I tend to agree that countries with a nice cushy set of "support mechanisms" do foster a degree of laziness BUT I honestly believe that more than the laziness there is factor that comes from higher levels of leadership -- the folks that assume if you can't make "internet billionaire" type money from a project it ain't worth trying are a big part of the reason that start-up activity has been depressed. Even more of a factor are the policies of too many level of government that bend over backwards to accommodate the lobbying of bigger activists while ignoring the "little guy". Some of the screwy results of this sort of thinking can be seen in the ever escalating costs that all levels of government seem willing to accept while regular working stiffs are forced to pick up the tab.

In the context of my comments about defense electronics firms and the contrast to consumer electronics the history of so many things shows how wrong the "lobbyists" have been. Whether one looks from the perspective of what drove the FCC to move toward HD TV and subsequently delay the sunsetting of SD broadcasts from the perspective of either consumers or the heritage US electronics manufacturers it is pretty clear that there was no real benefit to either side -- regulatory interference was unable to "save" US based TV makers NOR give consumers access to a broader range of OTA options... In the world of huge defense electronics firms the lessons of the recent need for drones and other advanced technological systems has shown that tiny start-ups can deliver better products more quickly and with far more competitive pricing, yet the lobbyists for the traditional firms continue to manage to DOD officials to grossly overpay for the largely non-productive R&D of the giants...

The drive of innovators in the US and the dedication of small teams of dedicated folks that really want to do things a better way needs to be fostered and encouraged. IF there was some way to "vote with your dollars" for not just "Made in the USA" but "Innovated and Dedicated to building the USA" maybe folks would see more value.

Originally Posted By: twistybox
Being made in the USA would add close to zero value for me. It's all about the finished product, and if it had come to fruition, I don't think building it in the US would have increased the quality.

The issue with USA production is that a lot of people in the US are lazy. There are too many firms who are simply not interested in making money unless it's a bucketload of money and comes nearly for free, without any effort expended. As soon as it comes time to actually put in work, all bets are off. Don't get me wrong, it's almost the same situation in Canada and even many parts of Europe. The fact is that many overseas companies are much hungrier for income and it shows in their willingness to work and develop.
Willingness to sweat.

You'll see a lot of talk about the depressed economy in the media and the lack of work, etc... And it's a shame that a lot of the folks affected don't have opportunities while may of their compatriots regularly refuse potential work.