--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the idea was to make product,” he said…" description: "\"“the idea was to make product,” he said. “Working for the community, for the United States, maybe for the world.” Then America decided none of that was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ec/brian-alexander-42911_quote_the-idea-was-to-make-product-he-said-wor_1685880.jpg" --- # the idea was to make product,” he said. “Working for the… ![“the idea was to make product,” he said. “Working for the community, for the United States, maybe for the world.” Then America decided none of that was so important. Jobs went overseas. The knowledge of craftsmen was lost, in order “to make a product for a little bit cheaper and not worry about…” quote by Brian Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ec/brian-alexander-42911_quote_the-idea-was-to-make-product-he-said-wor_1685880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ec/brian-alexander-42911_quote_the-idea-was-to-make-product-he-said-wor_1685880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ec/brian-alexander-42911_quote_the-idea-was-to-make-product-he-said-wor_1685880.jpg) > ““the idea was to make product,” he said. “Working for the community, for the United States, maybe for the world.” Then America decided none of that was so important. Jobs went overseas. The knowledge of craftsmen was lost, in order “to make a product for a little bit cheaper and not worry about what happens to the guy that used to make it for you.”” [Brian Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He laments the shift from product-focused manufacturing to cost-cutting, losing skilled craftsmanship and community benefit. **In simple terms:** Manufacturing shifted from quality to cheapness, losing skilled workers. Key Takeaway Prioritize quality and community over low cost. Themes industrialization globalization skill loss community economics Mood reflective critical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - policy making - business strategy - education reform - consumer awareness Key Concepts manufacturing trade-offs value of craftsmanship Questions to Reflect On - How can companies balance cost and craftsmanship? - What policies protect skilled labor? A Different Perspective Low-cost focus can undermine long-term innovation and social welfare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [In America, it was decided to attempt the production of atomic bombs with an effort that would constitute a large part of the collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/in-america-it-was-decided-to-attempt-the-production-of-atomic-bombs/) [Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/) > [America decided we were going to stand by and let Americans die at the hands of terrorists a long time ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-franks/america-decided-we-were-going-to-stand-by-and-let-americans-die-at/) [Tommy Franks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-franks/) > [I grew up on American pop culture so everything that I fantasized about to get out of this sort of humdrum world of Bradford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aasif-mandvi/i-grew-up-on-american-pop-culture-so-everything-that-i-fantasized/) [Aasif Mandvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aasif-mandvi/) > [“The continent did not appeal: France was filled with irritating people; Spain was corrupt and unstable; Russia, impossible; Italy, absurd; Germany, rigid; Portugal, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-continent-did-not-appeal-france-was-filled-with-irritating-people/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [ What I'm saying is America has a job deficit because hundreds of thousands of jobs went elsewhere. 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Therein lies the prime source of creative imagination. Let us then create a new guild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/proficiency-in-a-craft-is-essential-to-every-artist-therein-lies-the/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) Browse all 12 Craftsmen quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the idea was to make product,” he said. “Working for the community, for the United States, maybe for the world.” Then America decided none of that was so important. Jobs went overseas. 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