5th Jun 2009, 09:27
To - 4th Jun 2009, 10:47
If the US Auto Industry employs 91% of the auto workers in the USA, buying an import does not hurt "91% of our people", this would be the case only if EVERY man, woman and child in this country were employed by the US auto industry.
Your math doesn't add up, just as your black & white logic doesn't apply to this issue.
5th Jun 2009, 11:35
It's estimated that 10% of ALL jobs in the U.S. are related to the auto industry. OK, so buying a Japanese car only hurts 9.1% of U.S. citizens. Hope that puts your conscience at ease.
5th Jun 2009, 11:37
10:47, are you saying the 9% of Americans that found jobs building Hondas, Toyotas, or whatever don't count or don't matter?
What about all of the Americans that work in import dealerships, or work for parts suppliers for imports.
That is pretty narrow-minded thinking in my book.
By the way, where was your TV made? Your microwave? Your MP3 player? How about he computer that you are writing your comments from? What about the gasoline that you are burning in your American car?
5th Jun 2009, 23:12
My boss helped make my day today. After informing all of us that until further notice we would have no further work, he invited me to lunch with him today. Our area has been hard hit by closed dealerships, supply companies and delivery services. Although our business SEEMINGLY has no connection to the auto industry, the loss of jobs has made purchasing ALL goods and services more difficult. EVERYONE is suffering. Like many Americans my boss had been duped by the ad hype and false claims of reliability and bought himself and his wife Japanese vehicles. Today over lunch he said "You were right. We SHOULD have all done more to support AMERICAN businesses. Now we're ALL seeing the damage we've done." He further informed me that he has replaced his wife's import with a Cadillac and will be replacing his import with a Ford Fusion. If more people like him had listened earlier, we'd still have jobs. Fortunately he and I are wealthy enough to survive a while without incomes. Most people aren't so blessed.
That's why I'll KEEP emphasizing "Buy American" until maybe a few MORE people see the light.
6th Jun 2009, 20:07
My TV's (all four) are made in the good old USA. My 29-year-old Microwave was made in Ohio. I don't HAVE an MP3 player and don't want one. My computer is built by a company that is less than 3 miles from my house (and has a 2 year longer warranty than any others). I buy my gas from an American oil company (I wasn't aware that we HAD Japanese oil companies!!).
Today I went to help my boss trade his Honda for a new Fusion. I was amazed that there were only a couple of 2009's left. The lot was sparsely filled with mostly 2010's. My friend at the Ford dealership told me that many people are waking up to the need to buy from U.S. companies. He said the sales of the Fusion is setting records, and that virtually every trade-in is a Japanese car. He pointed out a whole row of late model Camrys, Accords and Altimas on the used car lot.
It is VERY uplifting to begin to see a glimmer of patriotism in more and more people. As I said in comment 23:12, I will continue to reach out to more and more people with the "Buy American" message, but after seeing the incredible example of patriotism at the Ford dealer's lot today (it was PACKED with buyers) maybe the patriotism thing is finally catching on.
7th Jun 2009, 10:54
"Yes, and the Fusion shared its platform with the Mazda 6"
So?? Ford OWNS Mazda. Ford is an AMERICAN company. We owned a Mazda before Ford took over and dramatically improved the quality. It was made in Japan and was one of the worst built cars we ever owned. Mazdas are now very good cars thanks to Ford. The same can be said of Jaguar. Ford took over Jaguar and took it from one of the least reliable cars on the planet to tied for the most reliable along with Buick (J.D. Powers, 2009). Ford no longer owns Jaguar (it was sold to Tata of India) but the quality studies ranking it tops were done based on 3-year-old vehicles, which is when Ford still owned it.
Such silly arguments as "Ford shares it's platform with Mazda" mean nothing. Ford is, was, and hopefully always will be an AMERICAN company, contributing to the AMERICAN economy. Allowing Foreign-owned companies to take over industry in this country has caused much damage to our economy, and, apparently, to our clear thinking. If a company is not based in the U.S., I'm not buying ANYTHING from them... PERIOD.
8th Jun 2009, 19:35
No, I'm just saying that helping 91% of the people beats the heck out of helping just 9%. Our last president wasted our nation's largest surplus helping only 1% of our citizens. We all see where THAT thinking got us.
9th Jun 2009, 10:04
The angry tone shown by many of those beating the "Buy American" drum is very troubling.
Yes, I like to buy American made products whenever possible, but I have an open mind.
These angry tirades evoke memories of McCarthyism as well as isolationists.
10th Jun 2009, 05:51
And the American economy was stronger as well. Maybe a return to that pride and helping our own economy is better. I quit buying imports 2 years ago due to drop in quality. I discovered there are nice domestics that are even better.
10th Jun 2009, 12:12
Thank you 05:51!! It's good to know that other Americans are not "troubled" by the idea of supporting our own industry. I never thought I'd live to see people actually OFFENDED by patriotism. We'll never own another vehicle from a company that is foreign owned. If Chrysler sells to Fiat we'll buy only GM and Ford.
11th Jun 2009, 13:23
Please don't try to twist my words or take them out of context. Leave that to the politicians.
I am not "troubled" by people wanting to buy American, and I am not "troubled" or "offended" by patriotism.
What is troubling is:
The us vs. them mentality.
The seeing everything as black or white, without allowing for the possibility that everything is really gray.
The being blind to the fact that many of these "American" cars are built in Mexico & Canada (which by the way is taking jobs away from Americans). As well as the fact that many of the components of these "domestic" vehicles are built in other countries.
The anger towards other countries.
The intolerance of others right to choose.
I agree that it is great to buy American products, and I agree that the Fusion is an excellent car.
I just don't agree that only one opinion is right or wrong in this case.
4th Jun 2009, 15:31
I wrote the comment on 3rd Jun 2009, 13:08.
I should add that what I am trying to say, is that the entire issue of domestic vs. imports is not black and white, although it seems many are trying to make it that. When in fact it is many shades of gray.