to make my own furniture for my own home. What I could do is buy solid pine furniture from IKEA and swallow hard in doing so, because my wages didn’t allow me to pay for the wood I was making furniture with, for my own designs. The pieces I have made for myself are my most cherished possessions and I take a great deal of pride in owning them.
A real truthteller can never be a politician. Nobody wants to hear the honest truth. Nobody. At some point they piss off everyone. Much better to be on the outside shining the light on truth for all to find in good time.
When I was working in construction or mechanic I wore one brand and style of work boot on my feet for hours no matter the weather and they would hold up for 3or4 years my wife would say you pay $150 for your shoes and I only pay $10 and get a pair free, when I pulled out about 30 pairs of her shoes that were like new and my shoes that I wore for every reason and never complained about my feet hurting she finally got it in the long run quality is more economical and my boots never clashed with my Levies.
I once worked for a Land Surveyor in Southern Michigan. My go to work boots from early March to late October were genuine, US Army Jungle Boots. They lasted 3 years or more, and better yet, they only cost me $25 at the Main PX at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin back in the early 90s.
There was a lovely economic dissertation on the high cost of cheap goods. They did the analysis of a high cost high quality pair of boots versus the low cost low value boots. While it hurt more in the short term to buy the quality, the cheaper ones took more money from the person in the long term - by a lot. Made me think very differently about value and cost. I now make that investment, and realize I don’t need 800 shirts.
I'm a 44yr old welder with a 'homeschool' education.I make a close to 6 figure income at my 9-5,I also have a 'side-gig' welding and more work than I can handle-my point is,it doesn't take that much ambition or even skill for that matter to do 'ok' here. Kinda sad! and I really want one of them shirts!
It's getting harder.... and soon with wealth gap and trickle down bs it won't unless it breaks. Also what's the definition of "ok"? Velocity of money is what is important not rich people buying assets and promoting slavery
Becoming a welder is tempting but Do you not worry about your long term health breathing welding fumes? My stepdad was a welder for a long time and talks about himself getting Ill from fumes. I know that some places have vacuums to pull away fumes but every time I have seen a welder in use it didn't have one.
Great video as always. People used to make fun of my flannel shirts, but I loved them. Living in S. FL. now, I don't know if I even have one left in my closet, but man, there's nothing like a good flannel shirt!
I think Terry Pratchett described it best with his Sam Vimes boots theory of economics. People know the Red Wings are far superior to the Wal-Mart boots. But, if they have to choose between buying the Red Wings and feeding their family...do they even really have a choice? Knowing that the $350 boots are better and will last you longer doesn't matter when you only have $50.
This is so true. Most people would much prefer to buy quality, made in USA items, but especially in the current economy, it's been made impossible to do. Maybe this is on purpose?
It’s simply a humble choice to have less of things but better quality just like food we think about and eat way too much in this country and our waste smh❤✌🏻
I own an antique store, and im seeing an uptick in younger people understanding and wanting things made with quality in mind, and buying older items. They are getting away from ikea products.
I learned to sew my clothes as a teenager. I remember the delicious fabric stores with beautiful fabrics. I remember visiting one of the textile outlet stores and buying beautiful towels and bedding by the pound…..and then, they all disappeared. The American garment union tags were no longer seen in clothing. Just sad. I miss the quality clothing. It was expensive, and the average person did not have a lot but there was likely less pollution for that reason.
Enforce Term Limits on Congress ; Raise Imports Tariffs on Chinese Manufacturing by American Companies by 40% if there company doesn't do 70% of its assembly here in the U.S.
@@daniels.2720 Term limits already exist - they are called elections. Politicians can be removed at every election. They aren't because people choose to keep them. If you believe in term limits, then NEVER vote for the incumbent regardless of party. If you vote because of party, you are literally supporting the problem.
"WE"???? Who is this we. I'm not making sacrifices just because WE the workers have been sold out for years, for larger incomes to CEO's of big corps, and money to help them lobby. Trade agreements. This has been happening for a long time. Mike is lost on this one. WE didn't start importing goods, we just started buying what was available. First it was made in Japan, then it was made in China, when Japan started advancing themselves, and the cost went up, which meant less to those CEO's. Add ontop of that all the smaller US companies think everything they make is gold. No....I'm not paying $100 for a shirt. Dont worry though. China isn't going to be making our our junk for much longer. You will forced to buy mostly US overpriced products in the guise of "Freedom" after everyone starts fighting.
@@BenSmith-cm8oc You don't make society better by seizing from those who earned it to give to those who didn't. Wealth does not increase through redistribution. It increases through creation. Pulling other people down doesn't pull you up.
Excellent point about the boots. I used to buy $6 umbrellas from the drug store. Within a year or two, they would break or wear out, and I would throw it away and buy another. Eventually, I decided to invest $30 in a quality umbrella. I've had it now for 20 years.
This year, I gave my neighbors over 250 lemons. There are probably going to be over 300 next year (sprinkling used coffee grounds under the tree helps a lot. The mulberry tree is loaded! The plum and peach trees are going to need some branches supported.
we manufacture these high tech waste water equipment that are very durable. and is higher quality and super efficient. few US cities want our stuff. most of our customers are overseas. just too much of an old boy’s network. thank God for Pepsi
So that includes all of America ? Because America is a Continent. It goes from the Straits of Magellan to the Bering Straits. Made in the USA is maybe a better idea.
The discussion of knapping brought back memories for me. I worked in textiles for 10 years in the 90s. We should have listened to Ross Perot. NAFTA killed our textile industry
Yep. I worked at a textile place, and myself and a friend left work one day, stopped at a convenience store and just happened to look down at the paper. Front page was that the place we worked at, and had just left, was closing. Next day they held a big meeting explaining that, yes, we were closing, and yes, the jobs were going overseas, and yes, it was because of NAFTA. It was awful.
I was looking to buy boots made in the USA. So the internet told me Frye boots are made in the USA. I bought some and when they arrived stamped inside on the tag said made in Mexico. So much for that!
im about there! my parents and my husbands parents really strived to get us into and through college but, only one of mine really went to college, and got a masters. one pushed himself but hasn't finished and really doesn't want to, one said, 'absolutely not' the last two.... im encouraging into a trade.
If you look around RU-vid, there are now videos by several teachers discussing the "trades crisis." What's that? They're concerned that many high schoolers are choosing to go into the trades rather than go to college, and are looking for ways to combat that trend.
When each of us buy a product made by one of our neighbors (instead of by someone in a distant country) it enables them to buy a product made by us. And then as that process spreads, it enables all of us to support all of our neighbors as well as ourselves.
When they had Ely Cattleman jeans at the local store , I was ecstatic and bought a few pairs , and that they were less than $30 was awesome. But recently they stopped carrying them , but still have pricier made overseas jeans. What is with people ?
You have to teach everyone Vimes Law where products come in. Manufacturers have to help out, too. It'd be nice to get many of the entry barriers removed...then we could, once again, have real flannels that cost $12.
I can honestly say that the brand Wolverines are the best set of boots i ever owned. I wish i had been able to hold on to them but circumstances were not in my favor then. They were with every single penny i paid and then some. Saved my feet on multiple occasions, helped prevent blisters on long hikes, etc. If I'm ever in a place again to buy a pair of Wolverine custom boots you best be assured I'll be jumping on it.
Over regulation is a major problem. I live in So Cal. A furniture factory recently shut down because the South Coast Air quality increase regulations. I grew up during the sixties, then the air was alway brown. The air is so clean today in comparison. They put 900 workers out of work for no reason.
Mike Rowe is highly educated and I’d bet money no one in his family has gone to or is going to a trade school . He’s found a niche and he’s very good at it .
This is why I only buy fishing rods that are made in the USA. I buy ST Croix Tournament Legend and G-Lommis GCX rods. They are more expensive but I make a good income and can afford them. Both brands are made in Washington state.
I work at a company with a made in America premium product, we’re the only company who makes our product in the states.one of the most common questions we get is “why should I pay for your stuff instead of the cheap Chinese stuff?” And i get to try to find a good way to explain our product will last you for 30 years, is made in America, and just performs all around better than the imports which will break in a year.
What is driving companies out of the US is American wages, a cheap throw away mind set, and other production costs. Paying American wages to workers drives product costs up 10x. People don’t want to pay more for quality. Then you have out side costs like taxes, insurance, and energy. These costs are getting out of hand for any business. Don’t forget what most people don’t think about too with manufacturing, EPA and OSHA requirements.
I have a dream, where the American people refuse to buy except from someone they've shaken hands with, where every govt action is taken out of fear that the people may revolt over it, that people use physical hard currency exclusively, and there is no property or inheritance taxes anywhere.
I've been buying American since 1988. A kid working at a big box store was flabbergasted why I asked for a Milwaukee battery drill, made in USA. He's no longer there. The store chain was crushed by one that sells made in China crap. And the customers have to buy three in the same period of time as a good old made in USA "anything".
I grew up in the 70's & learned from watching my parents shop, to buy American. I remember going to Sears w\Mom & she was always looking at the tags on clothing. When I questioned why she did that (because clothes was already divided by size), she explained to me how important it was to buy American. Both her & my Dad always preached to me that philosophy & I've watched the decline of American made products dwindle over the years & am saddened. Glad some stuck it out & others are coming back!
It isn't just economy of scale its the velocity of dollar, the dollar that is spent on quality local production has a higher velocity and more local staying power than the cheap alternative.
Howcome you didn't put links to buy all that merch in in the video description? Seriously, Mike, I'm am horrible shopper. I WANT to be advertised to. And yet I run an adblocker because, turns out, I don't feel a need to meet hot singles in my area near so much as the Google skynet seems to think. I could really use a comfortable flannel and, since I don't plan on changing shirts for two weeks either, I don't mind spending on it. Mike, help us out here, leave links to worthwhile products. Just leave the hot singles out of it.
For 25 years I have purchased from and worked with a manufacturing company who makes over 400 home consumable products. Made in the USA the same or less than the products people buy in the store or online comes down to a very smart businessman who’s also not greedy to make this happen.
My father always told me, "You get what you pay for." But unfortunately, I think we have become a throw away world. Buy cheap, throw away, buy cheap again. Another thing I've noticed is the greed of these companies. They have to make billions so they can pay their CEO unprecedented bonuses. It's very sad. I pray we can fix this.
Watching from Dallas, Texas. 🎉 agreed some people want to go to college other people in winter trade either way there’s not always one path there’s multiple.
Back when I didn't earn enough money to buy anything but the cheapest stuff I was trapped in a cycle of constantly wearing it out, whether it be boots, clothes or pots and pans, and having to replace it constantly. When I did start to earn enough I bought a few really good locally made pots and pans, over 15 years ago, and they are as good today as when I bought them. This fast-fashion, Walmart grade cheapest of the cheap stuff needs to go, but we also need to be able to afford the better stuff.
Have you ever tried any Lodge cast iron? They’re made in TN. The only reason I don’t have more than I do is because I don’t have enough space for any more pieces just yet
I still have and use a set of Amway Queen Ware pots from the 70's that get used every day. Heavy triple ply stainless steel. They need a coupe of handles but that's easy.
It is so easy to blame others for our poor decisions. Greedy businesses, incompetent govt, lazy youth... Be the change you wish to see in this world. You deserve what you accept.
So, you walked around shareholder and consumer choices. Most shareholders want greater returns on their capital, and consumers are always looking for a bargain. Most don't want to reward labor with better wages if they don't have to.
I just came across this Podcast. I worked in manufacturing for years. YES. The US paint applications I made were expensive. But they had a Life Time Guarantee.
As I have grown older and travel more, I have scaled down my material possessions, greatly. I have finally realized the true, lasting value of buying quality over price!
As someone who weaves fabric in my home it takes a lot of work but the quality is so much higher than anything you can get in a store. Quality like that can be addictive.
Have never heard of the Red Wing refurbishment program. How do you get this information disseminated so the consumer has an option rather than just going to the local department store?
Ah, you guys really want to get me started on this topic? Listen, all the talk about bringing manufacturing back is nice, but it's never going to happen. Why? Because for all that people say they want it.... they really don't. Lots of talk, sure, but when given the choice, they will always opt for the cheaper mass-produced chicom merchandise. Always. And while that might seem a little mean to say, we have to look at what's changed over the years. As something of an amateur historian of the traditional trades, and a blacksmith, I love going back through the old books to see how things were done in days past. Once you do that long enough, though, you start seeing patterns emerge. There are two vectors attacking the working folks - their own myopia and greed. Every notice how everyone loves to talk about the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, but never the million straws that came before it and how all those straws made it impossible for the camel to be healthy and productive? The average American is terribly myopic and greedy, and thus easily talked into shooting themselves in the foot. We want the cheapest goods possible, but also always demand the highest wages we can get. We claim we want manufacturing at home, but then we support things that make it almost impossible for there to be manufacturing here in the States - and Western Nations, in general. And when you bring up these issues, the people will fight you tooth and nail, call you all sorts of names, and deny the facts that are plainly evident if you read up on the history of things. I tell folks that everything that was once produced in The Rust Belt is still produced, just not here. The trick is looking at what changed, what happened to make a thriving center of manufacturing that raised up the entire world.... into a hellscape of poverty, drugs, crime, and sorrow. What happened? When you look at it honestly, you see that it was a combination of things, all targeted at actually destroying manufacturing, and sold to the uninformed citizenry as somehow to their benefit. Every day, new taxes, regulations, policies and laws were enacted at the local, state, and federal levels. No single one of those things was horrible, but when you pile thousands of straws on the camel's back, it's only a matter of time before the camel collapses. Today, everything that used to be made in the Rust Belt is still being made, but we managed to somehow make it more economical to have the stuff made on the other side of the earth and shipped halfway around the world to a store near us.... rather than right down the road. Think about that for a minute. It's cheaper to make something thousands of miles away instead of a dozen miles away. Once you realize that, you can start looking at what makes it so expensive to operate CONUS. And once you look into it, and see how heavy the tax and regulation burden is, it's no wonder that people are shutting down their businesses, or refusing to start up new enterprises. As a blacksmith, I deal with this regularly and hear it from hundreds of other craftsmen. It'd be nice to hire in some help, but what a nightmare that presents when you get into the details of what it means to have an employee. Think about it for a minute. If I hire someone at $30,000/yr, that sounds nice, but that means I have to have a minimum of $30,000 in sales every single year just to cover that employee's wages. Where are those sales coming from? Where are the customers? If you talk to craftsmen who will be honest with you, they'll tell you that customers are very hard to come by even though people say they want quality craftsmanship and fine work, jobs at home, etc. The difference is that they want it, but want it at cheap third-world prices. Why is it so expensive? Taxes, regulations, policies, laws, all the things that people support at the local level adds up, and nobody wants to admit that they were wrong. You want a minimum wage? Great, but it's going to cost you because it drives up the prices on all the goods and services you buy since ALL employees everywhere get that same pay raise. You want to open your doors to millions of immigrants every year, fine, but it's going to cost you. They need jobs, too, and that competition for work will drive the wages down since there's always someone willing to work for a dollar less. On and on it goes. There's no stopping it because nobody is willing to give up their own pet project, the thing they want most of all. Promise them something from the public coffers and they'll be on your leash forever.
As a small manufacturing company we are feeling the pressures. We often lose to the lower cost import products. You guys are also exactly right that American industry has had to not only compete with imports but with each other to the point that there is little to no profit left. The average profit margin for a machine shop manufacturing company in America is 5-8 percent. It honestly has to be a labor of love for an owner because you cannot make money or even have profit to grow off of that margin. In our shop things are cooling off which means we have to sell equipment to weather the economic storm then go buy it again when things are better. It is an insane cycle. On top of that we would love to pay our staff more but we just do not have it to offer. I am not sure where this spiral will end but I fear our country has not seen the worst of it yet.
Mike Rowe made more per episode than most of his subjects on dirty jobs will make their entire lives. His opinions are not worth much, just has a great voice. We can can thank the Walton's and short term profit minded corporations for our current predicament, once Walmart pushed everybody to produce in china everybody else had to follow in oder to compete... it was a boon for the rich and a disaster for our country. Yea team billionaire !
I really feel this, I am in the textile industry myself and it is not easy. I am actually an American veteran, I went to university in Europe and due to the availability of labor and materials to work with I stayed. I have some friends that are in manufacturing back home and I am trying to support them the best that I can. I think that the learning curve for manufacturing is very high and very technical but it can be done! Investors must support it and people need to get back into it. The same blue collar type of tradesman (like myself) is perfect to become a manufacturing entrepreneur.
Excellent video. I agree bring business back home. I like to quilt. Very little fabric is manufactured in America. We have great artisans/designers and wholesale suppliers. There are several large online businesses to purchase order from. By the time fabric hits the home town shops, the cost can range from $12.00 per yard up to $20.00.😮 How can they stay in business. Support Americans by choosing to keep our business enterprises home your dollar will count. 🎶💐💖
That is the issue, I worked at a clothing company, made a shirt in USA and another in China, USA retail price $85, China Shirt $45. People wanted things made in USA, but didn't want to pay the higher cost.
We've had that problem since Bill and Hillary Clinton had actually Rented out the Whitehouse to the Chinese, Turks, Russian Oligarchs, Etc Etc. All our industry suddenly went overseas and then tuere were Walmarts everywhere!
it started under bush senior and his nafta deal...he put it together and then clinton signed it...look...our 'parties' are just different rhetoric wings on the same corporate bird...we as a country need to understand that we live in a corporatocracy...not a democracy
One issue with clothing is in a lot of Europe, people tend to buy mainly classic traditional style clothes that will last a long time and don't mind paying for it. In the US, we are pushed to change our wardrobe with every new season.
I went to school and achieved the skills of a journeyman commercial electrician in California back in 2015 I topped out at 80k a year working for a non union small contractor. In 2020 I moved to south Carolina and the best pay I could find in one of the fastest growing community's was $20/hr with no benefits or even overtime. Because of the ( the cost of living is cheaper here ) mindset of the south, I left that field of work and have sence been working as a contractor for a mobile RV roofing company. I have large expenses, but my labor is compensated at a rate I am comfortable with. I won't be able to buy a home or a fancy new truck, or even a vacation once a year. But I am able to enjoy myself and buy the quality items from professional craftsman. I guess it all boils down to priorities
If I had the money to fund a shopping company that was "made in America" only, whether store front or Amazon-ish online shopping, I think people would embrace it. I would buy my goods there. Maybe spend a bit more, wait a bit longer, but I would be all-in to give my money to American made.
yes! and start with all the empty shopping malls! it could be a branded "Made In America" venue as per those silly retail "outlet" centers. and have a section of each devoted to Local. and have 10% space devoted to worthy start-ups. and 25% space to on-site- production vendors!
I still remember being in southern Alabama and, in the small town, that there was fabric and clothing being made and was a job producing industry. Now it’s no longer there and the town and America has suffered.
