The PROBLEM with Capitalism - Smarter Every Day 316 (www.youtube.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by vudu@slrpnk.net to c/collapse@slrpnk.net

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Destin Sandlin examines the systemic engineering and economic hurdles involved in manufacturing a grill scrubber entirely in America. Through a deep dive into sourcing components like injection-molded knobs and specialized chain mail, the project highlights the complexities of maintaining domestic supply chains and preserving vital technical trade skills in a competitive global market.

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[-] immutable@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

This entire series boils down to Destin finding this simple thing out again and again.

If you want to assemble a bunch of low value inputs into a finished product, America isn't manufacturing the low value inputs.

Basically every step along the way he has tried to make his business buying a bunch of American made low value inputs and then paying a room of college aged kids to assemble them into a high value product. And he keeps finding the same answer, you can buy your inputs from overseas or make them yourself.

[+] HerbGrower@slrpnk.net -7 points 3 weeks ago

Is that a problem? Why would you want something made in america in the first place. I know more people avoiding products because they are made in America rather than buying them because they are.

[-] vudu@slrpnk.net 18 points 3 weeks ago

This is an overall look at macroeconomic influences and how greed/capitalism are affecting them.

From a solarpunk perspective, it makes sense to Buy it for life or buy local. This video documents the factors that make that harder and harder.

[-] PumaStoleMyBluff@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

People who already live in America don't stop existing just because the government is garbage.

[-] CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

To keep money in my community and to help support my countrymen. I’d much rather my money go to some guy in my state than some nameless faceless conglomocorp in some far off land exploiting their workers to undercut my neighbor

[+] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca -14 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

This video series is frustrating. Even if you need a chainmail grill scrubber, you can buy then for $29 (with tariffs) and this clown wants $60. Clearly, he has no clue about engineering, product design or a business plan. You want to support US industry, be prepared for 2-3x the costs and no innovation. The whole premise is he is making something innovative or better, neither is true. Gadgets cannot fuel an economy.

This guy runs a STEM education channel, and the best product he can imagine is a grill scrubber. Weak.

[-] Rossphorus@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago

If you watched his videos you would know that the other chainmail grill scrubbers only appeared after he released his. The price difference is literally the central thesis of the video series - because the US has almost entirely outsourced manufacturing to countries like China and Vietnam, buying products from there are cheaper due to economies of scale. This gives those countries great economic leverage, and the US should not have been so happy to outsource. This can of course be reverted with sustained effort, that Destin is hoping to be a part of.

[-] NamedUser@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 weeks ago

Idk whats worse, that you either watched the whole thing and still went “whoosh” or that you hardly watched it at all and unsurprisingly missed the point of the video

[-] CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Ignorant

[-] pigup@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Ask your doctor about

this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2026

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