"Not sure where to start there...Of course it's the Exec's responsibility to make money....and there's no way they are making 25%, much less 35% and I'd be really surprised if after all is said and done that they are making 15%. With all the costs out of control here in the US (insurance. health care and labor to name a few) it'd be quite a bit less than that."

I will assure you, having been in manufacturing my entire career, that the imprters make a killing in terms of profit. Regardless of what profit they make, is it worth the price they pay? To the individual execs I am sure it is - to S&W and the USA I am sure it is not.

"I sure as hell hope it's not the government. They are into way too much stuff now, the last thing we need is their fouled up thinking making a mess of private business. If you want an example of how well that works check out anything made behind the Iron Curtain before that went Tango Uniform."

You're missing my point. You can't name a government who does less than ours to ensure its own business and economy stays healthy. People love to talk about free trade but do you really think the other guys (Japan, France, Germany, China) just let things run their course? Hell no.

"What trough? If it's the one where you try to make the best product you can, and sell it customers that wnat it while making some money, you're right."

First, S&W is not MAKING anything. That's the whole point. The trough is the USA, and execs who try to maximize their profits and return as little as possible - they're the pigs at the trough. Line their pockets as long as they can, and get a $45 million severance package when the company finally goes belly up.