Where did it all go wrong ?

As the US Economy reaches it's lowest point. One can't help by wonder why this great country, with so much wealth and expertize should get it so wrong. I am not just talking about the last 5 years, or even the length of the Bush Administration, which it must be said, is the most disasterous precidency in the history of mankind.

However beyond the Bush years there is a deeper legacy. I guess working in the electronics sector for so long, we could all see it coming. Even in the mid-ninties, after visiting a contract manufacturer who had decided to move their facilities into China, we all used to ask, how many more ?

Well the question is alot more. I read somewhere that if the Big 3 Auto companies go under, the percentage of jobs in the manufacturing sector will drop below 10% of the entire work-force in it's history. In 1985, manufacturing employed over 30% of the workforce.

I can only think greed played the biggest part in all this. Major shareholders realizing that by upping sticks and setting up in one of these low-cost labour countries, would ensure they could employ three times the workforce for about a third of the price. Great if your a shareholder, not if you are one of the tens of thousands of employees. Obviously this process was accelerated further in the unregulated Bush years of "more you earm, less you pay" taxing policies. Which effectively said ship jobs oversees and you will make more money. Huge manufacturing companies leapt at the chance, and with GPS being made in Taiwan, X Boxes, Playstations, Stereo's, TV's, iPod's, etc, etc all being made in China, it's all starting to make sense.

Sadly though for every "apple" ipod made in China, you can guarantee that someone there is making a 'lemon' version. By putting all our technology and production there, we have also allowed the market to become saturated with counterfeiters and low quality merchandice. We have kidded ourselves into accepting that a 'computer' has a lifespan of 5/7 years. As consumers, we have pushed down prices and also compromised on quality. If it doesn't work, throw it away and buy a new one. When I was a kid if it broke, then I didn't get another one. Not only did it ensure I took a little more conscious of it's well-being, but also ensured I understood that this was valuable and needed to be taken care of.

In short, I am not sure where we go from here. Can we stop the tax breaks and incentives to move out of the US and Europe and into China or India. Can we break this cycle of the wealthy moving our jobs around the world in the search of even greater profits ?

If everyone said tomorrow that they would not purchase another DVD player, computer or ipod that had been manufactured in China, do you think the likes of Sony, Dell or Apple would continue to allow their products to be made there ? If we want to be a strong market player, then we have to manufacture like one and choose quality over quantity.

Gave Thanks, next stop Christmas !!!

What a cracking Thanksgiving that was. Plenty of quality family time, loads of over-indulgance without guilt and some footy at the end to let it all out !!!

The great thing about this time of year is you get all the good things of Christmas but without the pressure and hype of the shopping for presents. How much am I going to spend ? Can I get the wife something she hasn't already got or pointed out she doesn't like ? Can I squeeze in a couple of crafty gifts for myself ? Then spending Christmas Day seeing everything you have bought being advertized at half-price in a post-christmas day store sale.

Give me a Christmas like Thanksgiving and i'll be a happy man every year !!! Indeed William and Anna's "Mr Turkey" song was a joy to behold !!!

However it is out the way and Christmas is almost upon us. The radio full of Xmas hits, the lights going up and the fireplace on everynight. Well actually sort of on, the wood's damp and isn't really giving me the fire I want, i.e. a Bing Crosby Christmas movie fire, you know, one that looks like it heats the whole house rather than just heating the whole fire place. I will go on a crusade this week and get some wood inside so we can start getting some real Christmas cheer :-)

I read with huge enjoyment the story of a "Mystical Christmas Wonderland" in the New Forest, which punters paid 30 quid each to take there brethen to a fabulous and 'unforgetable' Xmas experience with 'Lapland' type scenery. On arrival they were greeted with a muddy car pack, 4 hour queue's, one sick reindeer, a couple of sheep, cheap background and props, an unopened, non-working skating rink and of course by then an empty wallet.

Reports of staff being beaten up, Santa 'caught' smoking by a group of kids behind a wooden hut (nothing like throwing in health and safety issues alongside shattering the dreams of a small child all in one sitting) only add to the comedy value. Don't get me wrong, i'd have been pretty PO'd if i'd spent that sort of cash, but actually hitting the staff ? Come on, although that 'Santa' may have got a mouthful !!!

Christmas, doesn't it always bring out the best in people ? :-)