Classe move to China

Kijanki,

Japan was good at taking some one else's idea and improving on it.

Even Japan's time has passed. She has been in stagflation for at least the last 20 years.

Part of her problem is greed of her multinational corporations.

Where does Sony make it products?
Matsushita/Panasonic?
Marantz/Denon?
Pioneer?
Toshiba?

How about Honda small engines?

They moved production out of country to where the labor costs are cheaper. China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia .....
Sound familiar?
.

According to their statistics we are at #37 just before Slovenia. Statistics include hospital errors, premature deaths, still born children etc. but it is not really that relevant since 40 million cannot afford any insurance at all. It is partially because it costs us twice more than in the other countries for the exactly same thing (we're suckers). Insurance is not really insurance when they find out that you have terminal illness. First you loose job then Cobra, then nobody signs insurance with you since your expenses are guaranteed and not statistical. It happened to Firefighter in my neighborhood - first he lost job, then insurance, then life savings and home (to voluntary pay for treatments) and finally died leaving family without a penny living under the bridge. Can you imagine that we have families that cannot afford prescription glasses for children or take them to doctor when they feel bad. We also have senior citizens that have to choose between food and medication. I have good job and insurance and recently had double insurance both medical and the dental but I am not selfish and just cannot watch what is happening to less fortunate because healthcare is treated like business. When healthcare is business it makes no sense to cure asthma because treating it brings more money. You need kidney transplant? - with no insurance you're not even in line for it. You cut yourself? - prepare needle and thread, many people do.

"vast majority of us don't like that Classe move"

- most likely. I was not happy either finding that my Metabo drill was made in PRC (they avoid word China as much as possible) since it was pride and tradition of making them in Germany. Quality wise drill is absolutely amazing. Many people have Audioqest cables being sure it is US made. After finding that Audioquest makes them in China for many years cables suddenly start sounding worse.

Jea48 - Yes, they got the same disease. The reason I don't care much for Japan is life governed by tradition and obedience. There is nothing sadder than watching Japanese Rock and Roll band with pretend moves and emotions. On the top of that government that always knows better, police that beats prisoners (while nobody minds) and your company that you have to share your private life with. Not for me.

Kijanki,

If you want to get your healthcare from one of the 36 countries in front of us (according to the WHO), no problem. But for me, I'll take my chances here. I don't want the type of free healthcare offered elsewhere (and it's not free anywhere, BTW). I am very happy with the healthcare I and my extended family have received in the U.S. I have no desire to risk my life on WHO statistics.

The WHO statistics do not factor in the life styles of the patients. Maybe the rest of the world does not eat three meals a day at McDonalds. Maybe the rest of the world do not look like hippos. I think prevention and early detection is the difference. We may have the best medicine, but not the most intelligent / educated patients.