"Made in America" + "Economic Stimulus Package" = "?"

[Knotthead]

In the coming months, many Americans will be receiving a tax rebate from Uncle Sam in an effort to stimulate the U.S. economy. While the effectiveness of this plan is still up for debate, it would seem its best hope of working would be for everyone receiving it to go out and spend it on something produced in this country. Fortunately, many firearms are still made, and made well, in this country. Therefore, it is my civic and patriotic duty to invest in one. At the moment I'm thinking about a Ruger revolver, although I would also like a good bolt action .22 rimfire rifle. Can anyone recommend a rifle which fits this bill? Also, what are some other U.S. manufactured firearms which sell for the price of a $600 stimulus package? I'm sure I'm not the only one planning to spend their windfall on a firearm, so lets hear your plans.

 

[Kingcreek]

If you're following that line of thinking, we might see more benefit spending it on local labor vs product. ie auto mechanic, roofer, plumber, etc. so more of it could be re-spent into the loop.
I'm going to set mine aside for the Medicare and Social Security that won't be there when I'm ready.
as far as a gun related purchase? maybe something suitable for the next civil war or revolution..

 

[Hkmp5sd]

If you want to be sure 100% of your "rebate" stays in the US to support the economy, use it to buy cigarettes or hire a hooker.

 

[Superlite27]

"Made in America" + "Economic Stimulus Package" = "Repairs to Chevy Truck"

 

[rocinante]

My guns are 6 US (4 ruger, 1 marlin, 1 S&W) to 6 foreign (2 saiga,bersa,chinese SxS shotgun, walther) .

New versus used is 7 to 5. Spending any money is a boast to the American economy unless you somehow manage to get spirited free out of country and become a tourist. Still with that line of thought I want a 40 S&W carry piece and am leaning toward new S&W M&P over Glock and Springfield because of the made in U.S.A. label. My feelings are not that strong but if all are equal it is a favorable in my decision making. The three cars in my driveway are GMC, Ford, Plymouth.

 

[BorisDaBastid]

The irony about the economy is that all of our uniforms and most of our small gear is made by UniCor, a company whose employees are Federal Prisoners. How's that help out the economy during a time of war?

 

[bannockburn]

Knotthead

I can think of a few nice bolt action .22's; unfortunately most of them are made overseas. The only one that I would say was American built, very good quality, and still affordable with your stimulus check, would be the Ruger M77/22. I checked Bud's and they're available for $542 delivered to your FFL.

 

[ken grant]

The Guvment borrows money from China to give a rebate to the people.
It only makes sense for the people to spend it on Chinese made products.

 

[songdog76]

I suspect the Oil industry will acquire the vast majority of it.

 

[Sans Authoritas]

The best thing you can do for the economy is save as much money as you can. Spending money for the sake of spending money does little to help the economy.

There is an average savings rate of zero to negative in this land. That means there is little capital that can be given out in business loans, and thus, we have to get foreign investors to fund business ventures here. Foreign investment isn't necessarily a bad thing in itself, but it is a sign that Americans are too foolish to live within their means.

The government just prints more money whenever it wants. It's the only entity allowed to debase the currency. (Counterfeit.)

In human metabolic terms, the economy is running on a sugar rush (monetary debasement) right now. And we're just starting to come down off the rush. It will probably result in a sugar crash. The economy needs some solid food in its diet. That means the majority of people have to stop spending money they don't have, and start saving money. That won't happen. It's going to get ugly, especially when Social Security tanks in about 20 years, if that.

-Sans Authoritas

 

[Sans Authoritas]

Boris wrote:

The irony about the economy is that all of our uniforms and most of our small gear is made by UniCor, a company whose employees are Federal Prisoners. How's that help out the economy during a time of war?

The real question is, "How does a time of war help out the economy?" A country can not have a large percentage of its "business" be comprised of government and weapons contractors, and still survive for long. That's because government and wars are non-productive, in an economic sense: they don't add anything to an economy. The best thing they can do for an economy (and this rarely, if ever happens, in the long run) is to back off, and merely preserve the status quo, so people are free to peacably engage in commerce, and an economy can function.

But people in power don't want to merely preserve the status quo. They want power. A command economy, corporate (and individual) welfare, and constant wars getting kickbacks from weapons contractors are the way they maintain their status quo. I still can't understand the big, unspoken myth that won't die: that once someone gets power, he suddenly becomes an altruist, caring only about the well-being of those for whom he supposedly works.

-Sans Authoritas

 

[PaStEuRiZeD]

Well said.

 

[Sans Authoritas]

In addition, why does everyone think it's so horrible that so many things that used to be made locally are being manufactured in other countries? It is a sign that the education level in America is such that Americans can focus on higher-technology jobs. Are you really that sad that a job sewing sneakers has gone to China, enabling Americans to buy more goods for less money, while freeing up capital and labor for other, more advanced professions here?

If you are sad, there's only one person to blame: you, the consumer. You, who decided to get a higher-quality, lower-priced automobile from overseas. You, who voted, and as a result, people were elected who enacted trade tariffs that protected American manufacturers from competition, meaning they have no incentive to improve the quality of their products while keeping prices low. Tariffs are nothing but government-created partial monopolies. To say that tariffs help Americans is like saying government welfare helps poor people. It doesn't. Government welfare is condescension, not charity: it helps keep its recipients poor, and that is no favor to anyone.

The economy is not a static pie that everyone has to fight over, folks. It's dynamic: it increases as the number of people increase.

Don't be a member of Ye Olde Whale Harpooner's Union, Local 307, who despise the advancements that have allowed petroleum to be used as a lubricant. Or lampmakers, who hate the idea that those newfangled electric light bulbs are destroying their jobs. This is the human race, where progress happens, and new jobs and technologies replace the old.

Chances are, your respective professions did not even exist, 100 years ago.

-Sans Authoritas

 

[rantingredneck]

As to good bolt action .22's, look to Marlin. You'll end up spending about half your stimulus check or less depending on bells and whistles. Then you'll have 300 left over to go toward that Ruger revolver .

As to my plans, it should come in time to go toward the down payment on a new vehicle for the wife. Her van is getting high in the odometer and I feel better when she has a newer car. We're actually looking at Hybrids (did I actually say that???). Specifically the Ford Escape Hybrid. For our family a tiny car won't do, but an escape sized SUV with improved gas mileage will be nice. Then I'll park my truck for awhile and drive her old van til it dies. .

 

[Zedicus]

Considering putting a little of mine toward a M91/30, the rest has to go toward food/other essential bills though.

 

[v35]

The three cars in my driveway are GMC, Ford, Plymouth.

If you think that you're buying American with them think again. Chrysler was sold a long time ago to a German company (Daimler-Chrysler) who ran it into the ground then sold to Cerberus. Ford imports parts from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and the PRC then assembles them in Canada. GM already assembles components in Canada and is coping with strikes at their factories and is placing more emphasis on foreign suppliers. Meanwhile, Toyota, just trailing #1 GM in sales, has 10 plants in the US, employs tens of thousands of Americans and sold more of their Prius than Ford sold Explorers last year, and if you want to buy a car that's 100% made in the US you have to buy a Honda.

My point is not to say foreign cars are any better or worse than American cars, but if you want to buy an "American car" good luck. If driving a Ford makes you feel good, fine, but feeling good all you're really accomplishing any more. Decisions based on feelings are seldom beneficial.

The seeds of destruction of the American car industry were planted long ago, starting with them being unprepared for the record high gas prices of the mid - 70s. Now, history repeats itself, except Toyota and Honda today aren't the little startups of the past. They're behemoths with products ready for market right now, while Detroit is floundering. Meanwhile in India, a little company known as Tata is ready to challenge them too.

Now suppose you were the CEO of Smith and Wesson or any other domestic gun manufacturer. Given the horrible climate in which they have to survive making guns in the US (litigation, regulations, taxes, with an uncertain election looming...) how long do you suppose they'll last before moving elsewhere too?

Oh, and what are we doing about it?

The government just prints more money whenever it wants.

History teaches that this never works out well.

 

[Zedicus]

Ford imports parts from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and the PRC then assembles them in Canada.

Funny thing about that, my 02 F-250 which was Originally sold in Canada, was assembled in the US, from parts made mostly (mechanical anyway) in the US and Mexico, the electronics were assembled in Japan, and Taiwan, and the plastics are from china.

 

[Buzzbox]

Buy a house.

 

[GhostlyKarliion]

Someone once said IIRC "If you redistribute all of the wealth in america betwen everybody then in one year those who were before the redistribution wealthy will be wealthy, those who were middle class will be middle class, and those who were poor, will be poor"

this is becuase spending habits and lifestyles are what make and keep a man poor.

poor is a lifestyle, broke is a temporary financial situation.

me, I'm broke, so mine is going towards correcting that situitation

my gun budget has all but dried up as of late.

 

[The Tourist]

The government just prints more money whenever it wants.

It's a little more complex than that. First, you have to get the populace to actually believe the money is worth something. During the 1950's and the 1960's most foreigners would happily accept American money from tourists on vacation, simply because it came from the USA.

To this day, most Americans believe their money is "backed up" by gold in Fort Knox.

This is one those sayings like demeaning liberals as being "tax and spend." Heck the only money (wealth) the government has is from taxing and then spending. In my lifetime the best President we had was Reagan--and he had to tax us before he could do anything for the programs we enjoy.

In truth, you can spend the rebate, save it, give it away or burn it. The big lie has always been the perceived "multiplier effect." Meaning, if I have money I buy from the grocer, and the grocer buys from the shoemaker, and the shoemaker buys from the hooker..."

Good night! If that worked as believed in theory we would have the worst case of runaway inflation in history. Imagine an endless cycle of each tradesman consuming every dollar by simply multiplying profit to stay in business.

The theory either assumes investment capital falls like manna, or it's a separate factor in daily economy or "the government" is the ultimate font of investment.

The entire concept of the "multiplier effect" assumes the goverment is the prime orchestrator of the whole shebang. It's a leftist view of economy. Yikes, the government directs and controls more than 90% of each dollar spent and taxed now, meaning less that 10% (a dime) is expected to turn a recession around?

Wealth is always created the same old way. We invest existing capital to create new revenue streams--period. If you "loan out capital" you create a treadmill where the return--plus interest--has to ultimately be substancially less than any advancement.

FDR's CCC did not save us from The Great Depression, the war did. Up until that time we had no use for warplanes that could circle large sections of the globe or munitions by the ton. There were so many people creating things, and women working for the first time in manufacturing that our understanding of "wealth" skyrocketed. Did you hear the term "gouging" during the depression? Of course not. You cannot "gouge" a zero figure of real wealth.

If I get a rebate, I'll probably spend mine on premium gas or give the sum to my wife. In reality, it's not enough to create anything, nor will it change my continued buying habits--key ingredients in turning a recession.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

First off, Ruger is extremely anti-gun rights, and actively works to take away your gun rights, so it doesn't matter to me that they are American - not worth the tradeoff.

But to answer your question: Mossberg rifles, Marlin Rifles, Savage Rifles, Winchester rifles, T/C rifles, NEF rifles, S&W Rifles, and Remington rifles (except for the 'Spartan' line) are all made in America. Most of these are under $600. Mossberg rifles are assembled in the USA from parts made *just* across the border in Mexico. In addition, many AR-15 rifles are made in America, but usually more than $600. In a .22 turnbolt, American made? Hmmm, what's the budget on that one?

Wait - is the question, "which centerfire for $600?" and "which .22?" Or is it "which .22 for $600?". Your post is a little ambiguous.

Oh yeah, my plans with the tax "rebate" - I think I'll put a Savage in layaway - the 6.5-284 F Class PTR.

 

[ptmmatssc]

In addition, why does everyone think it's so horrible that so many things that used to be made locally are being manufactured in other countries? It is a sign that the education level in America is such that Americans can focus on higher-technology jobs. Are you really that sad that a job sewing sneakers has gone to China, enabling Americans to buy more goods for less money, while freeing up capital and labor for other, more advanced professions here?

I've heard this argument before . A previous Governor of our state said to "let the junk jobs go" . We would be the new silicon valley . But , funny thing is , we made good money at those jobs (textiles etc) . Now , years later , we have zip for "tech" jobs because as we were letting the others go , those jobs were starting to be outsourced . Now we are a "service industry" state . Lower wages and none of those jobs requiring "higher learning" .

I think you may be onto to something . We should just get rid of all those "menial" jobs . That way everybody can just get their goods from another country . No more needing to know how to actually DO anything . We all have the ability and money to just "get an education" , right? And those that don't can just "serve" the rest of us .

Yup , best thing to do is outsource everything , including products .
.....................................................................................

Anyways, back on topic . Any "rebate" that my family gets is going to be put away for when our gov decides they want it back . There ain't no "free lunch" .

 

[GhostlyKarliion]

First off, Ruger is extremely anti-gun rights, and actively works to take away your gun rights, so it doesn't matter to me that they are American - not worth the tradeoff.

um, cite please?

 

[walking arsenal]

Mine will pay off my credit card, or at least a part of it.

 

[Starship1st]

I am looking forward to buying a 410 shot gun and ammo with my stimulus rebate.