Honesty.

At least we can hear now what things are like. And if we can start a discussion - we can find a resolution to the problem. But if we insist on saying how cheerful people are - well, there is no problem to solve, is there?

My husband is an engineer/designer. A major company has been making him for last 6 months implementing their production in China. It's not going well. It will never go well. The Chinese don't have the right attitude, the right skills, the language and they keep screwing up the product. These problems will continue throughout the life of the product - it is going to be hell. Now, there is a company here, in the States, that has been making this product all along. Their price is competitive, there are no problems with the production, they are highly innovative and their turn around is fast not to mention fast delivery (vs. 6 months from China). So what is the problem? Why does this major company insist on production in China? Well, they are worried that they don't have a presence in Chinese manufacturing. That is the only reason why they are doing what they are doing. Because the other companies produce in China.

Just changing the discussion, refocusing it on what matters here - the loss of small towns in US is not something we should just ignore or cheer... when township falls - civilization falls, haven't you heard? Talking alone can make many companies change their attitude. That alone can change us back into successful country.

And finally 'these people', my dear, are US.

Posted at April 13, 2008 7:37 PM in response to Obama's Comments Reflect *gasp* Reality

OK, I'm confused... So is Obama in your opinion a cynical politician capable of using every opportunity to his advantage or is he a naive believer?

And how was this ever a discussion on patriotism? Aren't you confusing spread-eagleism with patriotism here?

Posted at March 19, 2008 3:05 PM in response to Obama's race speech: hypocritical?

Are you saying that Obama voters in Nevada hate his guts the same way as Clinton voters hate her in Texas? What is this? Hold your nose and vote campaign?

Also, PA primaries are closed. Meaning one has to register as a party member to be allowed a vote in that party. Forgive me, but I just don't see myself becoming a member of Republican Party to mess up their votes. It is much more important to me that the party I belong to fields the right local candidates for the local general elections. Membership in a party is a serious civil matter. And when Democrats ask people to register for Democratic Party in PA - they mean it. This has little to do with candidate affiliation. Don't belittle the effort.

Posted at March 17, 2008 5:56 PM in response to Bill Kristol Corrects False Assertion About Obama

Sinbad, you have my vote! :o)

Posted at March 10, 2008 12:58 AM in response to Hillary: Pledged Delegates Can Switch Candidates

This is the funnest comment I've read today. Thank you. :o)

Posted at February 27, 2008 4:36 PM in response to Tennessee GOP Smears Obama With Alleged Ties to Anti-Semitism and Farrakhan

Ah! This reminds me of "the good old communist times"...

In the 50s, in Krakow, Poland, lived a philosopher who in those Stalinist times had the bad fortune to be a phenomenologist. His name was Roman Ingarden, btw. He just published a book entitled, "The Controversy over the Existence of the World". The next day after the book came out the local newspaper (very Stalinist newspaper, btw) had this headline on the front page: "Some philosophers wonder if the world exists while we're building steel mills!"

And indeed, they were building a steel mill nearby (very expensive and bad idea as it turned out -- but that's another story).  The problem was that during Stalinism stupid headlines were more than just mere 'attempts' at ostracism.

Btw, the steel mill closed down in the 90s. Communism is history. Ingarden's student (prof. Tischner) single-handedly wrote ethos for Solidarity movement. The author of the headline is not remembered and yet he is ridiculed to this day. And Ingarden is still studied (although not enough I think). Things tend to turn out that way ...eventually.

Having experienced communism (fortunately, not the 50s) I can only say "aaargh! What a drag! Can't they invent something new for a change?"

Posted at February 20, 2006 2:20 PM in response to Horowitz: Old Whine in New Bottle