I must have miss it here. Just strikes me as strange that all of a sudden huge guitar manufacturers are being targeted.

Yeah I understand that and I donate money to many planet saving organizations since the first Earth Day and our automobiles household runs pretty green too. We never owned large cars or SUV's either. We are both old Hippies and our son is a 24 year old hippie.

It's not just the guitar manufacturers that are the problem. It's other countries too. Why do you think manufacturers are moving to Mexico, China, India, Viet Nam, Russia etc. It's not just to save on labor costs. $78,000 is nothing to Fender. And no, not everyone is a target. Many are overlooked due to corruption within the system.

Dont worry, 63supro....help for the average working stiff is on the way...

The reason that US manufacturers are not competitive with foreign made producers is not just the cost of labor. The biggest issue is the foreign exchange (FOREX) relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies like the Chinese Juan. The manufacturing sector has fallen, as a percentage of GDP, as the U.S.$$ rose in value relative to other currencies. This is the ultimate negative affect of a "strong dollar policy". The positive affect of such a policy is low cost products produced in other countries.....like oil.

The primary reason for a "strong dollar policy" is that oil is bought/sold in international markets in U.S. $$$. The higher the relative value of those $$$, the lower the price of oil to U.S. consumers. Strong $$ = low priced oil to the U.S.

Thus, if you want cheap oil, you need to have a high valued $$$. But if you have a high valued $$$$, U.S. manufactured goods become more expensive in foreign countries. Thus, U.S. exports of manufactured goods falls.

Well, the good news is that with the economic crisis and all the stimulus the pump the economy back up, the U.S. $$$ has plumeted in value relative to other currencies. Consequently U.S. exports of manufactured goods have risen dramatically. This has driven and will continue to support the U.S. manufacturering sector and manufacturing jobs just like the ones you expressed interest in.

So, if you want U.S. manufacturing to strengthen, pray for a weak dollar. But also recognize that it will come with a price.....higher oil prices. Now if we converted everybodies cars to natural gas and stopped denominating oil in U.S. $$$......well......the $$$$ could free fall and all you blue-collar boys would be back in business!!!!

Then expect Fender to shut down its Mexico facilities and start cranking that Corona plant back up to full capacity. Moreover, our friends in almost everywhere but the UK will enjoy much cheaper Stratocasters.