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Technology Stocks : Applied Materials No-Politics Thread (AMAT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (7522)	10/15/2003 9:45:58 AM
From: willcousa	Respond to of 25522

You've got 6 or 7 foreign auto makers building cars in the US - this includes BMW and I think Mercedes. There are foreign yacht builders who have opened successful plants in the US. This is not a one-way street.

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (7522)	10/15/2003 9:56:33 AM
From: robert b furman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25522

Hi Brian, I believe the U.S. will continue to lose auto plants. The globalization trend will continue to make domestic small car plants cost prohibitive. The U.S. will keep the big truck and luxury car plants. The low end poorer quality cars will be made in S. Korea and rebadged as domestic/import makes at the ports. JMHO Bob

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (7522)	10/15/2003 10:03:30 AM
From: Fred Levine	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 25522

Altho there are, and will be more, displacements as we head into globalization, I'm in agreement with Robert Furman. Not only does globalization increase the standard of living of the poor-- a good objective in itself--it is creating markets for developed countries. Indeed, the recent positive news from Intel is an example. Developing counties are buying Intel's chips, and will buy Dell's computers. Since the days of slavery are over, the very low wages given by many manufacturers are still vastly prefered to no work in the developing countries. I have visited factories in Rajastan,India where the basic pay is a dollar a day, and there were people lined up for the jobs. Furthermore, globalization is checking inflation and making products better. Competition being so fierce, all manufacturers cannot do what US automakers did for a generation-- sell us pre-obsolescent crapolla. The Japanese came in and now the US does make a better car. When our cars are better value than others, we will regain deservedly lost market share. Also, curbing inflation leads to more disposable income, and hence better vacations etc. When I was a kid, foreign tourists hardly exist. Go to Bloomingdales or Bergdorf now. They couldn't exist without the foreign customers. Given the US's very high productivity level, we should be able to compete. However, we are inhibited by peripheral costs that we may choose to pay. Environmental concerns (many irrational IMO), huge medical costs, and high defense spending--and debt--take away from our ability to compete. Europe has all the problems we have and more. Their social programs inhibit hiring. E.g., a friend owns a factory in Portugal and he cannot lay anyone off without huge benefits. Therefore, he is reluctant to hire. Germany and other countries are beginning to address these issues. Also, as Bob stated, do we want to live in a world with the tension created by massive disparities in wealth? fred

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (7522)	10/15/2003 11:00:22 AM
From: Big Bucks	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 25522

Brian, Keep in mind that when a company manufactures a product that there are a multitude of supporting companies that supply ALL of the parts that make up the finished product. This is the engine of our manufacturing might as a country. These smaller supporting companies employ thousands, generate tax revenues, consume resources, require shipping/transportation, etc. The continuing loss of manufacturing capacity is sending a massive shudder thru all facets of our economy... Pure and simple, manufacturing loss is bad for our economy and must be stopped... it is our lifeblood ebbing away... BB