[quote=Rt.66]The profits from your car purchase is appreciated by Honda and the Japanese people. They will use it to pay deficits, build schools, provide for the elderly and sick, improve roads, etc.[/quote]
Your arguments seem strong but are only skin-deep and can be applied to foreign componets sourced by American car makers. So based on your arguments the only way we can truly be sure that 100% of our car purchase $$ will be used to pay OUR deficits, build OUR schools, provide care for OUR elderly, etc. is to buy car with 100% USA-sourced componets and based on my recent experience that car doesn’t exist, not anymore and we have the Big Three to thank for that, as they were the pioneers in sourcing from overseas to cut costs.
Where do we draw the line? Do we say 70% USA components is acceptable, or must it be 95%? Which is more preferrable, American-branded cars that are assembled elsewhere or foreign-branded cars that are assembled in USA? If #1, then should we care that GM plans to introduce cars from China and plans to shift more production and R&D resources (both blue and white collar jobs) to China? Once again, where do we draw the line?.
I didn’t consider Ford or Chrysler in the first place because of their styling. I’m not into the retro-style of most Chrysler/Dodge nowadays and didn’t like the new Taurus’ styling either. This is highly subjective so I don’t expect everybody to agree with me. Chrysler also has qualify/reliability issues that are not perception but factual.
I had other choices. I could’ve bought a VW that was assembled in Europe, or a Hyundai Azera that was assembled in Korea. I chose to buy a Honda that was assembmed in USA.
The world is one big economy nowadays so the old protectionism simply doesn’t work anymore…unless we want to be like North Korea. That’s why it’s more important to me that the assembly of cars is in the US, rather than the brand itself.
