China virus and production woes.

[NScaleNotes]

But why? With the possible exception (and I don't say that flippantly) of reducing climate change, what would be better if we were totally relient on an area of 50 square miles around where we live? Why is globalisation a bad thing, or a shame? I can't understand why regressing 300 years would be beneficial.

I'm sorry but it's nonsense to say we need to regress 300 years. What we need is a further evolution in economics and global trade.

Seems like a lot of halcyon views in your post. Yes, no doubt some people did profit from moving labour abroad, but so did we, as consumers. It's not like there were no profits in days of UK manufacturing, or people taking enormous bonuses, so it seems a bit moot. It's not a new phenomenon, it's been happening for decades. Yes, ok, maybe 'globalisation' has meant people can more easily hide wealth, but it's naive to assume that somehow 'localism' or wahtever you want to call it would suddenly mean everyone would abide by the letter of the law and invest only in local co-operatives. Unless you want a communist economy there will always be a disparity in wealth.

As you identify you'd always need to move raw materials around the world to produce goods, so yes, unless you fancy regressing 300 years I'm pretty certain we'll never be entirely reliant on our immediate locality again.

Nothing halcyon in what I wrote, what I'm writing about is how it could be. The difference is those profits and bonuses were taxed here. Yes there has been downward pressure on workers wages for decades hence it was somewhat of a relief for many when things moved abroad and things became cheaper. We have also been living in a culture where we believe we constantly need more though and that's down to consumers. That's why I say everyone is partly responsible.

I'm under no illusion that the industrial revolution was disastrous for many and still is in many parts of the World what I'm arguing is that it doesn't have to be like this. Having a localised economy does not mean we suddenly need to abandon modern technology nor does it mean that technology wouldn't have moved on if our economies had remained localised.
You've not given me any concrete reasons why a local economy would be bad just some vague notion it would result in us regressing.

Why do you think it's impossible for it to be different? We are quite able to pay everyone a fair share of the pie. Does that mean we might all have to reel in our wants and desires at least a little, yes and I don't deny that.
The West has always profited at the expense of others. Through Empire, through shocking working conditions for many during the Industrial revolution, now through globalisation, imperialism and financialization.
I wondered how long before someone mentioned Communism; there were pretty big material wealth disparities under communism too. I'm not arguing for Communism.
Of course it'll be very difficult to prevent greed and disparity but you can structure society and economies in a way that minimises the opportunities for it. Encouraging worker co-ops would help do that i.e. a worker co-op is unlikely to vote to do something that enriches managers at the expense of workers or use poor components to quickly boost profit or off-shore their own jobs. You also need proper rule of law that is enforced to prevent tax dodging, breach of environmental standards etc.

The only benefit you seem to be able to attribute to globalisation is some improvement in the quality of goods. Thinking wider than model trains here: for many manufactured goods I'd say you could easily argue the opposite. Yes we get more features but products now have shorter-life cycles and are often built with the cheapest components.

I know it's probably impossible to get there anytime soon with such entrenched views and beliefs.

[Bealman]

[mod]This thread has drifted somewhat from the topic and is definitely becoming political. Please stick to the original theme of N gauge production being affected by the virus situation. [/mod]

[exmouthcraig]

It is absolutely pointless and ludicrous to believe that bring everything back to the uk will make everyone a nice fair wage and the wealth shared.

ABSOLUTELY NEVER!!!

The whole point of aspiring to better yourself at work is to earn more money for less work. Yes stress levels become higher as the pressure gets put on you but NO ONE has ever decided to reach the top of their business or industry to make it a fairer world.

Britain is a lazy country who believes many jobs are below them and they refuse to do stuff for less then £24k. And dont come with some old pony of it could be different. It could be but since the 60s Britons have been told you'll work less and earn more. THAT NEVER CAME TO FRUITION.

We have MASSIVE ties to education, agriculture and construction industries. Student numbers in these areas are rock bottom because the belief of the day is that no one needs to get their hands dirty or work a 90hr week for barely minimum wage.

We are able to get first hand experience from 2 forum members and their business practice. I'm quite sure if revolutioN were able to produce anywhere in the world that gave US the perfect model, in the perfect timeframe for the perfect cost they would. BUT we have been told, those people dont exist here anymore. The skills are gone. And as we know no one wants to play with super fine tweezers under a 50x magnifying glass fitting 700 bits for a days work.

It's a nice dream but the world is a tiny place today. We will never bring manufacturing of any scale back to Britain the place is too expensive to build your factory, it's too expensive to get basic staff let alone skilled staff, banks wont give you 10 years to train your staff before they even see a penny in return let alone profit.

There is no evidence to say how long these factories will be locked down for. Ford lost the factory building the Ford Ranger pickup model a few years ago, that needed completely rebuilding, all new tooling and that took many months. As a consequence people who had their ordered models on the ships to the uk were able to sell them for many thousands more then they paid simply because someone else Had to Have it. Now their back to where they were with more models being built then they can actually sell.

Were used to delays to our HOBBY if it takes 6months longer so be it. We wont be changing anything anytime soon.

[NScaleNotes]

Awww, we were playing nicely. 

But fair enough, that's it for me.

[Adam1701D]

Not fair to call the UK a lazy country when wanting a decent wage. The cost of living is so monstrously high with massive rents and housing costs just for starters.

[Railwaygun]

this is getting overheated and still too political.

please address further comments to your favourite Daily  newspaper.