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> Automation is definitely helping to free us from a lot of work.. but the world we live in today feels like a preview of what an automated world feels like. I

by clarry 9y ago

> Automation is definitely helping to free us from a lot of work.. but the world we live in today feels like a preview of what an automated world feels like. In reality, our material lifestyle is still supported by a very large number of people working away in countries most Americans can't find on a map for extremely low wages. I don't know about you but the homes, roads, cars, plumbing, healthcare, energy, food, and most other things vital to our lifestyle do not come from China or Taiwan. And even where Asian products are popular (e.g. big home appliances), European alternatives do exist. I feel like people in the tech sphere can't look or see beyond smartphones, laptops, and other tech gadgets.

carlmr 9y ago
>And even where Asian products are popular (e.g. big home appliances), European alternatives do exist. I can think of Miele. That's the only one that's propely German still. Bosch/Siemens are both very much Asian on the inside. They do some assembly in Germany as far as I know. Can't think of any other European brands in this space.
- clarry 9y ago
  How about Electrolux (AEG, Rosenlew, etc.), Liebherr, Gorenje/Asko/Upo, Festivo, Smeg, Hotpoint? If you want to avoid Asian products, we can buy American too.. e.g. Whirlpool.
  - saiya-jin 9y ago
    ah don't mention Electrolux, that brand has been just a disappointment to me. Subpar dishwasher (comparable Siemens one cleans dishes visibly better), very subpar washing machine (integrated dryer has almost 0 effect on how wet laundry is), kitchen hood above stove stopped working completely after 6 months (of course this one is most costly to change because its integrated to the wall). All bought in 2016 for flat reconstruction, none of them basic models, rather higher ones (but not highest). I am not that rich to afford managing of those crappy things. Never, ever again (I had same type of experience with Whirlpool cca 10 years ago). For +-reasonable pricing, Siemens & Bosch, for absolute quality and reliability, Miele.
  - carlmr 9y ago
    They are all European brands, but they don't produce in Europe, at most there's some assembly or they outright buy from Chinese companies and rebrand.
eeZah7Ux 9y ago
In many countries plenty of construction material (paint, metal...) and chemicals come from very poor areas: China, Africa & so on.

by clarry 9y ago

carlmr 9y ago

>And even where Asian products are popular (e.g. big home appliances), European alternatives do exist. I can think of Miele. That's the only one that's propely German still. Bosch/Siemens are both very much Asian on the inside. They do some assembly in Germany as far as I know. Can't think of any other European brands in this space.

clarry 9y ago
How about Electrolux (AEG, Rosenlew, etc.), Liebherr, Gorenje/Asko/Upo, Festivo, Smeg, Hotpoint? If you want to avoid Asian products, we can buy American too.. e.g. Whirlpool.
- saiya-jin 9y ago
  ah don't mention Electrolux, that brand has been just a disappointment to me. Subpar dishwasher (comparable Siemens one cleans dishes visibly better), very subpar washing machine (integrated dryer has almost 0 effect on how wet laundry is), kitchen hood above stove stopped working completely after 6 months (of course this one is most costly to change because its integrated to the wall). All bought in 2016 for flat reconstruction, none of them basic models, rather higher ones (but not highest). I am not that rich to afford managing of those crappy things. Never, ever again (I had same type of experience with Whirlpool cca 10 years ago). For +-reasonable pricing, Siemens & Bosch, for absolute quality and reliability, Miele.
- carlmr 9y ago
  They are all European brands, but they don't produce in Europe, at most there's some assembly or they outright buy from Chinese companies and rebrand.

eeZah7Ux 9y ago

In many countries plenty of construction material (paint, metal...) and chemicals come from very poor areas: China, Africa & so on.