Tariffs


And we wonder why we need tariffs against the Japanese? The other day I was in the local print shop for the third time trying to get a job done properly and the girl said to me, not disguising a note of impatience, "You know, in jobs like these, usually the more you work on it the worse it gets."

How many of us have taken our cars in to be "fixed" and three days and five hundred dollars later the only noticeable change is the stain on the seat and the cigarette butts in the ashtray. Last year I took my watch to a small shop to get a new battery. While the "jeweler" was trying to unscrew the back his tool slipped making a big gouge across the back plate. Did he think I wouldn't notice? Did he think I wouldn't care? Did he think I wouldn't at least appreciate an apology? Who knows anymore?

A few months ago a plumber, you know, one of those guys who makes sixty-five dollars an hour, was installing a new shower. He punched a six-inch wide hole right through the wall into the bedroom! When I called him about it later on (you don't think he was going to mention it to me do you?) he said, without a hint of apology, "Oh yeah, well, just put some tape over it." Just put some tape over it?

We want to restrict the import of Japanese vehicles. Well, at least they put the steering wheels on the left for us. We want to sell cars and trucks in Japan but do we put the steering wheel on the right for them? I'll bet that the average American doesn't even know that they drive on the left in Japan. And then we wonder about a trade imbalance?

When I used to teach it was a constant struggle to get the students to type their papers, use correct footnote and bibliographic forms and at least proof-read the work before handing it in. Rarely did I succeed. And of course, there were always the tired pleas for "no homework." How does one discuss World War I, Versailles, Weimar and the rise of International Fascism if people won't read?

At that print shop on Wednesday they said, "Don't worry. We'll have this in the mail this afternoon for sure, to save you another trip down here." It is now Saturday afternoon and the mailman has come and gone without a package from the printers.

I am not an expert in international economics. I have however made something of a study of "quality" as it exists in industrial as well as non-industrial societies and it seems that until we return to the sense of quality-intensive pride in our work -- all of it, in school, in the marketplace and in the home -- then indeed, we will continue to require artificial protection for our indifference. It is like an athlete. If you start losing, you know you simply need to work harder, do extra laps, get some extra coaching and concentrate on the ball! You can't just change the rules because you are in a slump.

Years ago we put up tariffs against Japanese cameras to try to protect our own antediluvian camera manufacturers. When was the last time you used, or even saw a camera that was made in the USA? We used to make the best watches in the world. Our Elgins and Hamiltons were as good as any Rolex. What happened? Ask the girl at the print shop.