"Rich-out-West" wrote in message

**If** the cheaper price actually gets passed on to the consumer,
then I suppose this could be viewed as an upside for the general
population. On the flipside, it's probably safe to say this
development is bad news for the US workers who used to manufacture
those parts...or the stores they spent their paychecks at...or the guy
next door to the plant who sold them lunch...or the contractor who was
going to build them a house...etc...etc...

Sometimes the prices do get passed on because of competition. I recall
buying a new shirt for $5 about 40 years ago. I can find them at about that
price today in the discount stores. Stereo components, cameras, TV, etc are
all made cheaply overseas today and prices are far better than 10 years ago.
Some is better technology, some is cheaper labor in Korea, then China. As
consumers, we are demanding the lower prices. We are demanding higher wages
also and since management can't or won't pay it, they take production
overseas.

I'm no expert, but I have to wonder what our economy is going to be in 10 or
30 years as we lose manufacturing base but add casinos and the low pay
service wages they pay.