• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Brick by brick, American business loses edge Army chooses German firm

Since you questioned my blackness one time, I'm surprised you don't already know how to cook it. It's part of your heritage.

I question your intelligence a lot more than I question your blackness.
 
Well, no, we actually stole it from the Wermacht, not the Nazis. Two different orgs. And, not only did we borrow the design from the Wermacht, the Wermacht is still using the Machinegewehr as part of their TO&E.
You are correct. Thank you for pointing it out.
 
In that case, the military should leak the specs of the equipment to an American company so we can copy it.

And if the U.S. did that, the U.S. would surrender any legitimacy in complaining if other nations engaged in similar practices with respect to American intellectual property, be it patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc. The U.S. would have far more to lose than gain in a world in which intellectual property protection would be rendered meaningless.

Rather than relying on a taking of another country's intellectual property, U.S. firms should rely on their own innovation and improvement to become better than their foreign rivals. That means hiring better talent, engaging in more aggressive R&D, and seeking policy changes conducive toward creating a better educated and more adaptable labor force.
 
And if the U.S. did that, the U.S. would surrender any legitimacy in complaining if other nations engaged in similar practices with respect to American intellectual property, be it patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc. The U.S. would have far more to lose than gain in a world in which intellectual property protection would be rendered meaningless.

Rather than relying on a taking of another country's intellectual property, U.S. firms should rely on their own innovation and improvement to become better than their foreign rivals. That means hiring better talent, engaging in more aggressive R&D, and seeking policy changes conducive toward creating a better educated and more adaptable labor force.

I noted later that I wasn't totally serious, so relax.
 
Only that the government is not a company. Private, public or otherwise.

Thank you. And thus doesn't fall directly into line with traditional philisophical capitalistic thought in regards to how the government itself operates. You're confusing how the government restricts private enterprise to operate and the government, but seemingly only when its convienent to you based on this post.
 
Thank you. And thus doesn't fall directly into line with traditional philisophical capitalistic thought in regards to how the government itself operates. You're confusing how the government restricts private enterprise to operate and the government, but seemingly only when its convienent to you based on this post.

You must really love the sound of your voice because you obviously have no clue what we are talking about or what protectionism is. Protectionism is the government taking active steps to protect the industries which work within it. Not a private company protecting itself. Regardless of how many analogies you make, the government should give contracts to those who can do it faster, cheaper and at better quality. If an American company can not do this but yet the government gives it to that company on nationalistic grounds - sorry - because it is common sense to protect American business. THAT IS PROTECTIONISM. Do you not agree? Or are you going to write us another huge post as to why the government handing out contracts based on nationality is not protectionism?
 
You must really love the sound of your voice because you obviously have no clue what we are talking about or what protectionism is. Protectionism is the government taking active steps to protect the industries which work within it.

Correct, taking steps to force or coerce other companies or individual citizens to use those things.

IE putting a tarrif on foriegn goods but not domestic.

Giving tax breaks to people for buying a domestic product.

Putting heavier taxes on companies that outsource overseas.

Etc.

Putting limitations on people or business that encourages the use of the protected goods or service or discourages the use of the non-protected ones.

This is different than the government itself having a particular policy for its own operations, which is public money.

Not a private company protecting itself. Regardless of how many analogies you make, the government should give contracts to those who can do it faster, cheaper and at better quality.

Not necessarily. The government serves the PEOPLE. If the people wish for the governments priority to be:

1. Invest the money back into American Markets
2. Good quality
3. Cost
4. Speed

Then THAT should be the priority the government takes. Its lunancy to suggest that its perfectly fine to have criteria on what makes something worth while for the government to use (quality, cost, speed) but then suddenly say one such potential criteria is somehow anti-capitalistic in its very nature. Doubly so when its the government mandating it for themselves, not placing down regulations upon the actual market.

If an American company can not do this but yet the government gives it to that company on nationalistic grounds - sorry - because it is common sense to protect American business. THAT IS PROTECTIONISM. Do you not agree?

No, because there's nothing to agree with, because you're as asinine using "common sense" as a reason as aspdt is. If the economic theory is sound and the American People are behind the notion that we should make attempting to find American suppliers as a top criteria then the government is acting in the interest of the people, and the economy, not simply due to "nationalistic" grounds nor because of "common sense".
 
Last edited:
Not necessarily. The government serves the PEOPLE. If the people wish for the governments priority to be:

1. Invest the money back into American Markets
2. Good quality
3. Cost
4. Speed...

I believe you have focused on the crux of the issue. Companies have economic interests to serve. Governments have a broader range of interests, including political and social ones that they must satisfy. On account of the broader range of interests at play, no democratic government can confine itself solely to satisfying economic interests without suffering consequences at the polls when political or social considerations are ignored to the extent that the voting majority rejects such policies.
 
I edited out the final part of my previous message and want to apologize to Hautey. I had just finished a slightly heated discussion at work and that annoyance carried over in my post. My apologizes.
 
I believe you have focused on the crux of the issue. Companies have economic interests to serve. Governments have a broader range of interests, including political and social ones that they must satisfy. On account of the broader range of interests at play, no democratic government can confine itself solely to satisfying economic interests without suffering consequences at the polls when political or social considerations are ignored to the extent that the voting majority rejects such policies.

Exactly. The goals and structure of a government is far different than that of a Corporation and thus the policies of which the government holds itself is not necessarily easily equatable with a similar situation if placed upon the population of the private sector.
 
Moderator's Warning:
Cease the personal attacks and innuendo or there will be further consequences.
 
Back
Top Bottom