Quote: DaButt @ May 2 2010, 7:38 PM BSTThe sad reality of it all is that there are still plenty of bright people, but their inventions are now manufactured in places like China and India where labor is cheap and regulation is lax.
What you're saying is those countries need more big government?
Interesting. 
Quote: DaButt @ May 2 2010, 7:38 PM BSTThe sad reality of it all is that there are still plenty of bright people, but their inventions are now manufactured in places like China and India where labor is cheap and regulation is lax. It boggles the mind to think that it's cheaper to send raw materials halfway across the planet to China and then ship it all back than it is to produce it locally.
But you can still win on quality. As you do over in the States.
What really bugs me is when Government contracts go overseas.
We have a programme coming up for a couple of aircraft carriers. Costing a not inconsiderable sum of money. Now, knowing this bloody country we'll ship half the work overseas.
Quote: chipolata @ May 2 2010, 7:40 PM BSTWhat you're saying is those countries need more big government?
Interesting.
Maybe we need less regulation. 
Quote: DaButt @ May 2 2010, 7:38 PM BSTThe sad reality of it all is that there are still plenty of bright people, but their inventions are now manufactured in places like China and India where labor is cheap and regulation is lax. It boggles the mind to think that it's cheaper to send raw materials halfway across the planet to China and then ship it all back than it is to produce it locally.
Trade unions have no one but themselves to blame.
Quote: bigfella @ May 2 2010, 7:42 PM BSTBut you can still win on quality. As you do over in the States.
What really bugs me is when Government contracts go overseas.
And when Gordon Brown the Government forces - against all advice - the sell-off of QinetiQ unnamed state bodies for no apparent reason and at huge loss to the taxpayer.
Quote: Aaron @ May 2 2010, 7:45 PM BSTTrade unions have no one but themselves to blame.
Not everythings Left vs. Right, Aaron. 
Quote: bigfella @ May 2 2010, 7:42 PM BSTWe have a programme coming up for a couple of aircraft carriers. Costing a not inconsiderable sum of money. Now, knowing this bloody country we'll ship half the work overseas.
We're replacing our Air Force's fleet of aging aerial refueling aircraft and there's a bruising battle taking place between Boeing and Airbus for the $35 billion contract. I can't see why a non-American company would even be considered.
I just bought a new flag to hang outside my house because the old one was a bit faded. I paid extra for the "Made in the USA from USA materials" model.
We should now decide to take green technology by the balls and become the world leader in it.
Even America will want it in a few years.
Quote: DaButt @ May 2 2010, 7:48 PM BSTI just bought a new flag to hang outside my house because the old one was a bit faded. I paid extra for the "Made in the USA from USA materials" model.
We can't find anything with "Made in Great Britain" on. 
Quote: bigfella @ May 2 2010, 7:51 PM BSTWe should now decide to take green technology by the balls and become the world leader in it.
Ok, but you have to take Al Gore as part of the deal.
Quote: chipolata @ May 2 2010, 7:48 PM BSTNot everythings Left vs. Right, Aaron.
No one said it was, chipolata.
Quote: bigfella @ May 2 2010, 7:51 PM BSTWe should now decide to take green technology by the balls and become the world leader in it.
Even America will want it in a few years.
We can't find anything with "Made in Great Britain" on.
You can, particularly in food. What's all but impossible is "Made in England". Scotland, Wales, fine. But not England.
Quote: Aaron @ May 2 2010, 8:10 PM BSTYou can, particularly in food. What's all but impossible is "Made in England". Scotland, Wales, fine. But not England.
Well yes food. But you know what I'm saying.
Build stuff, sell it, solve the problem.
Yep yep, indeed. We need some proper solution for the unions first though, or it'll go arse-up the same way as it did last time we were making anything.
Implications of this could be interesting. http://order-order.com/2010/05/03/freaky-friday-fears-give-city-nightmare-on-threadneedle-street/
Quote: Aaron @ May 3 2010, 6:08 PM BSTImplications of this could be interesting. http://order-order.com/2010/05/03/freaky-friday-fears-give-city-nightmare-on-threadneedle-street/
I resent this drip-drip-drip of blackmail from various directions trying to scare people into voting a particular way, otherwise we're going to get armageddon on Friday.
And frankl, after the mess the banks and financial bodies have got us into over the last few years they can f**k off. 
Even the Evening Standard has said the idea that there will be panic in the city is bollocks. Desperate, desperate stuff from the Tory spin doctors.
Quote: Timbo @ May 3 2010, 6:48 PM BSTEven the Evening Standard has said the idea that there will be panic in the city is bollocks.
The panic won't begin until Spain joins Greece and Portugal in the bailout line.