Patriotism or pool?

[TheThaiger]

My advice: Fight over the govt's forced-backed reduction of choice, not choice per se.

Jeff Livingston

Absolutely. We still have the choice to demand the best quality pool equipment we can buy. I suggest we exercise that right, irrespective of where that equipment comes from. The ultimate irony for all those that have got so worked up about this is, us choosing the best equipment we can actually safeguards jobs and businesses, not threatens them.

 

[evanlockhart]

And I'm surprised you so obviously misunderstood it, but there you go.

Right. Let's try quoting you again to help you understand:

"The 'buy American' brigade are devaluing the game and doing a disservice to pool fans the world over IMO. "

Read that a few times over. This statement is full of fallacy. It's frightening to have to elaborate on this.

If you really do 'understand economics', you'll understand a policy of 'keeping money in the demographic area you live in' is economic suicide in the long term.

So, a vibrant local economy isn't essential to an area's success in a global economy? Lollllllllllllllll

 

[TheThaiger]

Right. Let's try quoting you again to help you understand:

"The 'buy American' brigade are devaluing the game and doing a disservice to pool fans the world over IMO. "

Read that a few times over. This statement is full of fallacy. It's frightening to have to elaborate on this.



So, a vibrant local economy isn't essential to an area's success in a global economy? Lollllllllllllllll

What are you on about mate?

 

[evanlockhart]

What are you on about mate?

Is your reading comprehension that poor?

 

[poolplayer2093]

What's with the constant "buy American" refrain? Is see it all the time; implicitly as well as explicitly. I don't care where a product is made, I just want the best product going. As far as I'm concerned this site is for pool and pool alone. The 'buy American' brigade are devaluing the game and doing a disservice to pool fans the world over IMO.

So, are you a patriot or a pool fan? Both is NOT an option.

sounds like someone isn't american and gets bothered by the support america ideas

 

[measureman]

Ok I will bite give me a example of a Chinese made pool stick that is superior to a American made cue,, I am all ears here,,

From what I have been hearing most of the Chinese made cues are better then the current Meuccis.

 

[scrappy]

Maybe you just don't understand how the system works Thai. If I buy something made in the US, it helps the person who made it keep a job. Therefore, I am not being taxed to give him food, shelter, clothing, etc. (and now with Obama, giving them cel phones and computers too). When I buy cheap junk from China I am promoting theft, patent infringement, and the Chinese economy. Let's face it that last thing China invented was gun powder. They are a country full of drones who make other people's things. It has been stated that if you show them a product it takes China about 48 hours to copy it. Within a few weeks they can mass produce it. That is what they do. Very similar to Toyota's Lexus line. They don't need to hire designers because their cars will be made to look as similar to the newest Mercedes as possible without getting sued. If Toyota was a Chinese company, it would be made EXACTLY like the Benz, sell for half price, rattle and squeak, and cause cancer.
BTW the things that made America great heve been undermined by politicians for more than fifty years.

ecactly, and when did somebody decide a thousand pieces of sh*t were better than one good one ?

we've been sold up / down the river by spineless politicians who pander to fools that spend their days lobbying them

and why does the "f" in nafta stand for free instead of fair ?

 

[qbilder]

sounds like someone isn't american and gets bothered by the support america ideas

Yeah that's how I read it, too. But when I called him on it he tries belittling my intelligence & says I misunderstand his purpose. I have absolutely nothing against international trade. What I do have a problem with is somebody ridiculing & belittling folks because of the reasons behind their choices, rather than the choices themselves. If an American wants to buy a Joss instead of a Lucasi because he wants to recirculate money in his home economy instead of sending it overseas, then that person has every freedom to that & shouldn't be made to feel bad about it. That choice has absolutely nothing to do with how much the person loves playing pool. That choice is nobody's business but the person spending the money. This thread belittles people for buying American made products when their purpose is driven by something other than choosing the product only by quality standards.

The absolute best production cue being made is Mezz. They're made in Japan. They aren't cheap, either. I endorse them every chance I get because they are great cues built & marketed by great people. But when somebody wants to buy an American made cue over a Mezz, I completely understand & do not look down on that. I think it's honorable for a citizen to support their home country in any way they can. I think that is a quality that is lost in today's jumbled culture of selfishness. I build custom cues & sell them all over the world. If a buyer in Germany chooses to support his local builder instead of me, I find no offense to that & don't even want to try to compete. I'm all about old school values & taking care of your own. Some things in life are bigger than instant gratification. By golly I live here so I do my part to support here. For somebody to try belittling my choice to do that, bothers me. Money isn't everything.

 

[veilside81]

Sorry for hijacking.

@Eric: Please check your mailbox, I've sent you another e-mail maybe you didn't see the previous one

 

[one stroke]

From what I have been hearing most of the Chinese made cues are better then the current Meuccis.

What cues are those ,,



1

 

[TheThaiger]

sounds like someone isn't american and gets bothered by the support america ideas

Hey, you're good!

For the record, I'm not chinese, french, russian or mexican, but I do get equally bothered by their insularity as well, especially when it's detrimental to the health of the game of pool.

Gentlemen, the choice is simple: if you want america to continue to lose market share and ultimately become an irrelevance in terms of pool, continue to blindly recommend american products. If you want a healthy pool industry that will grow and help support your economy, don't.

 

[TheThaiger]

ecactly, and when did somebody decide a thousand pieces of sh*t were better than one good one ?

we've been sold up / down the river by spineless politicians who pander to fools that spend their days lobbying them

and why does the "f" in nafta stand for free instead of fair ?

Because "fair" is an extremely subjective term. You lot do ok out of trade agreements, there's no question about that. You're never going to discover what's "fair and balanced" by watching Fox News, you know.

 

[qbilder]

Gentlemen, the choice is simple: if you want america to continue to lose market share and ultimately become an irrelevance in terms of pool, continue to blindly recommend american products. If you want a healthy pool industry that will grow and help support your economy, don't.

And you, the non-American, are the expert on this matter? Aside from being an American economy expert, do you actually have ANY involvement in the billiard industry besides being a common consumer?

 

[TheThaiger]

And you, the non-American, are the expert on this matter? Aside from being an American economy expert, do you actually have ANY involvement in the billiard industry besides being a common consumer?

No - why?

Aside from being a cue maker, do you have ANY involvement in the field of economics besides trying to hawk your goods?

 

[Underclocked]

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with American pool players being supportive of American goods.

 

[KRJ]

Hmmm

Because "fair" is an extremely subjective term. You lot do ok out of trade agreements, there's no question about that. You're never going to discover what's "fair and balanced" by watching Fox News, you know.

HA, now that is funny ! Because we all know that MNBC and the NY Times provide insightful commentary about the realities of Obama's obvious and glearing mistakes he has made before and after the election. Remember, his skeletons were in plain view prior to the election with him being a Chicago boy and all, but nobody picked it up?? Hmmm, nobody picked up the crooked deals this guy was in on, and the crooked guys he not only supported for office but took money from as well......and when it did get reported by the Times, it was on page 17...just so they could say they reported it..... nice.

 

[qbilder]

No - why?

Aside from being a cue maker, do you have ANY involvement in the field of economics besides trying to hawk your goods?

LOL Hawk my goods? Too funny. Wow. Well since you feel so important to offer empty economic advice to the general public, I suppose it's ok if I return the favor & offer some to you. Know what you are talking about before diving in to these type conversations. At least understand the subject matter to a proficient degree. And at least know who you are speaking with & to before showing off your superior intellect. There are at least 100 millionaires in this forum who are actually well versed & accomplished in trade. Do you have any idea which ones have already chimed in to this thread? Would you even recognize the validity of their words before you dismiss them as being "patriots"?

You're talking nickels & dimes in an industry based on a game people play in bars & pubs, where the professionals are damned lucky to hit low six figure incomes per year. There is no money in this game & the economic health of it has zero to do with why people choose to buy the products they buy, or from where. The notion that this game has ANY sort of strong economic health is blind fantasy. A few people in the industry can grind out a comfortable living but NONE get independently wealthy on it.

You make absurd claims about pool vs. patriotism, and then preach about industry economics and spreading the wealth as if there's actually some wealth to spread around. You take the stance of a disgruntled industrialist who has failed to break into the American market. That was the first clue that you didn't have a clue about the industry. But then you take it even farther by offering advice like you are telling people something they don't know, something that will save pool in America. Get a grip on reality. Pool is a game, a cheap game. It's a cheap game with no economic backbone aside from the people who play it. The money comes from league players & weekend warriors who simply love playing the game. They spend their money on what they want, for their own reasons & those reasons are nobody's business but theirs. I'm involved in the industry because I love it, not because there's money in it. I can afford to be involved. But i'd NEVER depend on it. I don't envy the ones who do. And if you knew anybody at any level in this industry, whether the pro players, the cue manufacturers, or even game promoters, you'd be seeing things from a different view.

 

[Slide Rule]

What's with the constant "buy American" refrain? Is see it all the time; implicitly as well as explicitly. I don't care where a product is made, I just want the best product going. As far as I'm concerned this site is for pool and pool alone. The 'buy American' brigade are devaluing the game and doing a disservice to pool fans the world over IMO.

So, are you a patriot or a pool fan? Both is NOT an option.

It is a sad refrain by those who oppose free trade. They would rather
you pay more for the same product. Or prefer you to receive a lessor
product at the same price. It is a scheme for you to pay more for what
you need.

This question would be more appropriate in the NPR section.

 

[spotshadow]

Awww diddums! Such hyperbole!

OF COURSE the question should be an ultimatum - if this forum is for pool players, make it about the best pool equipment money can buy. If it's about supporting the American economy...then I'll go elsewhere.

Your blinkered mindset is precisely why pool in America is suffering. Compete, do not protect.

if you are an american you should be embarrassed. if not just keep your word and leave

 

[JD_Hogg]

There is no loyalty in corporate business, just where you can make the most money.