24th Jul 2009, 12:15

Again, We've all heard the rather vague and unsupported claim that somehow, 91% of we who live in the US work for automotive related industries. Interesting because not a single person I know works in any industry or business that has anything to do with automotive manufacturing, sales, engineering, suppliers. Nothing. But I digress. Again - why does it matter where someone works in this country as long as they are getting a salary in which to buy things like houses, TV sets and cars?

The family I mentioned who worked for Nissan did just fine. I don't know the exact details of their finances, but the fact that they owned their own house and had relatively new cars and all the other comforts of the middle class tells me that working for Nissan was doing its job to enable one US family to lead comfortable lives. Again - what's the difference between this family and one who works for GM?

It's called competition and it's what this country was founded on. If one company either makes shoddy or unpopular products or is poorly managed, then a company that makes more better and more desirable products will logically become successful at the expense of the former. Likewise, a family who might have worked for one company has the choice to work for another. So it's not like someone working for Ford is forced to stay there. They could easily work for Toyota and do just as well, if not better given that most Toyota plants are in lower cost Southern states with better living standards than up North.

The bottom line is that a job is a job. If it puts food on the table, then who really cares what the names of the company is and where its headquarters are located? The problem with the argument against buying imports because they are imported is that this isn't the case. They're mostly foreign brands produced in the US with US labor. The argument is completely moot. I get a feeling the argument is more about protective patriotism, which in itself is actually destructive to the US economy at large.

Secondly, if you want to place some blame, why not blame GM, Ford, and Chrysler. For decades they have unscrupulously shut plants in the US and Canada - even when they were making record profits - so they could make MORE money producing cheaper cars in Mexico. In addition, they've increasingly used more and more foreign parts producers. Again - to save and make more money. It is their right. They are capitalist companies. But if this argument is about jobs, then you can't exactly blame consumers for their choices. On the other hand Toyota just announced the closure of their first plant... EVER in their 70 year history. It's the California NUMMI plant. They are only doing so because it was a joint venture between GM and Toyota. After GM pulled out the venture was unprofitable. One plant closed in 70 years versus the dozens and dozens closed by GM. Entire cities in the Midwest have been devastated with these closures.

So don't blame the consumer or blame the progress of capitalism. We all benefit in the end.

24th Jul 2009, 13:33

Our mailman is complaining that he is losing a days pay... it trickles throughout the entire system.

Our library is cutting hours (turn electric off etc).

Our quality of life, services is dropping. I maintain it matters that employers prosper. The problem is somehow rationalized that a job that now exists compares to the past. I see hours cut, furloughs (that's a pay decrease), less benefit contributions from employers, matching going away etc as employers are doing their best to stay afloat.

When you retire someday, it may matter then... personally. It is not just loss of the car industry and the much lower pay/benefits with other car manufacturers. How about the foreign industry that gets years of no tax or tax concessions to open a plant in the USA? Are they replacing the higher standard of living wages or offering a pittance?

A lot of people I work with are now called consultants, which means they still work at the same company with no benefits... I have relatives working 3 day weeks reduced hours. I guess they can buy a cheap economy car today in place of what they may truly prefer driving. Is that quality?

I like domestic full size trucks and hope to not be forced into small cars if my employer cuts back. It's important to employers in your town to prosper...if not it may trickle down to members of your family.

I like my job and want to remain and afford a nice standard of living... my employer is not a charity ward, I am there to produce and make money.

Buying new high ticket imports isn't the direction I see as making the community prosper. I have many customers in town and they need jobs to buy from us. Maybe it's looking at the big picture...... my unemployment could likely make a small import car payment however, so I shouldn't care or worry about paying for one.

24th Jul 2009, 13:38

American car companies are in trouble because they over expanded by making more cars than will ever be needed. So to catch up they had to make crappy cars for a lil bit (later 90's earlier 2000's)... so they lost credibility, domestic brands pay their workers double what Honda pays theirs... and lastly they aren't very good at consumer relations... their dealers aren't always very helpful...

This idea the foreign cars are somehow more dependable is ridiculous.. it's all about how you take car of your car.. and GM has 3 of the greatest engines ever made. 2.8L V6, 3.8L V6 and 4.3L V6... none of those engines will ever give you a problem.. I think the 2.8 and 3.8 are in the top 10 most reliable engines of the 20th century.. and the 4.3L is the biggest (in liters) V6 that has ever been made, it is actually a Chevy 350 missing two cylinders.

24th Jul 2009, 16:19

Wow, with 700000 jobs lost monthly this year, we can walk down the street and grab another 38 dollar an hour job... oops its 14 if we're lucky in manufacturing. But then a lot is made in China, Taiwan, Japan cheaper yet. Our standard of living keeps dropping, high debt, high credit cards, but we have our Nissan in the drive right?

24th Jul 2009, 17:27

24th Jul 2009, 12:15 - Thank you for being a voice of reason.

24th Jul 2009, 20:39

12:15...I never ever especially in 2009 base any persons worth on what is parked in the driveway or a home anymore. Many people borrowed 100% plus and did adjustables barely getting into homes they shouldn't have bought. Or lease cars to go bigger on less. I see credit reports, scores and the reality of it all. People have issues on their scores even with late cell phone bills and want to refinance with a low rate.

I have had one tenant with far better new vehicles than my own, yet with no savings. I set up a lease purchase and they will have issues. You drive by their nice rented single family home (which is actually mine) and nice new cars. Some people transfer and it's different.

I also had a friend who had a driver delivering new furniture sold in new high end custom homes. The first floors in many were beautiful and hardly any furnishing upstairs that few would ever see. I attribute it to being max'ed out.

There is a lot of fear and stress with the current economy. I find it nearly impossible that absolutely nothing is affecting the import commenters on here. You may be in a completely recession proof industry, but I suspect someone close to you, family etc is being affected today. I worry that my employer could have a closed door meeting and I am gone. I worry that my tenants may lose their job and I still pay if they do not. I cannot sell without a hit so I rent and cannot flip easily. I think buy whatever I want, who cares, have my head in the sand attitude is not going to help the rest of us still working pulling up the slack. People are working longer, for less and with less co workers in many companies, and some are afraid to go on vacation worrying they may be making a mistake going.

Time will tell if sending profits overseas is far better than profits here. I am not seeing it. Whatever past experience you had, at least compare in 2009 and get a great warranty. Repairs far exceed fuel; I found that out first hand, and flimsy weak warranties are painful to the wallet.