9th Nov 2009, 11:40

"I do not think it is about "patriotism" at all, but about somebody trying to keep their job."

I don't work for any car company, but I think wishing people would lose their jobs is anything but "patriotic". I'll stick with U.S. industry.

10th Nov 2009, 11:24

11:40

Nobody is wishing that people lose their jobs.

The way you distort what people say leads me to believe that you could have a successful career as a politician or one of those political talk show hosts on the radio.

That being said - I would rather purchase from a company who is actually building new plants in the USA and hiring Americans to work in them, than buy a Ford built in Mexico.

Please don't use that 90% vs. 10% argument again - the fact is that Ford as well as the other "domestic" automakers continue to lay off American workers and build plants in other countries.

You can call me an unpatriotic subversive all you want. The fact is that I am an American who drives a Jeep built in Toledo Ohio.

It is unfortunate that hard working Americans continue to be to derided in the name of "patriotism". That to me is far worse than buying a Honda or a Toyota.

I am embarrassed as to what the rest of the world must think of Americans if they are basing their opinion on the unwarranted and undeserved attacks on import owners and Japanese car companies. I assure you that the civilized world does not end at our borders.

10th Nov 2009, 12:20

I am the other poster who agrees 100% with you on all points. I also drive a domestic Ford car and still agree with you. There is no getting through to some people though as they will always be kind of shortsighted when it comes to patriotism and supporting GOOD business. The other cheek is turned to the miserable business practices and poor marketing by all of the domestic car companies in the name of "patriotism". Let's forget all about the billions of dollars wasted on these companies.

There is a major misconception that saving the auto industry is going to restore the U.S. to its old ways and we can all go back to living in Disneyland again. Good luck to all who are wishing for that to be true. These companies have NEVER cared about the American population other than to rake in the dough from overinflated SUV's for over 2 decades. They even blatantly take jobs out of the U.S. exporting to Canada and Mexico. And here "patriotic" Americans are running to support them because we are so afraid our little worlds will crumble. These same people even justify the loss of labor jobs because "overall" they are helping the good ole U.S.A. Tell that to the plant workers who's jobs vanished and went to Mexico!!

They FAILED at their job of providing a good product for a fair price. When you fail you get fired and replaced in most businesses (as it should be). In the car business, however, you fail you get $billions and then you get to keep on going the way you were until you fail again. God bless America! Wake up people!

10th Nov 2009, 21:51

I'm embarrassed as well. We are the only civilized country in the world that does not provide health care for all its citizens, and the only country where our own citizens revel in destroying our own industries and jobs.

11th Nov 2009, 16:49

How have the citizens "reveled" in destroying our own industries? Can you place no blame on the industries themselves for causing their own destruction? Why is it so easy for you to just look past their incompetence's and forget their shortcomings in order to chastise someone who doesn't support them because they want a better product from a better organized and run company.

So in short, patriotism to you is making poor business decisions and then asking for bailout money to correct your mistakes? Sorry, I just can't jump on that bandwagon.

Show me good businesses with actual goals that benefit all of us and I'll more than happily be a part of the support for them. Seems it isn't going to happen though is it? Of course, with people like you supporting this behavior in business blindly, using patriotism as an excuse, why would they need to improve? This is a tired argument really.

We don't need any more Madoff's, we need honesty and integrity, which is really hard to come by in U.S. industry these days.

And on the health care issue. Research the actual "free" health care most countries get. It ain't all it's cracked up to be. I'd rather pay for the high quality we get in the U.S. than get the free health care most countries offer.

13th Nov 2009, 07:10

Please STOP twisting my words. We are not "reveling" "in destroying our own industries and jobs". It is the corporate big wigs that are destroying both by ineptitude and greed.

I am offended by the way you try to make everyone who does not agree with you an unpatriotic subversive.

My idea of America differs from yours greatly, as I do not look down on my neighbor who happens to drive an import.

13th Nov 2009, 11:13

So destroying the jobs and lives of 90% of U.S. citizens involved in U.S. auto related businesses by buying from foreign industry is "good business practice???"

13th Nov 2009, 15:47

"and the only country where our own citizens revel in destroying our own industries and jobs."

By making statements like that, you are not painting a very good picture of Americans, to the rest of the world.

As an American, I am offended by your characterisation of the American public.

14th Nov 2009, 10:28

Let's face it. Americans don't paint a very good picture of themselves about much of ANYTHING. After 8 years of W I'm surprised most civilized countries haven't closed their borders to us. As for industry, any country whose citizens advocate the destruction of the own livelihoods SHOULD be regarded with suspicion.

14th Nov 2009, 17:46

Again, the manufacturers are the ones destroying jobs not the people who want to drive a Honda. If they had run their businesses efficiently and as well as the import brands, they wouldn't be in the mess they are in and jobs wouldn't be destroyed as they are. Why should I try to save the world by buying American when they didn't care enough about this country to do the right thing when it mattered!!

Supporting lame business is FAR less patriotic than buying a Honda. You are just telling people in this country that it is okay that they ran their business into the ground. "No problem, we'll keep on supporting you and go right over the cliff with you!"

Start thinking past tomorrow and see what this will do to our country in the long run. If you think this big bailout is going to change the way things are in this country, you will have a rude awakening.

These companies will continue to do what they've always done and we'll be right back to where we were... unless major changes are forced upon them. Not supporting them and letting them fail is the kind of change they need so they can regroup and reorganize under new management or as new companies with better ideals. This would benefit all of us in the long run with better products that are competitive with the world.

Free money and continued unwavering support is NOT going to help.