Does anyone else remember when Walmart was first breaking onto the scene as a competitor against K-Mart, they advertised “Proud to sell ‘Made in the USA’” merchandise? Then shortly, Walmart faced its first scandal, being busted selling cheap junk boasting “Made in China” on the label. The “pride” was pushed to the side, the “Made in the USA” disappeared, and the price was all Walmart was going to compete on, “Prices are falling.” K-Mart is gone, Walmart is still selling, “Prices” are still “supposedly” falling, but where is questionable, quality is all but gone, and who has benefited?
I remember when my town got a Payless shoe store. I plunked my money down for a nice pair of shoes; they lasted less than 30-days of wear; I was told, “You get what you pay for.” The next pair of shoes I bought at Walmart turns out they were probably made on the same manufacturing line in China. Payless sold them for $20.00; Walmart sold them for $30.00. Neither lasted long enough for the new shoe smell to evaporate. Payless Shoes is gone, Walmart is still here, the quality has not improved, and I am still asking, who has benefitted?
I purchased some tools the other day; I was mystified at the following label on the tag, “Made in the USA, of parts configured mostly in the USA but manufactured in other countries of origin.” It turns out, if the assembly of parts is done inside the US, a finished product can be labeled as “Made in the USA.” If some of the sub-assemblies occur outside the USA, the manufacturer might, or might not, be legally responsible to declare such, depending upon the industry, the finished goods, and the lawyers and labor unions involved.
Country of origin labeling is real sketchy, full of hungry lawyers and fascinating self-interest, as well as enough political grandstanding to satisfy forests of trees being slaughtered for centuries to come. All in the name of, yes, you guessed it, transparency. I am oversimplifying the problem here to make a point. Your child’s pencils in school have to declare Made in China due to some lead poisoning issues in the yellow paint, but crayons can hide the country of origin because a lawyer said the transparency issue does not cause harm. This convoluted logic is rampant throughout the entire mess of country of origin labeling. Unfortunately, this is but the tip of the iceberg in manufacturing, cost, and value.
By the way, I guarantee, there are hordes of lawyers plotting ways and means of overturning country of origin labeling to hide or overturn legal decisions they find onerous, mainly to further remove any hint that “Made in China” could be traced to problems with poisoning to China.
Taking us to the first point in this article, when did America stop manufacturing? Why did America stop manufacturing? Why did stores stop selling American manufactured goods? In Home Deport today, I made a point of looking for “Made Proudly in the USA” stickers on tools, products, and other items for sale. There were no official statistics, no actual counts, just browsing shelves, looking for products, and I was not pleased. Walmart has long been turned into a proud repository for Chinese manufacturing; to see anything other than “Made in China” on their shelves would be a significant accomplishment.
Having ventured into a Hobby Lobby recently, I was again amazed at the incredibly talented people worldwide and wondered again, “When did America stop manufacturing goods?” Dollar Tree is another place where Made in China flourishes, and one has to wonder, “Why did stores stop selling American manufactured goods?”
Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that I am China-bashing or Big-Box Bashing, please note that I am sick to death of the excuses that “Manufacturing in America is too expensive to be profitable.” I detest hearing excuses that “Manufacturers cannot find enough unskilled laborers to work the machines, without illegal labor.” I am through listening to supposed experts declare that “Americans cannot compete with Chinese labor due to American expectations for benefits, job expectations, the cost of safety, etc.” The other day some ignorant putz declared that the “American worker is just plain lazy compared to workers even in Europe, which is why Americans can never work fast enough to meet production goals.”
Bringing us to the cost and value topics of this article. Long have cost accountants and operations managers had a professional love/hate relationship. We love to hate each other for one reason; we do not see eye to eye on basic fundamental reality. To a cost accountant, everything has a cost, but the difference between cost and value is not found in green money losses alone unless you are a cost accountant.
We have discussed the different types/colors of money previously. Green money is cold hard cash, and cost accounting is only, ever, concerned with the end of the day totals of cold hard cash! However, reality always has other types of money involved, relationships that cannot be qualified in monetary means, and humans are more than dollars and cents in a ledger. Value is always different than cost.
Simple explanation; a hammer costs your great-grandfather $1.00. With that hammer, your great-grandfather built a home and a cradle. That cradle rocked your grandfather, father, and you to sleep. Upon reaching the age of accountability, each, in turn, was taught how to swing a hammer, driving nails, and learning carpentry. That hammer holds four generations of value, beyond the cost of $1.00. Green money costs, that hammer has depreciated in value until it is worthless to the company and should be scrapped for a new hammer; but the value of that hammer is not measured in dollars and cents. Thus the disconnect between operations and cost accounting.
What does all of this have to do with retail establishments, manufacturing in America, and “Made in China?” What is the value of manufacturing in America; self-sufficiency in the time of trouble, pride of accomplishment, value in production, and upward economic mobility of dreams for employees. Why does America need retail establishments that will sell “Made in America;” to remind Americans who we are, why we are neighbors and provide an outlet for manufacturing in America to compete.
Ask yourself, why did President Bill Clinton pave the way for China to join the World Trade Organization and actively push to move manufacturing to China? Why did President Richard Nixon push so hard to “Open China?” What has been the cost, and where is the value in either or both of these decisions? Sufficient time has passed to evaluate both of these decisions without political rhetoric and bombastic bloviations from either political extreme. Both presidents possessed more reasons and desires than they admitted while in office for these decisions and actions; the consequences are the focus, and you can judge the consequences yourself.
Consider cost versus value, consider the toll on hometowns across America where factories lay idle, homes lay vacant, streets lay silent, and poverty is so thick generations of destitution have lived and died in its shadow. Consider how some towns have tried to restructure themselves and succeeded, others have failed, some shipped their children to schools far away, others have turned their towns into “sleeper communities” for cities 2-6 hours away. You decide! Think! Investigate! Talk to people laid off by unions and forgotten. Then remember when politicians discuss taxes, labor union special interest projects, and social spending. Remember the next time you, a citizen with a brain, are reduced to “Human Infrastructure.”
© Copyright 2021 – M. Dave Salisbury
The author holds no claims for the art used herein, the pictures were obtained in the public domain, and the intellectual property belongs to those who created the images. Quoted materials remain the property of the original author.
Lorde, from the “Pure Heroine” album, sings the song “Glory and Gore.” From which both this title and the principle for this article originated. The obvious is stated many times a day, oftentimes in an ironic accident, and today was no exception. The headlines on several stories help prove this point and highlight some serious problems facing America.
CRT is dangerous, it is a lie thought up by academics, and the only people who will benefit from CRT are liars, thieves, cheats, and politicians. Tell me, of all the people in history who have been enslaved, forced into indentured servitude, harassed, belittled, and betrayed by a different society, why are American Black populations the only ones ever targeted for pampering and coddling? When you answer this question, you will discover that this population is being treated this way by racist antagonists who know they can rely upon this population for agitation, anger, and terrorism without thought, concern, and care about the consequences. Why; because they have been intentionally groomed and carefully taught to act in this manner for the political ambitions of the same people pushing CRT.
The Daily Signal also carried a story authored by 
As an adult educator with more than 20 years in distance learning and classroom training, I thought I would be a shoo-in for the positions. Nope, I had not served in pay grades lower to “learn the VA.” Even though I had more education and experience, was Schedule A, and more skilled than any other candidate, I was deemed not qualified, and internal people filled the open roles. How do I know these facts, I asked those hired, and they were glad to relate their stories, experience, and time served in the VA to get into a plushy training position where they were grossly inadequate. Only after leaving was the other reason revealed, the HR Director at the Albuquerque VAMC claimed too many veterans were in employment at the VA and refused to hire a single veteran while she directed the HR department.
The result, designed incompetence is bred, excuses that could not hold reality become the accepted verbiage to deflect responsibility and accountability, and if all else fails, make sure your union dues are paid, and the union will defend your pension, your job, and your benefits. Then you can 
Is it too obvious to declare the leadership in charge at both the non-profits and the VA needs immediate removal, transparent audits conducted, and those leaders held accountable for the money that has been lost? Recently an author claimed the VA is more of a crime syndicate than the mob. After reading that two additional VAMC’s have failed gloriously to prove services rendered for payments made, I can agree with this sentiment!
For the record, stating the obvious, the entire US Government is sick. The legislative branch keeps abdicating responsibility to the judicial and executive branches. Bureaucrats and bureaucracy have overcome common sense. The whole process has been rigged to keep the dregs of society in power while the taxpayer suffers. Let us, the owners of representative governments, remind those supposed to be in charge that they have cause to fear the electorate. Politicians should fear the ballot box, and they should fear having the electorate hold them personally accountable for the mess they have perpetrated.
PSA: I am not a cynic; I understand the concepts being discussed, and it might appear that I am cynical about insurance companies by the tone of the writing. Please note, I am generally in favor of the insurance industry. However, when government mandates insurance coverage to spread the risks out for the benefit of the insurance industry, insurance has become a tax. When a business offers insurance, but the co-pays and the costs are too high, insurance is no longer a benefit, and I want the option to opt-out of the employer “benefit.”
Interest, in this usage is referring to the advantage to a group or single person, as well as improving one’s welfare. Maritime shipping would take on several loads, and people who owned those loads had a vested interest (having a personal stake in something) in seeing that ship arrive on time at its intended destination. For example, sugar has been a huge commodity in history, and a sugar mill would ship the sugar to destinations for sale. People interested in improving their welfare could invest in the sugar mill, or with a higher risk, expecting a higher return, invest in the shipping company, or the ship. Thus, investing became one where opportunities to increase interest became popular.
One final point, government’s have interests, generally traced to those paying the highest taxes, or with the most political connections. Government’s do not have allies, as much as they have groups of governments that share a common interest. For example, countries belonging to NATO. NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and was designed for those countries with interests in seeing trade safely through the North Atlantic. Not all the countries in NATO are friendly with all the other countries, but the common interest in seeing trade and markets operate smoothly has generated NATO and kept it alive since 1949. Government never has friends; they only have relationships based upon mutual interests. These are cogent points that must be remembered! Incredible as it seems, interests change, and when interests change, relationships between countries and governments force ideological changes, and today’s relationship might not be the same tomorrow, which is one of the reasons why the United Nations is such a pile of hypocrisy and uselessness!
Hence, lawyers and bankers have a vested interest in seeing insurance companies not have to pay claims, but still collect premiums. Thus, contract law was established, and the insurance companies took full advantage of language to protect their premiums from paying a claim. Another growth industry directly tied to the insurance industry, was special courts for hearing claims and awarding damages (Tort Law). Cornell Law university provides some clarity on tort law, “A tort is an act or omission that gives rise to injury or harm to another and amounts to a civil wrong for which courts impose liability. In the context of torts, “injury” describes the invasion of any legal right, whereas “harm” describes a loss or detriment in fact that an individual suffers.” Placing insurance companies squarely into the middle of tort law, and thus opening up new avenues for protecting against paying a claim from the premiums paid and invested.
Important to understanding, Carl Marx and communism uses the ideas of mutual insurance companies to create a society where all share the risks, all benefit in the gains, at least in theory. However, like insurance companies, someone in communism must enjoy all the benefits for taking the risk of establishing the community, and the reality of China, Cuba, and USSR become evident. Where the leaders take everything for themselves, and the regular people live in squalor and depredation.
With all the ties to investing, savings products, and the flow of money into and out of an insurance company, the discussion of insurance companies remains critical. Especially when the government can create an insurance company, then mandate that company be used to provide coverage, creating a tax and fee that the taxpayer might not realize. For example, around the time that states began demanding drivers have car insurance, GEICO began selling policies to non-government employees. GEICO is an acronym for Government Employees Insurance Company, and by selling policies to non-government employees, the government is able to reduce the risk of insuring their employees. Thus, an argument can be made that the government only created GEICO to reduce the risks of insuring government employees, as well as benefiting from a flush of cash from premiums paid.
Both Lloyds of London and GEICO leave me worrying for taxpayers. However, since the US Government is the only provider for some types of insurance, specifically flood insurance, which is mandatory for homeowners living in a flood plain, one must ask more questions about where the money goes and why? What steps have been taken to protect the public from large scale incidents where the insurance company will have to make massive payments? What does the government invest in to protect the premiums paid against the time of claims?
America, when it comes to cash flow, money, and government fiscal policy, we need answers. We need the elected representatives to understand basic economics, and we need to hold a tighter rein on those elected representatives. The current fiscal health of America is poor, solely because of the elected representatives and their bureaucratic minions. We must have a solution that protects America, and this solution needs every citizen involved and engaged.
On 10 May 2021, I was informed that my financing was finally clear, and I was set to close on a home on 14 May 2021. On 11 May 2021, while conducting a search online, I came across an advertisement for Alliance Van Lines Inc. from Palm Beach Florida. The company offered a reasonable rate to move my household goods from Phoenix, AZ., to Las Cruces, NM., and I paid a deposit. The verbal agreement was, “We have a driver in Northern AZ., he has to come through Phoenix on Saturday and can deliver in Las Cruces Sunday, as he heads to his final destination for a Monday delivery.” The phone representative went so far as to place me on hold, and “check” with dispatch for space availability and to double check times for picking up my household goods (15 May 2021) and delivering them (16 May 2021), without hindering his driver’s final destination.
Joe, the employee who called me, represented in the initial proposal that his driver was available with the needed deck space to haul my load of household goods on 15 May, deliver on 16 May, and continue on his way to his final destination, and that my load of household goods was a perfect fit to finish out his load from Northern AZ; thus, the first criterion of a legal bait and switch was met.
Alliance Van Lines Inc. you have brought shame upon yourself and I wish you the best with the consequences! A bait and switch are never allowed, never acceptable, and always unethical and immoral. May you be happy with your choices and their inherent consequences!
I believe in public shaming; I am an equal opportunity shamer. Where the VA is concerned, well, I tend to be more motivated to pass out shame than any other government entity. Not that I won’t pass along shame, or congratulations, when warranted, the administration of the VA deserves a few more scoops from the shame bucket today!
If this is VA Excellence in action, we all need to be concerned! Do you notice anything missing from these reports? Let me help; where are the approving officials expected to do due diligence in being held culpable for allowing the fraud to thrive? I fully admit I have limited experience being a document reviewer and approving authority. I cannot help but ask about these approving officials who have been trained and gathered experience for their employment role.
Now, returning to the VA-OIG reports, who authorized accepting the fraudulent documents? Where were the inspectors? How many veterans had to complain they were being cheated before anyone took notice of Copeland’s crimes? How many congressional members were contacted for help that never arrived? How many letters to administrators were written that were never answered? How long did veterans suffer before the VA took action, especially in Copeland’s case? How many evidence intake specialists lost their jobs in either case? Were any held accountable for failing to do their jobs?
Recently, the death toll of COVID was advertised as 500,000 dead, per CDC. Another factoid that slipped under the radar this week, influenza deaths and cases have dropped to zero since COVID-19 government hysteria happened, also per the CDC. Until 2020 the US could lose between 12,000 to 61,000, globally 290,000 and 650,000 deaths to the annual flu, also per the CDC. Yet, 2020 has seen zero deaths or influenza cases. Does something sound suspicious about these statistics?
Why does a virus that forms the common cold, per the CDC, get all this attention, money, and other resources? What is so special about COVID? Many have accurately called me heartless, cold, and distant where death is concerned. I do not share in the emotions, actions, and social heritage where death is concerned, and the traditions surrounding a death are always morbid to me. Hence, when we talk about death statistics, I focus more on the statistics than on the individuals, families, and communities. Still, if COVID is a “special circumstance,” are 500,000 deaths really that tragic when we lose more people to cancer and heart disease annually?
What is veracity?
Shortly after cleaning out the marketing materials hyperventilating over the 500,000th death by COVID. My email box filled with politicians begging for my support for “The American Rescue Plan” from COVID as being pushed by the fraudulent president and his minions. Another $1.9 Trillion of “aid” to America, except, America does not have the money, the “Rescue Plan” does not end the government worsened health crisis, and one of the worst bill riders is to raise the American Minimum Wage to $15.00 an hour. Why should I support legislation that will intentionally worsen the financial health of America? Why should I support legislation where the government wants to increase the minimum wage, killing private sector employment? Does anyone need a refresher course on how bad the $15.00 minimum wage has been to Seattle and every other place where it has been made mandatory?
What else is in “The American Rescue Plan” for goodies, bennies, and pay-offs that make this legislation different from any other legislation to date? Will America be sending money to African nations to increase sunshine harvesting efforts as a global climate change initiative? The inanity and asininity in the legislators pushing these “plans” leave me mentally breathless! In the category of mental breathlessness, why do all these COVID-recovery bills include loan programs? Why increase personal debt, business debt, and other debt levels, and call this a benefit? Loans are not a benefit! Loans are captivity and chaos, not joy and pleasure!
“End the pandemic,” this is a government decision that shut down and mandated to cause chaos in America and end an economic rebound. Why not merely pass legislation declaring the pandemic over and let people get back to work?
Please, help me understand how a virus, inherent in the common cold, is going to help “herd immunity?” The common cold continues to kill, regardless of herd immunity. What exactly is in that “vaccine” that will aid in reducing the common cold? Worse, catching one of the 
DNC-Consulting 