Oh PA-LEEEZ.....
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Cut the knee-jerk DRAMA people. </span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Every company or long standing brand, has had winner AND loser designs. </span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">2. If 51%, or more, of a company's stock, like GE or Ford, is owned by people/groups OUTSIDE the U.S., is it still a U.S. company?</span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">3. If a company like Whirlpool, has some of the products designed and made by, lets say Germans (Whirlpool Duet) is the product "American" made?</span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">4. If a Buick or Cadillac is assembled in China(Buick Envision), is it still "American" made ?</span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Is "American Made" relevant in a global economy? </span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">6. So we don't complain when a company like GM or McDonalds or Walmart, stretches its entrepreneurial hands into other countries and propagates like a barn full of bunnies, but it's a problem when other companies come to the U.S.? </span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">7. Theoretically and practically, white goods, like appliances, are text book examples of being almost completely manufactured by robots. This we were told back in the 50s was a desirable GOAL. Wouldn't you agree? Does it matter where they are made?</span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">8. I've owned a few Haier appliances. Air conditioners, a chest freezer, refrigerators. I never had any problems. In fact, I like the compact designs they offer. And if they strive to serve the BOL market, that doesn't mean the products are junk. BOL is not synonymous with junk, and TOL is definitely not synonymous with quality built. It just means they have a much greater number of people who can afford to buy their products, and that's a smart move.</span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">9. GE hasn't wanted to be in the consumer appliance business for decades. They've only held onto it like a cousin they'd prefer to drown. As much as I like some of their designs, the Filter-flo, for example, has fond memories for me and it's fun; but it was a crap design, and it took them until 1995 to replace it. Long after Whirlpool updated their washers. So, they haven't been vested in their appliance line. The 80s saw virtual stagnation of almost all the major GE appliance designs. </span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">10. I'm interested in QUALITY products. I don't care Who designs them, or where they're put together. </span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">11. The borders and boundaries we've previously known, such as states and countries, are being dissolved. Certainly the business community doesn't adhere to those lines. The internet has little regard for state, ethnic, or country boundaries. Why would you want to pen yourself in?</span>
<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">12. And remember, the U.S. is NOT the crème de' le crème in ANYTHING. In all the important arenas of life, other countries have us beat several times over. The U.S., is still trying to get universal health care and internet to everyone. Something all other industrialized countries have had for quite a while now, with no problems. The knuckle dragging in this country is pathetic. </span>
My local Pamida store was selling these U.S. Haiers and some the parts were U.S. origin including the power cords and icemakers-I brought in a small pocket flashlight to the store and tried to discreetly sneak a peek at the compressor through the rear grille-could not make out brand or origin of the compressor,though a small Haier chest freezer I have has a "korea"marked LG compressor.Makes me wonder if Haier will drop production of GE fridges and stick GE badges on Haier fridges...
