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The Problem with DHS's Plan to 'Buy American'

Posted by timothy on from the all-the-hens'-teeth-you-can-swallow dept.

An anonymous reader points out a Cnet report on the Homeland Security Authorization Act, which would require that more than 50 percent of the components in any end product bought by the Department of Homeland Security be produced or manufactured in the U.S., writing "The Pentagon has agreements with 21 countries that waive the act, but an amendment that just passed the House would prevent the DHS from waiving the 'Buy American' restrictions. "The president of the Information Technology Association of America observed that this means the DHS may 'have to learn to do without computers and cell phones,' since he could not think of any manufacturers of those devices that would meet the 50% threshold."

5 of 626 comments (clear)

  1. Buy American? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Saudi Arabs already did. They bought their American -- George W.

    Sad but true.

  2. Hahahaha by Duncan3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Haven't you heard, Americans are above making things. Our hands might get dirty like.

    Congress is just out of it, like always.

    --
    - Adam L. Beberg - The Cosm Project - http://www.mithral.com/
  3. Not to worry... by sampowers · · Score: 5, Funny

    No need to worry about this. DHS will just have the regs changed to mean that 50% of components by weight must come from within the US. Then they can just add lead weights to every computer case and cell phone housing manufactured in the US, to allow all those patriotic manufacturers to make some scratch off the war on terror.

    9/11! NEVER FORGET!

    1. Re:Not to worry... by miffo.swe · · Score: 5, Funny

      This is kinda funny and tragic at the same time. In Russia they often added weight to goods. That was because production was mesured in weight and not in quality or finish. A heavy bed was considered "better" since it showed the plant made much stuff.

      The US is getting awfully close to old Russia theese days.

      --
      HTTP/1.1 400
  4. Re:duh.. by Guppy06 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Yes, that's right, and those people are poisoning themselves, particularly in China. The pollution in the industrial cities is so bad that if it goes unchecked, it will, paradoxically, threaten their economic survival."

    What China needs is an armed revolution by the working classes, overthrowing their government and setting up a true worker's paradi... oh, er, nevermind.