Travis, I submit that there plenty of resources to do proper inspections.  It's just that those resources are being spent on upper management bonuses instead.

The resources are there and should be spent by the corporations doing business.  it should (and please see emphasis in should) not be the governments responsiblity to do the primary (and again i mean primary) inspections regarding safety of a product being brought to market.

mdeneen:

 The practice I am learning is to reject the role of consumer, and adopt the role of a conscious participant in the world around me. Consumer is a word invented not surprisingly  to describe a pattern of action and training benefitting the largest industrial concerns. To consume is to "use up" and the quicker the better! Consumers are trained to simply "get the lowest price" - that's called being a "smart consumer." Of course, being really smart might entail asking difficult questions like, was anyone abused so that I can have this product? Is this product dangerous to my health? Was the enviornment damaged in achieving this low price? If I buy this will it hurt or help my neighbors and other local businesses in the community where I live? Oh no, we don't want people being THAT smart, just smart about the Every Day Low Price! 

An entire industry called "economics" is employed at full tilt to brainwash consumers. Fancy notions like trade balance, free trade, supply and demand, global economy, free markets and a whole host of anti-worker, anti-union, anti-environmental concepts are blasted through the media day in, and day out to keep people from asking those difficult questions. If you believe in God, ask yourself if he created "The Consumer" in his image, or Man in his image? If you don't believe in God, ask yourself, is your higher purpose in life to be a good Consumer? Do you really need to understand global economic concepts in order to live your life in decency? Can you as a fellow traveller on the planet really "shop without consequences?"

As a conscious participant in the world around me, I begin with my own back yard. Then like a rock dropped in a pond, I work outwards in concentric circles. Do I want it polluted? Do I want my neighbors to have good opportunities to make a decent living? Would I want slavery here? Do I like being able to have my local expert fix or repair the thing I bought from him? Will I be better off if all the businesses in my area are out of area corporations, or will it be better if we have more local ownership? Is it better to buy locally grown food, or import it from across the globe? Yes, I still must buy things from distant places and often with unknown consequences, but I do it much much less than I used to.

You may find this an interesting take on your theory.  http://www.storyofstuff.com/

A lot if interesting replies, but can anyone answer the question ?

Are any of the subs made in the US ? 

molecules:

Are any of the subs made in the US ? 

No, none of the subwoofers.

 ThomasB---

I only today noticed the link you posted for the "Story of Stuff" above. I wanted to say thanks for that one. It's one of the all-time best overview style presentations on the value of sustainability that I have run into. The style is fun, fast and appropriate for any age and any political bent, and that's hard to do.

I'll be passing that one around!

Amy Unger:

molecules:

Are any of the subs made in the US ? 

No, none of the subwoofers.

Thats too bad 

I'm pretty sure this subwoofer is made in Hope, Arkansas:
http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/kpt-884.aspx

jimmy4300:

On the flip side of that coin. My wife has a Toyota Camry. Camry's are made in the USA and Japan. If you were buying one, what would your choice of origin be? Both models are designed in the same place and are supposed to be the same. Well, I chose the one made in Japan. I just believe the quality's better. The Japanese are teaching us how to build cars. There is one visual difference, the Japanese model has a cover for a tow hook in the front bumper, the one made in the USA doesn't. Back in 1993, I as helping my brother buy a car for his wife, a new Honda Accord. We had the same choice. We chose the Japanese car. She's still driving it today. So, IMO, things can be made to any quality level you desire, if you have the money. This means the proper facilities, proper design, proper management, properly trained workers and etc. Amy, I disagree with you. A product should be labeled with the company of manufacture not with the country that design's or tests the product. BTW, I am very happy with my Chinese RF-82s Lou

Yea, and my Subaru is made in Indiana, BFD. I don't hear anything about Chevy Malibu's being made in Japan.  Although I understand the tariffs on American products in China are high and the yuan is floated artificially low.

We are going to be at war with China within a Generation, they are an old and patient culture for which we have little understanding.  My Heritage loudspeakers, which I am now keeping, I am proud of. I am happy with my reference stuff (RF-52/RC52) well a conundrum;couldn't you choose Rhodesia for cheap labor ? 

I wouldn't even buy Chinese pet food or clothing. My son, in NROTC is fully aware of who is enemy is.  As a retired US Naval Officer, I too am aware of this pending threat...anybody wanna buy a pair of RF-52's and an RC-52 ?

Amy, you have convinced me...I am selling my "Red" Reference speakers, maybe I will get the conversion kit and I will for sure keep my Heresy II's, a descendant of a proud tradition.  In over 20 years of service to my country I don't believe I ever used a Chinese made product.  My Dell computer is probably made in China or Bangalore, which is sad, Dell uses elves in one commercial.  My choices were limited.

The contract for the Avionics for the F-22 went to IMI..they are friends, the Chinese are business partners, funny thing is that IMI will not do business with China. (IMI == Israeli Military Industries).  They understand security and loyalty, apparently many consumers don't. 

HHHMMMM....MFK,, when was the last time we went to war with China????  I thought international trade was the equalizer to reduce war tensions.

Doesn't it just create a war with economics as the medium instead of guns? 

I try to buy American made products when I can - even paying a few dollars more many times.

It's not that I'm against foreign trade, but I am for fair trade. 

IMVHO, American companies doing business abroad have a lot tougher time than foreign companies doing business in the US.  No real proof, but my gut feeling / opinion and should not be taken as a political statement.  (I can't even pretend to understand the politics involved.)

I think Klipsch manufactures products in China, and probably elsewhere, not because they want to necessarily, but because they have to to stay competitive.  That said, Klipsch is a global company so you would expect at least some of their products to be manufactured in other countries.  I'd be extremely happy if all Klipsch speakers would be manufactured in Hope or other US locations.  I'm quite amazed that Klipsch manufactures as many speakers as they do in Hope.

The important thing is that the R&D is done in the US.  And it is the very best models that are manufactured in the US.  I think the entire Cinema line is manufactured in the US but I think someone said that's because theater operators prefer to buy speakers and even amplifiers that are US made.  So if you want to buy US made products, buy US made products.  Good luck finding affordable, closer to the mass market cost level, US made electronics....   

I'm sure there are a lot of things I couldn't afford if they were made in the US due to the higher cost of labor.  I suspect that once China and other lower cost  labor countries start to catch up economically and environmentally with the benefits and environmental controls US companies are faced with, manufacturing will redistribute somewhat to be closer to where the products are sold.  Only time will tell.  I'm relieved that companies such as Klipsch haven't totally abandoned their US manufacturing.

I am really quite happy that Klipsch products are designed, engineered, and developed in the US and that at least some are still manufactured in Hope. 

I quite likely wouldn't be able to be happily listening to my Klipsch Custom 2 as I type this had they also been manufactured or assembled in the US rather than China.  Not sure how much the cost difference would be but labor is often one of the most expensive components.

just my 0.02 cents

oldtimer:

It's just that those resources are being spent on upper management bonuses instead.

DrWho:

oldtimer:

It's just that those resources are being spent on upper management bonuses instead.

So what salary do you claim is an acceptable limit for upper management? Surely they should make some money, right? Would you like to decide the wages for the rest of the employees too?

I kind of like the supposed 7 times the lowest paid employee the Ben and Jerry's guys paid themselves.... That's a little unreal as don't they own the company so probably make up for the salary in other ways.... not to mention stock options and the like ...

Upper manangement probably should make good salaries, but probably not obscene 8 figure salaries ... what disgusts me is when they get paid tens of  millions including obscene bonuses while driving the company into the ground or laying off thousands of workers.  And then get paid millions to leave if things don't work out.  We all should have such a good deal.        

blsamuel:

DrWho:

oldtimer:

It's just that those resources are being spent on upper management bonuses instead.

So what salary do you claim is an acceptable limit for upper management? Surely they should make some money, right? Would you like to decide the wages for the rest of the employees too?

 

I kind of like the supposed 7 times the lowest paid employee the Ben and Jerry's guys paid themselves.... That's a little unreal as don't they own the company so probably make up for the salary in other ways.... not to mention stock options and the like ...

Upper manangement probably should make good salaries, but probably not obscene 8 figure salaries ... what disgusts me is when they get paid tens of  millions including obscene bonuses while driving the company into the ground or laying off thousands of workers.  And then get paid millions to leave if things don't work out.  We all should have such a good deal.        

 

blsamuel-I'm responding to your statement, "We all should have such a good deal."  Are you stating that they were given these choice positions (as opposed to them earning them)?

-David