From: irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Irvine)
Newsgroups: sci.econ,soc.culture.usa,soc.culture.japan,soc.culture.british,soc.culture.canada
Subject: Re: US as No. 1 (3 data books)
Date: 27 Jan 93 16:44:58 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.C1IuIz.GEC
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

In article <1993Jan26.120132.21873@cas.org> jac54@cas.org () writes:
>In article <rdavis.728008225@connie.de.convex.com> rdavis@convex.com (Ray Davis) writes:
>>Adrian.Waterworth@newcastle.ac.uk (Adrian Waterworth) writes:
>>
>>>As for the availability of
>>>different goods and services, I find it hard to believe that the range
>>>of products available in the US is so much greater than those in any
>>>other developed nation.
>>
>>Really it is.  You wouldn't believe how much more the selection
>>and variety is in most areas of merchandise.  I know it's hard
>>to believe, but if you grew up in the states and find yourself
>>living elsewhere, you wonder how folks can put up with so little
>>choice and such crap quality (in *some* cases - not all!).
>
>	This argument ignores local variations in standards of
>	living in the U.S.  I have visited California several
>	times and the standard of living in the urban areas is
>	very high.  I also lived in Iowa for some time and the
>	standard of living was abyssmal in comparison to anywhere
>	else I have lived.  The quality of produce was poor and the
>	selection limited.  The cultural life of the area was moribund,
>	we had to drive 45 miles to the nearest decent library.
>	Columbus is a big improvement on Des Moines but still a
>	long way behind urban areas of Europe that I have lived in.

I am sorry you didn't enjoy Iowa, however [assuming you mean products
not produce (= food)] I did not find the same "abysmal" state of affairs
that you seemed to have.  Iowa is a bit remote if someone enjoys cities
and what they have to offer, Iowa also has many colleges with good libraries
so I suspect your '45 minutes' contention (but if you were driving as
slow as most Iowans do, then....:)).

In what way were European Areas better?  Please elaborate!
Lets get this into a discussion, not an arguement! 

>	As far as quality is concerned, I think you have that mixed up.
>	My impression of American consumer goods is that quality is not
>	that great and it is frequently sacrificed to keep prices low
>	while adding "features" that have no use.  Quality of U.S.
>	products can be very good, but the range of quality is far
>	greater than one could get away with in Europe.  Did you
>	ever wonder why European products have been making so much
>	headway in the U.S.?  Helpful hint: they're not cheaper.

I am not talking about product quality (though I feel you are mistaken
there as well - the '70s mentality of management outside of Detroit is
gone), I was referring to quickness, politeness and efficiency of
SERVICE.  The move AWAY from the mass market into more personal
service:  Cellular phones, Subject-oriented Cable/TV channels and
radio stations, 24 hour turnaround on delivery of software and
other goods, and so on.

Which Europen good are you talking about?  Can't be cars, and if I
recall, isn't there a trade deficit you all have with the US?


-- 
+-------------------------+--------------------------------+-----------------+
| Brent L. Irvine         | For a mere $50 these personal  | Ak! Its 1992 tax|
| irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu | opinions can also be yours!    |  season! Yuck!  |
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