Simply put, when we purchase products from overseas, it is because the marketplace has decided that they fullfill a need, generally at a lower cost and/or higher quality than a locally made product. Having these goods available to us in this fashion improves our overall standard of living.

The way for us to export more is to do the same with the products we sell in the markets of our trading partners. For example, we spent decades trying to sell large gas guzzling autos in countries with tiny roads and enourmous gas prices, and complained about "unfair trade".

So, no, the trade deficit does not bother me, except that it shows we are not as competitive producing goods that other countries want to purchase as we should be. Much of this uncompetitiveness is self inflicted thru overregulation by the government that increases our costs relative to the global marketplace.

If trade was truly "free", and the US has as many tarriffs and trade barriers as anyone, we would be better off.

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Kevin

They fulfill a need for cheaper products but rarely for better quality as witnessed by the barrages of reports about stinking dry wall, tainted pet food, lead and other toxins, inferior car tires and the list goes on...

Everyone wants to save a buck by buying the cheaper imports without giving much thought of why and how the standard of living keeps slipping on down for many Americans when they themselves promote it and in turn losing jobs because of it. There is no simple answer to this and no, we don't live in a bubble and protectionism does not work very well either but there has to be a bit more awareness and thought process from the general public.

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System 7.1:
Wilson Sasha/Mezzo/Watch surrounds
D'Agostino Momentum x3 amps
Bryston 4B SST2 x2 amps
Krell S1200U pre/pro
Oppo Blu
Sony Blu changer
McIntosh MS300 music server
EAR/Yoshino Acute III tubed CDP
Transparent Ultra cabling
JL Audio F212 Sub
Lumagen video processor
JVC RS-35U projector
Stewart Screen

I also heard the new 800 series will not be made in China. Other series will, however.

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McIntosh MVP871. Luxman C-383, M-375. Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento. Oyaide R1, WPC-Z, P/C-004, MTB-6. Siltech Ruby Hill II. HiFi-Tuning fuses

While Dave Wilson freely admits that there are other fine speaker builders out there and gives them credit, one of his biggest pet peeves is the fact that some speaker manufacturers keep the fact that they are made some place else hush hush.... Not really fair, is it?

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System 7.1:
Wilson Sasha/Mezzo/Watch surrounds
D'Agostino Momentum x3 amps
Bryston 4B SST2 x2 amps
Krell S1200U pre/pro
Oppo Blu
Sony Blu changer
McIntosh MS300 music server
EAR/Yoshino Acute III tubed CDP
Transparent Ultra cabling
JL Audio F212 Sub
Lumagen video processor
JVC RS-35U projector
Stewart Screen

Without too much debate I just think NAFTA should be fair. We trade 1 item for 1 item.
Ie. 1 car for 1 car......1 pair of shoes for 1 pair of shoes!
We need trade, been trading for 100's or years. Since man walked from village to village. but its way one sided. It needs to be fair. Its not fair for ie. japan to accept 1 corvette and we have to accept 1000 cars. That's NOT a fair trade.
No one on here would trade me a ALL your speakers for 2 of mine. OR ALL your amps for 1 of mine. If you will, please P.M. quickly.

Does anyone know how many Corvettes are built with right hand drive to conform with the side of the road that the Japanese drive on? I think the answer is zero, and if so, this perfectly illustrates my point. How many of you would by Japanese cars here if they had right hand drive like they do in Japan?

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Kevin

The one thing I noticed when I visited a foreign manufacturing plant was how clean it was compared to our U.S. plants. I worked as summer help when I was 18 for GM at the engine plant. Very dirty inside. Years later. I visited a chinese factory. OMG, it was so clean you could eat off the floor. I could not believe the difference. Im not bashing on either company but I must admit it was very nice inside and employee moral seemed much better.

I 100% agree. I have worked in both union and non union jobs. The unions have no control, hell my last union job (working at the railroad) was basically extortion. My union dues were $80.00 per month. If you wanted "Job Insurance" that was separate. basically you pay $100 per month for guarantee wages of $500 month if you get disciplined and not working during time off work. 1 day up to 1 year. The more you pay for job insurance the more money you bring home each month. We dont pay into social security. and like you said, the union is only there to get your job back. Of course the Rail Roads cant strike, not sure why we need a union other than management is always looking for reasons to fire you. It really is the "us against them" mentality. Sad to say Im glad im off work on medical retirement, I dont like that type of work environment. I was much less stressed when I was a director of Information Technology for a large distributor. I lost that job when a Chinese company purchased us. The reason for my above visit.

Don't speakers have a "Made in...." label on the speakers and packaging like every other product?

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Kevin

"Made in...." with parts from?