I have a choice. I buy something else. It is some-
times very inconvenient. My phone, which I had been told (by the doctor in whose medical experi-
ment I participated; that's how I got the phone) had been made in Korea, conked out a few months ago, so I have been trying to get another one which will be acceptable. Maybe I can get a used landline phone. I'm hoping.

The used ones can be the real bargains- both computers and vehicles. Example: Dual Xeon 6-core Dell servers from 2010 are selling for $200-300 with 60 day warranty. Performance is remarkably good compared to current servers costing 20-30 times more. (No support from manufacturer and definite risk of failure, of course.)

I note that there is an absence of items that actually cost less, but give more. The prime examples are all things technical. Our smartphones have more power than the original computer that took us to the moon. I hesitate to think what that computer cost. Maybe a $1,000 for a new iPhone X is cheap. Cars do cost more but they are more reliable (at least my Porsches), are far more safe, more conveniences, and lots of technical add-ons to improve the handling.

I would say no! But is there a choice?

It's getting increasingly difficult to buy certain items made anywhere other than China. Perhaps of Trump follows up on his promises, it might improve.

Anything the government takes over invariably becomes worse.

Things made by slave labor in a totalitarian state are naturally going to seem cheaper to citizens in freer countries. Can the people in freer countries, in all good conscience, buy such things?

Seems odd. When I was a child, the price of a postage stamp was 4 cents. (A purple stamp, side
view of Abraham Lincoln). A candy bar could be had for 5 cents. I think it was 10 cents by the time I graduated from high school. There may have been a little inflation then, but I did not notice it much. I didn't buy things much until I left home and moved into Staunton (Va.--I thought Staunton was a big city), and had a job as a carhop. I started saving money, and things seemed to be mainly all right, until Nixon imposed those wage/price controls in 1971, and after that, things were never normal again.I believe the claim was that this was supposed to fight inflation. Ha ha, HA!!! I believe that it made things a lot worse.

In high around "65, I had a .57 Chevy. My dad had bought a Corvair convertible which was supposed to be mine. I asked if I could have the old '57 Chevy instead. Dad drove a Caddy, and then the Corvair. I lived that '57, dual glass packs, dual antennas, Bel Air, A/C, just fun to drive. I still miss it. I went through a series of sensible Chevelles, a Friebird, but nothing bonded like a '78 Camaor (becasue it reminded me of the Trans Am in "Smokey and the Bandit", fun car to drive. When it was 25 years old, I followed the new generation of Camaros, and got a 2010, with which I am completely bonded. Love that car. I had at the time an '82 Corvette also which I had several years. Sold it and added a 2002 Corvette, love those long front ends. I see cars as fun, as artwork on wheels, as incredible technology, and I resent the government trying to tell us we should use mass transit, which does not exist here, or bike, (at my age!) just because of faux global warming.

Not surprised.

I had a '78 Camaro which never broke down in 25 years, ever. It had routine maintenance only, loved that car, until the unibody started going. The government and Hillary were crushing cars about then, and I did not want that fate for it, it went to someone who did their own resoroation. Hillary would have us all, except her, on bike paths if she had her say. We love cars at our house, and have passed that on to our grown daughter who drives a Charger. Every time I hear Agenda 21, I know they want to take our cars away. I was glad to hear you say the sound of the engine, isn't it great! Not sure the computers did much for repair avoidance, a module here, a module there, $1,000 bucks here and there. They are still trying to get my switchblade Camaro key from me, I get at least a recall notice every month! I would have to have six inch heels at least to ever bunch that key, more like 8 inch or more.

Forgot to mention, it had a 3/4 race cam...sounded B.A.D., just idling. Found pieces of that cam, UNDER the engine, when it blew.

Yes older machines get more cost effective with age, they also were out, new machines cost more and are more accurate, I would put money on the fact that there is not much difference in cost between a product made in China and one in the west

You are so right! I drive to a friends house on occasion who is about 35 miles away on a rural route and its usually less traveled. It reminds me of drives of the past. No need to turn on the radio; just put the top down and enjoy the sounds of the car, the wind, and the road. Unfortunately I know it won't last long. On the other hand, I remember some pretty frustrating times in the 60s when road repairs intruded on idyllic drives;^) And I do appreciate that my current car is less likely to break down than a sports car was in the 70s (even though this car is 19 years old.) Which reminds me, I need to work on the brakes before my next trip. Thanks to the fed's inflation I will be doing it myself. (That will be in addition to the new radiator and tires this year. But that's all planned maintenance that I expected when I bought the car in 2014. A bargain compared to spending $40,000 for a new one.)

Heavy metal, big engines, cushy suspensions, but most of all, a greater sense of freedom because of less regulation. Those were the good old days, and they'll never be seen again.

Connect the dots for me. You're implying that the older machine helps make products cheaper, or by keeping it longer it becomes more cost effective?

Though many memories may fade in time, it's wonderful that such experiences remain sharp and bring a smile in the mind. They are our own legends.

Edit add: As many times I deserved it, I never got a speeding ticket with the GTX. However, my first car was a used '64 T-Bird and I couldn't help pushing that 390 until I got one, LOL. That car weighed 4400 pounds!

Perhaps “service” and the increasing expectation of “entitlement” are becoming mutually exclusive here in usa

I know what you mean! I now drive a 2000 Mustang, But I once owned a 1973 351ci convertible Mustang, I still have fond memories
of that car and all the girls In it!!!

The difference is easy to see, go into a factory in England or America and find a machine less than 20 years old, go to China and find one over 20

Maybe if kids put down the stupid cells, and tuned into the vehicle, they might see how cool and special the drive is. I am lucky, nice rural subdivision, with great lightly traveled road to and from town. You can almost feel infinity as you drive with the engine purring and the 70s-80s music on. In town, I have seen engine envy, esp. when some guy in a SUV tried to peel out at a light when I had the Vette. Not worth the effort to show him what horsepower is. School actually lead kids to feel cars are bad, no, teachers with no grasp of any particular subject, bad!

This has become a topic hijacked by hot rodders.
It wasn't my intention, but YAHOO, it sure reminds me of those days in the 60's and 70's when the bigger the V8 the better and it was cooler to have big wheels and a D.A. haircut than anything. You wouldn't find any snowflakes among that crew. I'm not saying they were good, but I bet they had fewer regrets than today's crop of almost adults.

Hair mussed, sweating like a pig, eyes wide and staring -- you've been riding in my big block.

I got into BMW's hoping to get the thrill back. They were really pocket rockets, but some how no thrill. That old Dodge with the soft cradling suspension and the complete inability to go around a corner without a swing and sway with Sammy Kaye added to the thrill.They called it the Oroflow suspension, we called it the Overflow suspension.

Hey - it's like a funeral. The death of a beloved family member.