Re: Buy Detroit 3 Cars Based on Quality, Not Patriotism
I always thought this approach to the argument was obvious, but it's clear that it isn't with still plenty of "Buy American" apologists everywhere.
I understand (or at least I think I do) the economics and background of why the proponents for Buy American shout their arguments at the top of their lungs. In the end, it's to protect their jobs, their communities, and the livelihoods of them, their family and posterity.
Like the Free Press article, there's no reason why Americans should strictly "Buy American" if it results in a less satisfactory result than buying a "foreign-made" automobile. The automotive (and manufacturing) community likes to think it is the canary in the coal mine for the U.S. economy.
I'm not going to throw around numbers and figures, but the fact is that everyone, in every job, faces a potential threat not from someone down the street or in-state, but from across the world. From the entire human population (or at least those that can work).
No one is "entitled" to a job, a career, a future. Each one of us has to work to demonstrate that we can add value to another person or group of persons.
I could go further, but the days of the implicit agreement between employee and employer are over.
Re: Buy Detroit 3 Cars Based on Quality, Not Patriotism
Yes Jaybird you are correct. However, if you are not currently being threatened by the loss of your job, or, if you are climbing the ladder so to speak, I can understand your opinion.
Please consider all things like the death of cars made in America, or Steel being made in America, or Textiles being made in America, or IT jobs in America. I do not want to discuss the obvious as to why we lost those industries (except IT). In addition to bad management at those industries, we had bad Policies in Congress. The Socialist Democratic Party would like to tax (Our companies pay the highest taxes any place on earth) our Manufacturing companies so they cannot compete in the World, these companies will move elsewhere, the jobs go with them.
My last point, almost every country has subsidized every product that we import, for the most part, we have not.
I am 60, I have a Computer Science Degree, worked at a large bank for 35 years, now I cannot find anything IT related in most part because of the 3 to 5 million IT jobs outsourced. I am not whining.
ErnieGs
Columbus, Oh
Last edited by erniegs; 7/17/2008 at 11:39 AM.
Reason: grammical
The capitalist-minded author and philosopher of objectivism Ayn Rand, once said 'Buying American is UN-American.' Naturally, what she means is buying strictly American should NOT be the attitude of a free democratic society as explained at http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServ...m_buy_american
I actually write for a blog called Buy American but its primary focus is to promote US goods by helping to increase the competitiveness of American manufacturers in the global marketplace. The blog has no political agenda whatsoever and exists to promote U.S. goods overseas.
In any case, I'm a believer that the United States still produces some of the highest quality products in the world in a number of industries. The bottom line is people/companies that demand quality will pay for it.
Re: Buy Detroit 3 Cars Based on Quality, Not Patriotism
Quote:
almost every country has subsidized every product that we import, for the most part, we have not.
Yeah, yeah. I realize this is the case with all these products. But you're really just angry with the fact that the turning point is occurring now. Don't get me wrong, I'm not for the taxation practices of what might be the next administration, but regardless of the environment or situation at the time, it's your responsibility to prepare for changes.
Quote:
I actually write for a blog called Buy American
I couldn't seem to find any blog on this site. Looked more like a site just trying to build bits of dollars on site hits. No offense.
Re: Buy Detroit 3 Cars Based on Quality, Not Patriotism
I didn't think that the point was stressed enough in the article.
If buyers looked at current factual quality information (instead of "conventional wisdom" or a grudge from 20 years ago), it would seem that there should be a lot more U.S. brand vehicles being sold.
GM and Ford have been receiving a lot of J.D.Power Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability Study accolades over the last 5 years.
Buy Detroit 3 Cars Based on Quality, Not Patriotism
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