|
LookieNoNookie -> RE: Should The US provide aid to the automotive industry? (11/12/2008 5:06:30 PM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: candystripper
quote:
ORIGINAL: kdsub
I don’t know of the industry in general but I do know of Chrysler in the St Louis area. In 2005 Chrysler threatened to close its plant unless they received tax abatements. Even though the local municipalities were hurting for money at the time they gave in to Chrysler to the tune of millions.
The plant is considered the most modern and productive Chrysler has in the lower 48. As a reward Chrysler has decided this year to close the minivan plant laying off 3,700 workers.
Even this would be understandable considering the economic situation…BUT… rather than discontinuing production entirely they are transferring the production to a plant in Canada.
Otherwise they are lying off American workers while transferring the work to Canada… then asking The United States for money.
If I had a say I would demand that all manufacturing be transferred back to the US employing US workers before I would give them a penny of our tax money.
Butch
Hey Butch. My answer is a resounding f**k NO. While my heart goes out to retirees and workers of the U.S auto manufacturers, it's not like we won't be able to fly or take trains, etc. It's a lucrative market -- let another company that can *pluck its head out its ass* fill the consumer demand for cars.
candystripper [sm=pole.gif]
Well said.
Clearly, Toyota, among others, have proven that cars will sell if built to consumer tastes.
All U.S. car sales are down...some more than others.
It's rather telling that U.S. manufacturers are down more than others.
Isn't it intriguing that U.S. manufacturers have been losing significant share...even when (for 20 years) fuel prices were historically low?
I remember a conversation with a fellow I lived next door to back in 1996, a tried and true...true blue "American".
At the time I owned 22 vehicles (company rigs), 14 of which were "foreign" manufactured (Isuzu...commercial heavy rigs).
He was berating me for not owning "American Built" rigs...and proceeded to explain to me he owned "ONLY American built" trucks.
He owned one...his, a 3/4 ton...Chevy...but I allowed him to make his point, after which I explained to him that my Isuzus were 43% manufactured in the United States...and his Chevy truck (which the facility building them was in Juarez, Mexico) was 24% manufactured in the U.S.
He didn't find that altogether palatable...nevertheless....
Whether you're buying small cars (Canada), big trucks (in many cases, Mexico), saran wrap (China), Tupperware (Mexico), TV's (Japan, North Korea, China) or even Barbeque's (China, South Korea or Venezuela)....
It's impossible to buy American.
Unless of course, you don't want to make a steak, drive to pick one up, watch the news to find out where the best price can be found on a steak (which, by the way, largely comes from Brazil), or even buy some Post it Notes to make a note to yourself "Buy American" (which, by the way...comes from Singapore).
And the pen you'd use to write that post it note?
(It comes from Poland).
And...just as an aside...that laptop or desktop you're reading this on...comes from China.
(And yes...even the ones that say "American built"....those are assembled in American Samoa...parts from China or similar, shipped to American Samoa...so they can claim American manufactured pedigrees...it's a legal distinction).
|
|
|
|
