So, what the heck industry did you do costing work in?
In the industry I was in (light manufacturing, 300+ employees), regs or new regs on our US parts vendors (metal, molded paper, plastic, impregnated cloth, etc.) commonly cost us several % of the total production cost, which was passed on to our customers: They then added pretty much a straight multiplier on their end, to determine retail "street price". That doesn't even include our own internal compliance costs: Compliance officer, equipment, added labor (production line, production engineering, sometimes design engineering), maybe a new (and invariably more expensive or process-intensive) adhesive needed. And so on. Final street price too high? Usually we then had to take something "out" of the design (performance, quality, US parts vendor(s)...) Or "just" redesign the whole product. Or watch the customer go to China or go out of business. Me: "Hey boss, I think I'm gonna need a new bottle of Tylenol." "What's that?" "Ok, I'll pick up two for you."
This is by no means to say that all regs are unnecessary. But, the way the gov't goes about it is, more often than not, insane.
FWIW, our margins were typically 10% or less: On a few occasions we basically manufactured certain items at cost just to keep good employees. But no business can function at zero margin forever for the majority of its production. Unless it is subsidized, of course...
"Anti-American worker screed" is YOUR screed.
Paul, you couldn’t be more right. After 23 years in private sector I joined a department of energy funded research lab to design experimental equipment the scientists needed for research. The regulations were horrible. If the crew needed to dig a simple ditch to place a post, we had to file a report proving we had taken all the safety precautions. There had to be others present in case the digger injured himself, complete with procedures to execute first aid. 99.9 out of 100 times there never was a problem, but the paperwork was compulsory 100% of the time.
That does not equate to several % of retail cost. A percent of production cost, say production cost is 10% of the retail price, is meaninglessness to the retail consumer which will nary notice. In this case a 2% increase in the cost of production because of regulations would come out a .2% increase at retail. Not 2% but .2%. For that "savings" we, American taxpayer and patriot, get a closed factory and destroy an entire towns economic engine and financial viability? NO WAY....
This type of of pin-headed thinking on your part is why the USA needs a VERY HIGH PROTECTIVE TARIFF. Stop the insanity...