[quote=Scarlet]Japan has been allowed to cheat and scam us out of millions of jobs and billions of dollars for decades.
When you buy a Toyota or Honda, even if you pick a model where 1/2 of it is of US manufature, you are still sending your money overseas. Corporate profits go to the Japan.
Yet you are still caught up in your GM=junk, Union=bad, programing.
GM tries to close a plant in Germany and there are riots to stop it. Here we seem to be rioting to have the plants closed. Why don’t we value our manufaturers and good jobs that produce valuable, high quality goods?
We should be rioting to protect our jobs. Does that mean pouring money into a black hole? It should mean forcing our Government to make sure our manufacturers enjoy at least an equal chance at success as their foriegn competition.
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Scalet,
Again, not sure why you’re so worked up about this. But it seems like you’re the one that is coming across as being “indoctrinated” by either GM/Ford/Chrysler or UAW or both….
First, where do you the idea “Japan has been allowed to cheat and scam us out of millions of jobs and billions of dollars for decades” ….I’m curious.
Second,
[quote]When you buy a Toyota or Honda, even if you pick a model where 1/2 of it is of US manufature, you are still sending your money overseas. Corporate profits go to the Japan. [/quote]
Again, I think you should check your facts here. I’ll just give you one of many examples where your statement here is inaccurate.
Almost all passenger honda cars/trucks/suvs in the U.S market since 1999/2000 have used the same identical oil filter, which has been sourced by the same manufacturer: Fram in the U.S (please no Fram jokes, car buffs). The S2000 is the notable exception, as that special filter is made by FilTech, which was established by by Toyo Roki in Ohio. The NSX is probably the only other exception, but is such a low volume car it does not contribute significantly to the parts/labor markets. Again my point is those toyotas and hondas you speak so disdainfully about, a good percentage of the parts are sourced in the U.S. You’re probably about to say that well that’s just one part but the rest of the car is probably made in japan. Again, while I’m not a grease monkey by trade, I do enjoy ripping about cars I’ve owned and friends cars from time to time, and I’ve seen my fair share of honda’s/toyota’s parts across the board to have a source or origin from Ohio, Texas, etc. And once upon a time i did find a factory installed GM labelled parts (Delco i believe was a supplier) including radiators and other cooling components, (which ironically were the ones that needed to be replaced).
Similarly, a good portion of the parts that GM and the big three uses are sourced from factories in Mexico or China, from which, doesn’t contribute 1 iota to the u.s. labor market or the u.s. industries. And the reason why the big three does this is quite simple…They have to find some creative way to cut costs to bring cars to this market because their existing cost structure will all those benefits paid to retirees and unions is putting them at a huge disadvantage.
And you have to wonder why the Toyota Camry is the #1 seller year after year after year. Why is it american consumers keep demanding this car year after year? Think about it.
Also, if you’re really into the “buy american mantra”, but your hard earned benefits/dollars where your mouth is. When you go to the store, check where things are made and buy the things grown in the the U.S. and made in the u.s. I find that a good portion of the people that talk about buying “U.S.A.” cars do very little themselves on their own spending. These are the very same people that would spend $5 on a POS toolset made in china instead of spending $25 on a Craftman toolset with a lifetime warranty made in the U.S. Or they would spend $1 on the apple juice o.j. with fruit from south america, china,etc rather than spend $3 on stuff made in the U.S. Cited excuses are often “but it’s too expensive”.. Well, gee, consume less. And if you’re really patriotic made your sacrifices you preach. I do with just about everything else, except cars, simply because GM/Ford/Chrylser and associated unions need a real kick in the ass before they wake up and stop blaming everything else around them for their problems. GM/Ford/Chrylser problems started well before this recession, this recession only made this problem worse. Take away this recession GM/Ford/Chrylser would still be in a mess. It was just a matter of time. A orderly reorg and restructuring of management/labor/benefits is exactly what is needed to move GM/Ford/Chrysler. Unfortunately, I’m sure many of the UAW members won’t like the “sacrifices” they have to make to move the company forward.
And sure, if the big three and UAW want to riot in Detroit, by all means. Go for it. Detroit’s already pretty messed up and can’t get any worse…and the housing market can’t possibly be worse there than it already is. More power to the people…I somehow doubt though you would find support in states such as Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, etc.
