[Jewelry making - Article 00050] - Re: [Orchid] Why is it so hard?

[James White]

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>         I am neither an economist nor a sociologist but 

    I actually study economics for fun! I'm reading "Human Action" by
    Ludwig von Mises right now but I recommend "Economics in One Lesson"
    by Henry Hazlitt or "Basic Economics" by Thomas Sowell for good
    starter books. The teaching of sound fundamentals of economics should
    be started in grade schools but as it is it's not even required for
    college (to throw in an opinion). 

>         My observation is that the eternal quest to buy everything at
>     the lowest possible price results is exactly what you'd expect it
>     to: the lowest possible prices. Of course everything else is likely
>     to be sacrificed to get them but the customer _will_ get what they
>     want. And by the time they discover that that attitude has left
>     them with an ocean of shoddy goods and few alternatives --not to
>     mention a host of other socio-economic ills-- it will be too late
>     to change their minds. 

    But you're totally mistaken that there is "an ocean of shoddy goods
    and few alternatives" or that there ever will be such a situation.
    Wander around any town or county in the USA and you can have your
    pick of virtually any level of goods you want from "disposable"
    quality to "heirloom" quality. When a "Wal-Mart" good will satisfy my
    needs and financial requirements that's what I buy but when I want
    a(n old?:-) Tiffany's level of good I purchase that. My wife has the
    Mercedes, I have the '90 Subaru, neither manufacturer was wrong and
    both are very popular in the USA. 

    The bottom line, and my point, is still that WE don't OWE anyone a
    living wage for whatever they CHOOSE to do. If they choose to do 18th
    century buggy whips do we owe them a living wage? If they choose to
    do "chain jeweler" jewelry by hand and charge $80 instead of the
    chain jeweler's $30 do we owe them a living wage? If they choose to
    make mugtlufts do we owe them a living wage? No. The, er, whiner, I
    was responding to needs to do one of two things---1) produce goods
    for the market she finds or 2) find the market for the goods she
    produces. Most manufacturers go for 1 because it's far easier and
    cheaper but there are substantial manufacturers----and especially in
    the jewelry trade----that choose 2. Both 1 and 2 are still very
    competitive and anyone that does not wish to compete can simply get a
    job (and keep it if they meet the required productivity level) and
    let the risk taking entrepreneurs duke it out in the marketplace. 

James E. White

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