The effects of restrictions on shipping in the Red Sea and Panama Canal are being felt around the world. Global trade is under immense strain amid rising freight costs.
That does look like an interesting read, but reading the abstract, he goes a bit fanatical, in that he tries to smelt the metal himself. The metal industry (and plastic) is alive and well in Europe, you can buy prepared metal, wires, microchips, buttons and other needed materials easily, down to plastic beads you can put in a mold (or more likely, just 3d print these days), given these, I don’t see having a problem building a functional, albeit less aesthetically refined toaster in 2 days.
you can buy prepared metal, wires, microchips, buttons and other needed materials easily, down to plastic beads you can put in a mold (or more likely, just 3d print these days),
Do you think those appear out of thin air? Because that was my whole damn point. Those prepared items come from other parts of the world. You can’t manufacture all of them in Europe and if you tried, it would take a hell of a lot more than five years and drive prices up ridiculously.
I’m not sure why you think I’m talking about final assembly when I’ve made it clear multiple times that I’m talking about all the steps before final assembly, many of which require global shipping.
Just because the cheapest come from somewhere beyond the sea, doesn’t mean there aren’t local equivalents. I just bought missing motorcycle parts that are manufactured in Poland, and I do prefer German, Polish manufacture, because it’s inherently more reliable and doesn’t have the added guess-work for Chinese manufacturing. And yes, Europe does manufacture microchips, buttons, wires, and other components that (among many things) make new nuclear plants work.
I can agree that some materials are only available in specific regions, and so global-ish shipping would never die (and doesn’t need to), but over-reliance is a long time debt that should go away.
There is a more fair price to pay for products, if you don’t buy from china. Investing into local manufacturing makes sense. And people don’t ask for fair wages, because people I talk to haven’t had a raise in 10-20 years, even though inflation went crazy over the past 10 years.
Does it make sense for those five years you were talking about where everything is super expensive? Because that sounds like quite the position of privilege.
It also sounds like a very privileged position blaming the lack of fair wages on the workers not asking for them.
How is it a position of privilege? It would mean that manufacturing in Europe would gain a lot of income, provide more lower skill jobs in Europe, consolidate the economy. Reduced shippings costs would directly go into the European economy.
I would like there to be more unions, otherwise large companies even in Europe are too powerful and too dehumanizing. If you don’t talk about this, it will only get worse.
Buying hand-made clothes from individual artisans is actually cheaper in Europe than well-known brands, but it sadly requires more research and time for searching.
So many things you could not imagine.
This isn’t conceptual. A book was written by a man who tried to make a toaster from the very base components. It was in no way easy.
https://www.amazon.com/Toaster-Project-Attempt-Electric-Appliance/dp/B00ANYWFP6
Also, I am not going to talk to you in two different comment chains, so pick one.
That does look like an interesting read, but reading the abstract, he goes a bit fanatical, in that he tries to smelt the metal himself. The metal industry (and plastic) is alive and well in Europe, you can buy prepared metal, wires, microchips, buttons and other needed materials easily, down to plastic beads you can put in a mold (or more likely, just 3d print these days), given these, I don’t see having a problem building a functional, albeit less aesthetically refined toaster in 2 days.
Do you think those appear out of thin air? Because that was my whole damn point. Those prepared items come from other parts of the world. You can’t manufacture all of them in Europe and if you tried, it would take a hell of a lot more than five years and drive prices up ridiculously.
I’m not sure why you think I’m talking about final assembly when I’ve made it clear multiple times that I’m talking about all the steps before final assembly, many of which require global shipping.
Just because the cheapest come from somewhere beyond the sea, doesn’t mean there aren’t local equivalents. I just bought missing motorcycle parts that are manufactured in Poland, and I do prefer German, Polish manufacture, because it’s inherently more reliable and doesn’t have the added guess-work for Chinese manufacturing. And yes, Europe does manufacture microchips, buttons, wires, and other components that (among many things) make new nuclear plants work.
I can agree that some materials are only available in specific regions, and so global-ish shipping would never die (and doesn’t need to), but over-reliance is a long time debt that should go away.
So your point essentially is that you don’t care if things get hugely more expensive because you’ll be fine. Got it.
There is a more fair price to pay for products, if you don’t buy from china. Investing into local manufacturing makes sense. And people don’t ask for fair wages, because people I talk to haven’t had a raise in 10-20 years, even though inflation went crazy over the past 10 years.
Does it make sense for those five years you were talking about where everything is super expensive? Because that sounds like quite the position of privilege.
It also sounds like a very privileged position blaming the lack of fair wages on the workers not asking for them.
How is it a position of privilege? It would mean that manufacturing in Europe would gain a lot of income, provide more lower skill jobs in Europe, consolidate the economy. Reduced shippings costs would directly go into the European economy.
I would like there to be more unions, otherwise large companies even in Europe are too powerful and too dehumanizing. If you don’t talk about this, it will only get worse.
Buying hand-made clothes from individual artisans is actually cheaper in Europe than well-known brands, but it sadly requires more research and time for searching.
You blamed workers not asking for raises for their pay being low. That’s privilege in a nutshell.