Letter; We all should buy American

Rick C.
Willmar, MN     03/08/2010 9:15 AM

I liked the way the unions stepped up and went to bat for those without health care in America. You know when they agreed to pay taxes on their "cadillac health care plans" to help fund those who have none. Oh wait, they DIDN'T!

Report a Violation

Ben C.
03/07/2010 2:08 PM

Brett you want to blame the Unions because they are advocating for the wages of the workers? So lets buy American as long as the Americans responsible for the making of the products are paid little to do so? Is that what you are advocating? Hey Brett like I said I think there are plenty of times that Unions get in the way, but in this case I also see the corporate greed just as guilty, you don't see that? How much is enough to make for those in high positions? Seems to me that in order of them to make more money for themselves they are willing to ship American jobs overseas, you don't have a problem with that? Lets buy American but lets also challenge those American companies who would rather make more money than they need as opposed to employing one of our fellow Americans.

Report a Violation

Rick C.
Willmar, MN     03/07/2010 11:49 AM

I heard from a reputable source that the State wanted to house prisoners in Appleton but the unions prevented it because the prison in Appleton was not a union shop. The plan would have saved the state a bundle. Can any of the union supporters here shed more light on this? Is it true?

Report a Violation

Ben C.
03/06/2010 9:23 PM

Brett if that is the answer then who's fault is it? Kind of defeats the purpose of buying American doesn't it?

Report a Violation

Rick C.
Willmar, MN     03/06/2010 5:48 PM

They screwed up the economy steve p.

Report a Violation

Casey O.
03/06/2010 10:22 AM

One program on TV is the only correct one? Wow. We are all brainwashed. It usually does not cost more in the store to buy a product made here, verses one made elsewhere. That's just what they want you to believe, that you can't afford to buy our products, they must come from elsewhere so they're affordable. That simply is not true. I have found a few American products along side elsewhere products and the price is similar. What really is going on is, the corps are making more money buy selling us cheap, toxic junk, and still charging the same amount as if it were made here. We're not saving money by buying that junk, the corps are just making more money then if the made it here. Nothing wrong with making money, but we do need manufacturing jobs here, so we can buy these things. Don't listen to them when they tell you it will be unaffordable if it were made here, because that is not true.

Report a Violation

Ben C.
03/06/2010 9:07 AM

I can see both the pros and cons with unions, but one thing I never see discussed is how much money is enough for those who own and run manufacturing companies? How much money is going into their pockets when they shift jobs out of America? I am all for buying America Made and I am willing to pay for it too, because it is going to help keep my neighbor employeed. Why wouldn't we want our neighbor making $27 an hour? Most likely our neighbor was American made too. It is too easy to simply blame unions for jobs leaving America, but if we are honest it is also, if not more about corporate greed.

Report a Violation

steve p.
03/06/2010 8:43 AM

Rick C, eventually, they will unionize. Rinse, repeat. Maybe one day, this will all shake down, and everyone will make a living wage. It won't happen in our lifetimes, which makes is EASY to grumble and be a curmudgeon, now. Hey, we were just fine, for a long while, with our union made products. Economies, technologies, global politics, wars, natural resources, third world emergence (and why shouldn't it?) all shape the landscape over time. Blaming solely unions, is like saying the Vikings lost because of that last pass interception. It's narrow minded and ignorant. Are blanket comments like that solely based on hatred? Hatred for unions? Gee, Rick C, what did unions do to you that make it hurt so bad? Dad lost his gravy job? Pension evaporated? The working world didn't turn out the way you thought it would be? Sorry about that, but it's obvious that your hatred is clouding your judgement, on this issue. Before you torch me, could we have a personal example from your life?

Report a Violation

Rick C.
Willmar, MN     03/05/2010 4:46 PM

I watched a program on TV years ago bob and they said it was the unions. There goes your theory that it wasn't bob. Steve is correct, in a global economy jobs will go where the cheap labor is. Hey bob and joe, why don't you guys go overseas and help them unionize.

Report a Violation

steve p.
03/05/2010 12:28 PM

Has to be the unions! No, not a combination of things! Me like simple reasons! Me club rabbit and eat! It's an international world now, folks. Products that require lots of labor, are going to be made where labor is cheap. We had sweatshops here, too, you know. Carnegie's mills killed and maimed thousands of workers. Ford's assembly lines turned men into machines. We still bought all those products! Yes, it's sad. Yes, change is hard. However tempting, nationalism and flag waving is not going to help. Like that old guy who stayed at his cabin, at the foot of Mt. St. Helens. He had a good life, but change was gonna happen. Adapt, or perish.

Report a Violation