Ordering my new frame got me thinking (always dangerous).
Normally I think to myself, I like things made in America. I trust the quality. I like that it helps the economy, supports the American worker, all that good stuff.
Well, in the search for my new bike, I couldnt find exactly what I wanted in an American company, but a Canadian company had just the thing I was after. I didnt hesitate for a second, and wouldnt question any canadian manufacturer because I know that there's tons of good quality canadian bikes out there. One of my best friends is a welder from canada who was educated there, and he said that canadian welding standards are international, unlike american, so canadians typically are better educated, etc...
Anyway, what Im getting at is that there are tons of great bikes out there too made in Taiwan, China, whatever with no greater history of breaking than american or canadian brands, and given that buying canadian does nothing really for the american economy that buying from a tawianese manufacturer, why is it that Im more satisfied buying from places like canada or the uk?
Is there some underlying racism Im not aware of? Is it that I share a culture with my North American or European counterparts, and the way we percieve things from the east as cheap is because we sort of view their culture as something exploited for OUR use, so I veiw it only as a product for use, and NOT as a product of someone's hard work?
Anyone know what Im talking about? I like Asians just fine. Have and have had many asian friends and they are some of the smartest and nices people I know. Loyal to a fault at times.
?
Normally I think to myself, I like things made in America. I trust the quality. I like that it helps the economy, supports the American worker, all that good stuff.
Well, in the search for my new bike, I couldnt find exactly what I wanted in an American company, but a Canadian company had just the thing I was after. I didnt hesitate for a second, and wouldnt question any canadian manufacturer because I know that there's tons of good quality canadian bikes out there. One of my best friends is a welder from canada who was educated there, and he said that canadian welding standards are international, unlike american, so canadians typically are better educated, etc...
Anyway, what Im getting at is that there are tons of great bikes out there too made in Taiwan, China, whatever with no greater history of breaking than american or canadian brands, and given that buying canadian does nothing really for the american economy that buying from a tawianese manufacturer, why is it that Im more satisfied buying from places like canada or the uk?
Is there some underlying racism Im not aware of? Is it that I share a culture with my North American or European counterparts, and the way we percieve things from the east as cheap is because we sort of view their culture as something exploited for OUR use, so I veiw it only as a product for use, and NOT as a product of someone's hard work?
Anyone know what Im talking about? I like Asians just fine. Have and have had many asian friends and they are some of the smartest and nices people I know. Loyal to a fault at times.
?
