Verrazano Narrows Bridge work.

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Verizano Bridge work..With precious little effort, the United Steelworkers found two American bridge fabricators that said they could meet MTA’s requirements for specialized orthotropic steel decking for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Both are located in eastern Pennsylvania within 100 miles of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge site.One was cleared by a bonding company, lined up financing and prepared to meet the MTA’s construction schedule.Also in eastern Pennsylvania, Lehigh University’s Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems Center tested full-scale prototypes of the orthotropic steel panels for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.Both American bridge fabricators were prepared to use American-made steel, which would employ Americans in good, family-supporting jobs in mills that are required to control emissions and that wouldn’t have contributed to pollution by hauling steel halfway around the world.   From Daily Kos
Reply:Well, that's good news. A littler surprising considering what American manufacturers have to go through regarding regulations.. But it is good news. Now I wont be affraid to drive over the bridge when it's done because the steel came from china. YAY!www.thefusionsolution.com
Reply:Originally Posted by speedfreak87Well, that's good news. A littler surprising considering what American manufacturers have to go through regarding regulations.. But it is good news. Now I wont be affraid to drive over the bridge when it's done because the steel came from china. YAY!
Reply:You're right, I did miss it.. mainly because your post looks more like they gave it to the American companies.www.thefusionsolution.com
Reply:Originally Posted by speedfreak87You're right, I did miss it.. mainly because your post looks more like they gave it to the American companies.
Reply:this is the result of a president  appeasing everyone in sight and failing to protect our competitive system from a govenment-subsidized chinese system..mta will say they are bound to accept lowest bid..
Reply:So since the labour rate for the repairs is so low, with the owners of the bridge now lower the tolls or will they just " asorb " the windfall in salaries.This " Global " thing is a crock, shortsighted pollies playing with our futures, why is that any person you talk to ( in my case it is mainly manual workers ranging from construction company owners to carpenters, painters concretors....... ) understands that sending  jobs offshore can't be good for us in the long run let alone today. Are politicians so dumb, I think I answered my own question, yes they are and they are a miserable bunch of selfish bastards.Sorry for the rant, and I do feel for you  in the States, but, I think it is the same in any Western country.Ed
Reply:Originally Posted by weldappiSo since the labour rate for the repairs is so low, with the owners of the bridge now lower the tolls or will they just " asorb " the windfall in salaries.This " Global " thing is a crock, shortsighted pollies playing with our futures, why is that any person you talk to ( in my case it is mainly manual workers ranging from construction company owners to carpenters, painters concretors....... ) understands that sending  jobs offshore can't be good for us in the long run let alone today. Are politicians so dumb, I think I answered my own question, yes they are and they are a miserable bunch of selfish bastards.Sorry for the rant, and I do feel for you  in the States, but, I think it is the same in any Western country.Ed
Reply:This is further evidence that we are going from an American economy to a global economy where our economy is brought down and others are brought up. Our incomes and our life style is why everyone wants to come here. It is all changing, jobs slipping away, those working haven't had a raise in a decade, the big picture doesn't look good. In my opinion, the money the MTA is spending came from taxes on American workers and if it is possible to get the steel plates here, they should do it even at a higher cost. The Federal Government throws money around all the time to help the economy. My biggest concern is that the more we buy overseas, the more of our companies and plants will close, never to be opened again, and we will become a nation of service workers. Not able to produce anything. It's scary.
Reply:Which will cost US economy more?The argument is there are two US companies capable of producing the special steel required, both are in Pennsylvania, both within 100 miles of the bridge.  But due to the difference in wages at the local mills vs wages in China, the cost for the US companies to produce the steel is 100 million more than the Chinese steel, so the bid went to China.But which really costs the US economy more?  The higher price for domestically produced steel, which puts that cash directly into the pockets of American workers who will in turn spin it directly into the US economy, or lower public works project cost leaving those same workers unemployed or under-employed, many perhaps collecting social assistance while sending more wealth to another country?Sometimes the "bottom line" isn't really the Bottom Line.- MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Here we have minimum wages, unions, OSHA and EPA regulations, liabilities, etc.  Corporations and individuals pay taxes which are used to pay for that work AND the salaries & benefits of the politicians and government workers in charge.So they save $$ by buying stuff from a country where little or none of the above applies."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by MondoSometimes the "bottom line" isn't really the Bottom Line.- Mondo
Reply:And putting money back into the economy now means going to the store and buying more Chinese crap and sending the money right back to them. Like the stimulous plan, everyone ran out and bought a big screen tv made in china! WTF ! How'd that work out  I never qualified tho, made to much money they said  you wanna talk about being pissed  Ok rant over, I got work to do I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys