Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga:17210 comp.sys.atari.st:8849 comp.sys.ibm.pc:14103 comp.sys.mac:14783 sci.electronics:2697 comp.arch:4249 Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!gatech!rebel!dkstar!jdb From: jdb@dkstar.UUCP (Jon Bennett {WB8UXA}) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.mac,sci.electronics,comp.arch Subject: Re: GATT declares U.S. - Japan chip pact illegal Message-ID: <228@dkstar.UUCP> Date: 5 Apr 88 08:03:58 GMT References: <2441@unicus.UUCP> <1259@hubcap.UUCP> Organization: Jon Bennett; Atlanta, Ga. Lines: 95 Summary: cannot cut the workers wages by 1/2? In article <1259@hubcap.UUCP>, rchampe@hubcap.UUCP (Richard Champeaux) writes: >In article <2441@unicus.UUCP>, craig@unicus.UUCP (Craig D. Hubley) writes: >> >> The price-fixing deal that the U.S. forced on Japan to keep its own chip >> manufacturers (TI and Micron) in business, that has forced chip prices to >> four times their level (here, at least!) of ten months ago, has been >> declared illegal by GATT, the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs, > >be done to *PROTECT* US manufacturers, and I don't think that just scrapping why? What gives the American mfgrs. the "RIGHT?" to produce chips if they cannot sell them for the price of their competition? Why should I pay more for chips just so that these mfgrs can continue to inefficiently produce chips. I know, "Inefficently". Well if they were effecient, why are the prices so high? > Japanese and other asian chip producers can currently produce chips at >prices significantly less than US producers, and US producers are having a >hard time competing. >they should get out. In my opinion, I think that the fact that the asian >countries have a much cheaper labor force is a significant factor. US I agree, it is a significant factor. This is a lot of why the prices are so high. >producers obviously can't just cut their employees salaries in half, so some >Ok, so we lose the IC industry, big deal. >the textile industry is taking a beating from Korean imports. >the US car manufactures are having touble with Japanese imports and Don't forget the Korean cars (Hundy is #4 importer @ 4yrs here) >therefore make poorer quality cars. Well, >Asian computer and perhipheral manufacturers >manufacturers. Hmmm, we seem to be running out of industries. Oh well, as >long as we consumers are getting cheap products, no problem. Ooops, we seem >to be losing jobs and can't afford these products anymore, how'd that happen? Yes, let's talk about how that happened. Why is it that with all of our fantastic technology, we cannot compete with the Koread textile industry.... Cost of goods. Japanese / Korean cars... Cost of goods. Asian computers... Cost of goods. Why do the goods cost so much? You said it... Labor. (Taxes as well) but mostly labor. Don't mention the fact that because of the falling value of the dollar in the world market the Japanese car workers make MORE $$$ on a normalized scale than the American worker but look at the volume of work DONE. I submit that: Two Car plants, one American, and the other is Japanese/Korean/... Same number of workers, same price per worker. At the days end, the Forign plant will have produced more and better cars. Therefor, the cost of the labor for each car PRODUCED is more. The price is only a consequence. The problem is productivity. Now, let's talk about the "Buy American" fad. What is this? Because of the fact that I cannot afford to buy a poor car for a lot of money, when I go car shopping I look for the best car for the least mony. Regardless(sp) of its country of origen. (Well this is mostly true. After owning a 74 and a 78 Ford, I wont be going back there to get d*cked again. And with the way that GM dropped the Fiero, I know that no matter what I buy from GM, eather the 4cly will creat engine fires (Fiero) or the engine will self-destruct (every new V6 I have know anyone to own) or the car will be abandoned by Gm, no I wont be going there eather. And Chrysler should not be in business, after all what happened to the "FREE" market where the Govt. does not intervine?) Anyway, I cannot afford to pay a lot of money so an overpaid auto-worker can get his lot of money. Is your blood pressure going up? The bottom line is that the US manufacturers are facing a world market now, where other countries have the technology to compete with us and we have an ARTIFICALLY high standard of living. The cost of us producing something is not in line with its VALUE on the world market. The reasons for this mis-alignment are many and I will reserve them for a later posting. This one is too long already. Jon -- No disclamer here. Jon "There, that oughta do it" Bennett This is my computer. jdb@dkstar.UUCP {decvax hplabs inhp4 linus rutgers seismo}!gatech!rebel!dkstar!jdb