Plain Talk Keep Working COLUMN BY ROB BUKSAR If you’re paying attention to the news, and these days you can’t afford not to, you can’t help but see the leading daily stories are all about economy. : There’s not one day that passes without the report of more job loss and new plant and business closings. The Fed announced in April the U.S. economy has lost another 80,000 jobs (a record for one month), and reported an additional and unanticipated 400,000 new unemployment claims. Five airlines have folded, along with numerous man- ufacturing, trucking, and fab shops in the last eight days. At the same time all this misery is mounting, Mr. Bush’s commerce secre- tary was dispatched to China looking for some sanity in our trade deal. You would think this guy would be negotiat- ing in our best interest. Yet when CNN’s Lou Dobbs reported the event and what transpired, he blasted the Bush adminis- tration and minced no words when he said, “Whose side are these guys on?” You can find this gut-wrenching report on loudobbs.com April 10. Have some Pepto on hand to help you get through the report. Rebuilders are not immune. We’re dropping like flies also. The economic food chain is disappearing due to bad economic conditions and the monstrous infusion of cheap Chinese product which is plain and simply impossible to compete with. If I hear another politi- cian claim Americans can compete with anyone I’ll probably send him the free digital watch I got when I ordered an x- large taco pizza with a note saying, “Compete with this, bucko.” More and more it appears to be cheaper to buy and resell a new Chinese unit than rebuild. On the surface and over the short haul that may appear to be true. However, before you throw your nut drivers away and terminate your crew you had better weigh the long-term con- sequence of your actions because your future depends on it. Let’s consider a few things that occur when you give too much of your work to the Chinese: ¢ Your brand name becomes empty and meaningless. When your label goes on a Chinese unit do you hon- estly think your customers are fooled? They didn’t come to you to look at your pretty face. They made the effort because they wanted your work, know-how, and product. They can get Chinese product anywhere because it is everywhere! Once they realize you’re selling the same thing everybody else is they will no longer make the effort to see you. They will go and take care of their needs closer, more conveniently, and cheaper. Welcome to the world of Wal-Mart. The days of fixing mountains of 3501s, 3124s, and 7127s are over. Vehicles and their parts are more sophisticated than they used to be. If you’re not doing the late model stuff and buying it because it seems cheaper, you will lose the know-how and will soon be unable to fix it. ¢ Our industry is hemorrhaging out of the country and wholesale outsourc- ing of professions has created criti- cal shortages not only in manufac- tured components but in trained, competent people in many fields. Try to replace an experienced man. It’s darn near impossible. Remaining American industry and rebuilding have resorted to “poaching” from one another. It’s a Catch-22. First we cut back because of reduced opportunity and pick up the slack with offshore product. We then cut back again because bringing in the offshore product reduced more of the domestic opportunity. It’s a no- win and your shop is not immune. ¢ A whole lot of misfortune and misery is accompanying this economic pit our leaders have guided us into. Yet it sure has brought to light who glob- alism benefits and who it has hurt (benefited few, killed many). If we are to remain a viable first-class nation we no longer can support with our money and votes the path we’re traveling. To continue borrowing money in order to buy cheap Chinese product and never produce or sell to others again is suicidal. The rest of the world has already become unenthused about taking any more U.S. dollars. They already have so much of it they have run out of space to store it. So here’s what all this boils down to —don’t stop working. If you’re con- sidering outsourcing or tooling your lineup in China please reconsider. I can add, and am aware the short-term profits look better than what you’re doing now. It can’t and won’t last. The winds are just beginning to change direction. Even though the country has become mind- lessly addicted to cheap offshore prod- uct, it’s becoming obvious that we can’t continue like this. Our standard of living, middle class, and national security are at risk. It will stop or be curtailed sooner or later because it has to be. You don’t want to be caught with your pants down. Remember that once you stop working and turn loose your trained personnel, you will lose all capacity to do anything. From that point forward your life and business will depend on what mood the Communist country that you’re depend- ing on is in. From where I come that just doesn’t sound like a good idea. God