This afternoon, I was out in the yard, scanning the sky for signs of the incoming storm. The South African Weather Service has predicted a cut-off low (COL) over the Western Cape. Flooding is expected tomorrow. So I got outside to batten down the hatches, as one does when you’ve got a house and a storm on the way.
Of course, just my luck—the gutter pipe on the one side of the house had been removed last week by the painter and never replaced. That painter… well, let’s just say the best part of that job was watching him leave. His work was as slapdash as it gets—corners cut, things left undone, and no sense of pride in the job. Still, one has to persevere.
While I was working, I pulled out my old drill. I’ve had it for decades—so long, in fact, I’m hesitant to admit just how many years. It’s not fancy, but it works. And there on the casing, faded but proud, are the words: Made in the USA.
That little emblem meant something once. This drill, though lightly used over the years for DIY tasks around the various homes I’ve lived in, has never let me down. It reminds me of a time when American-made products were robust, reliable, and built to last. Back in the 1970s, you could get your hands on all sorts of quality imports from the U.S.—tools, electronics, appliances—and they’d serve you for years, even decades.
Today? The same drill is made in China, and it’s not even half the machine it used to be. I once spoke to a contractor at the hardware store who told me he buys the cheapest drill available for each job, knowing full well it won’t survive the project. That’s the logic now: buy cheap, use, toss. Built-in obsolescence, planned decay. A product once revered becomes landfill within months.
There are still exceptions. Take the Wahl hair shaver I used today for a clean head shave. It’s another American-made product I’ve had for years. With a little oil and care, it still runs like new. That’s quality—true, enduring quality.
It makes me wonder: what do people say about products made in South Africa? I’m not talking about wine, fruit, or vegetables—we do those well. I’m thinking about tools. Garden instruments. I hear Lasher Tools makes excellent, durable gardening equipment. Tough, well-made stuff that’s even exported. So yes, quality still matters, even in an age that’s addicted to speed, volume, and disposability.
And I remember how, in the ’70s, Japanese companies would release new tech—like calculators—at a high price. Then, as they saturated the market, they’d drop the price. Again and again. Max out the profits and move on. Rinse, repeat. The manipulation of production for greed isn’t new, but it does feel more aggressive now.
It’s a strange world we live in. A storm is coming, and I’m standing outside with an old drill that still works better than most new ones. That says something.
Anyway, that’s all for now.
