Handy Don 12,212 #26 Posted May 29 3 hours ago, ohiofarmer said: I guess back then that boys were men and men were gods. My grandpa was known for being able to lift a hogshead of tobacco somehow or other. But then he started out faming with horses. I think the answer is that the strong survived and thrived and the weak just didn’t. Those “good ‘ole days” were often pretty harsh. Important to remember that ALL of us are descended from women who survived long enough to bear a child--survivors. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,188 #27 Posted May 29 The industrial revolution lightened the burden of the farmer and allowed us to have more leisure time. Young people left the farm for more lucrative manufacturing jobs and the good life. Young men didn't have to work as hard as previous generations and weren't as strong. Now we seem to be going from a manufacturing economy to a service economy. Once AI is doing everything for us and we don't even have to think anymore our brains will become as weak as our bodies. OK, I'm through venting, for now! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,212 #28 Posted May 29 3 hours ago, 953 nut said: Now we seem to be going from a manufacturing economy to a service economy. I’ve seen signs in the economic data that while the service sector continues to grow (I am one of two home owners on a street of about 20 houses who still mows their own lawn but I no longer clean the high gutters!), that manufacturing losses have slowed. But don’t expect a rebound in an economy where wage growth and inflation are competing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,305 #29 Posted May 29 I can’t understand how people think that creating wealth (manufacturing) can be stopped or transferred to other countries and we can maintain a high standard of living by cutting each others hair or grass. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick3478 428 #30 Posted May 29 34 minutes ago, lynnmor said: I can’t understand how people think that creating wealth (manufacturing) can be stopped or transferred to other countries and we can maintain a high standard of living by cutting each others hair or grass. Agree. Getting rich washing each others' shirts was the phrase I heard, don't remember where from. But basically if you aren't making stuff, you're at the mercy of whoever is. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 2,046 #31 Posted May 29 6 hours ago, lynnmor said: I can’t understand how people think that creating wealth (manufacturing) can be stopped or transferred to other countries and we can maintain a high standard of living by cutting each others hair or grass. Yup. That's how the US became the dominant world economy. Post WWII Europe and Japan's manufacturing was ruined while the US hadn't been damage at all by the war. For over a decade we were the only ones really making anything while the rest of the industrialized world was rebuilding. Now we just want to "sell each other insurance", as my business professor put it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,188 #32 Posted May 30 17 hours ago, Rick3478 said: if you aren't making stuff, you're at the mercy of whoever is. The reactor heads on all commercial nuclear reactors have to be replaced periodically due to hydrogen embrittlement. For the past twenty five years all of the reactor heads have come from China because the US has shut down all of the large foundries that had the capacity to produce them. Well intended legislation allower regulators to force these foundries out of business rather than working with industries to find ways to continue operating while reducing pollution. The foundries in China probably are not as environmentally friendly as the US plants that were shut down, we haven't reduced pollution, we have just relocated it. If China decides they don't want to sell us reactor heads or EV batteries or perscription drugs or whatever else we are dependant on them for then we have given them that opportunity, they haven't taken it from us. Four years ago during COVID we couldn't get basic supplies for our health care worker because it all had to come from China, remember that? Unless our government decides to work with industry rather than closing them down we will be cutting each other's hair, about 40% of American men are bald or balding so that math doesn't work too well. OK, now I will get down from my soap box. 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne0 455 #33 Posted May 30 8 minutes ago, 953 nut said: The reactor heads on all commercial nuclear reactors have to be replaced periodically due to hydrogen embrittlement. For the past twenty five years all of the reactor heads have come from China because the US has shut down all of the large foundries that had the capacity to produce them. Well intended legislation allower regulators to force these foundries out of business rather than working with industries to find ways to continue operating while reducing pollution. The foundries in China probably are not as environmentally friendly as the US plants that were shut down, we haven't reduced pollution, we have just relocated it. If China decides they don't want to sell us reactor heads or EV batteries or perscription drugs or whatever else we are dependant on them for then we have given them that opportunity, they haven't taken it from us. Four years ago during COVID we couldn't get basic supplies for our health care worker because it all had to come from China, remember that? Unless our government decides to work with industry rather than closing them down we will be cutting each other's hair, about 40% of American men are bald or balding so that math doesn't work too well. OK, now I will get down from my soap box. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick3478 428 #34 Posted May 30 15 hours ago, adsm08 said: Now we just want to "sell each other insurance", as my business professor put it. Hadn't heard that one ... What happens when you need to file a claim? How does subrogation work out? And other imponderables ... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,212 #35 Posted May 30 24 minutes ago, Rick3478 said: subrogation Hey, watch your language, buddy! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,732 #36 Posted May 30 Ok back to tractors 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,134 #37 Posted May 30 (edited) In 1964 I bought a new foreign made car. Two years later I sold the piece of junk and vowed to only buy USA . I stood on that same soap box for 60 years Richard. They all said " I can not afford to buy American". Me " You can not afford to buy anything but American" We are all about to pay with more than a few dollars. Edited May 30 by Ed Kennell 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,188 #38 Posted May 30 5 hours ago, oliver2-44 said: Ok back to tractors Nice try but you should know us better that that! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 2,046 #39 Posted May 31 On 5/30/2024 at 11:34 AM, Rick3478 said: Hadn't heard that one ... What happens when you need to file a claim? How does subrogation work out? And other imponderables ... I dunno. I'm a mechanic with a business management degree. The only thing I know about insurance is that it takes care of the cars I don't want to fix. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites