Buy American?? How about you!!

[Da Game]

I guess the buy American days are over since this new era is global economy. So how would a layperson like myself know? I've heard the stories and seen foriegn automakers in the US, but how does that help Americans keep their jobs and the lifestyle we've worked to enjoy. So below is a link for your reading/research. Maybe we will stop and ponder...

http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/

So the article I'm talking about is below..

http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/docs/lfi_report_FINAL090706.pdf

 

[Mokanic]

Quote:

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I guess the buy American days are over since this new era is global economy. So how would a layperson like myself know? I've heard the stories and seen foriegn automakers in the US, but how does that help Americans keep their jobs and the lifestyle we've worked to enjoy. So below is a link for your reading/research. Maybe we will stop and ponder...

http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/

So the article I'm talking about is below..

http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/docs/lfi_report_FINAL090706.pdf

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No sir,buy American is alive and well. My new Accord was made in Ohio and we love it. Our new Tacoma was made in California and we have never had a better truck. Our daughter's Corolla also was built in California and it will be the third one in our household. I can't wait to get the 3/4 ton diesel Toyota when it comes out. I think it will be built in good old Texas. The last Ford I owned had made in Canada stamped on it and my mother's Ford had made in Mexico stamped on it. Those were the last imports we really felt we could buy so now we stick with domestics like Toyota and Honda.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

LOL, I have one Domestic Tacoma and an Imported 4 runner. But I consider Toyota USA an all American company in spirit. They compete by producing products people want and don't try to guilt people into buying their brand for jingoistic ideals.
I am proud Toyota chose San Antonio for their newest truck plant, this area has really been booming and the new plant is not the cake but it is the icing.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

From their (retired big 3 autoworkers who want you to buy from big 3 for their welfare) website.
"What is an American Automobile?
LFI's retiree supporters, nearly all of whom have worked for one of the Big 3 or its suppliers, believe that determination is up to you . It's important that consumers have the facts, from safety and domestic content ratings, to each company's corporate policies and business partners."

I am making the determination for myself that Toyota and Honda are more American. They come into this country overcame protective tariffs, established business models and reputations and basically are overcoming the competition's market share because people believe in their products.

 

[Titan]

To me, besides the "Buy American" term seemingly meaning "Buy from the Native American Indian", I think a globally-derived vehicle is right up the alley with the idea of "Buy USA"...after all, the USA I know is made up of people from every corner of the world. If a person thinks "Buy American" is synonymous with "Buy Detroit", then I think they are lost in time, and, like the dinosauer, will become extinct.

 

[BuickFan]

I only buy GM or Ford products. I prefer GM. As an American. That is a engineer who was born in the United States of America, speaks english, and has had 7 generations of my family live contribute and fight for what we all hold dear here I reason it like this. GM and ford engineer their cars here for US tastes which I prefer. The high end technology stays in the US when I buy these cars. The engineers that design the cars, factories, parts, ect are generally based in the US. A production facility like an assembly plant is only maybe 10% of an automobile operations input into a country. Also after 911 I don't remember toyota jumping up to the plate to offer historically extroidanary (sp?) deals to keep the US economy afloat. The keep America moving deal has been credited with keeping the US mfg sector from cratering during that time. So buy what you want. That is your right. But study it a little closer and I think you will see that GM and Ford are critical to the US mfg economy. This is from a person who has done business with both GM, Ford, Toyota, and Honda during phases where they were building plants, parts and assy, in the US.

 

[mrsilv04]

My Honda Goldwing was built in Marysville, Ohio.

My Chevy Silverado (American as Apple Pie, right?) was built in Canada.

Hey, I tried...But I'm not going to look at the truck as being built in Canada as not being "domestic", and then ask the dealer if they happen to have one just like it, but from the Fort Wayne, Indiana plant.

Oh well...

 

[Mr_Incredible]

It's hard to argue that buying Japanese isn't like buying American. After WWII we rebuilt their country, showed them baseball, and showed them how "America does it."

Now, they do America better than many Americans.

Though it's hard to buy American in every case, I still search and buy American when I can. Even though my Ford truck had many parts stamped "Made in Mexico" on it when I looked after I purchased it. It was assembled in KY.

 

[ScottB]

Fortunately (or not as may be the case) "Buying American" is becoming outdated as the knuckleheads that shout it.
No Harley is made with 100% "American" parts.
GM/Ford make THEIR vehicles outside of the US.
I will take a Japanese owned company any day that knows how to make good vehicles and employs AMERICANS by the 10's of thousands and whom have a better chance to retire with some money rather than eating dog food.

Nothing will make (or break) a better "American Auto Maker" than a good dose of competition - that's what this country is about - isn't it???

 

[BuickFan]

I guess my point is that assembly plants are not really that big of a deal. Intel makes its chips in indonesia. The knowledge of how to make those chips, build the plants that make those chips, ect is not in indonesia. That is the real stuff that causes people to have a better standard of living. Being based in Detroit the US auto industry has always built things in Canada also. Keeping the industry in North America, yes I am talking Mexico also, makes it to where if you need someone to design a robotic build cell for your factory you don't have to go to europe or japan. Go to your toyo plant in SA. Robots: panisonic, programmers: Japanese. PLC: mitsubishi, programmers: Japanese. Go to a GM canada plant. Robots: GE fanuc, PLCs Allen Bradley programmers, american, canadian, maybe some Indian guy that just moved to america. Their code is always fun to figure out. I don't have a problem with globalization or competition. We just need to make sure the decisions we make are not some whim that is contrary to the well being of our nation. And yes I am a jingoist (sp?) patriot.

 

[cmhj]

I do when I can but it's not always possible. Per cars I currently own a 05 Vibe, which is a crossbred. Several Japanese parts assembled in Cal.

Was looking at a Malibu last fall but problems with my Vibe, which I finally sorted out most of myself caused me to turn away from GM mostly due to lack of customer service & give Kia a serious look.

Since Kia is building an assembly plant in the Atlanta area and Hyundai, which owns part of Kia has a plant in Alabama, I bought an 06.5 LX 2.4 L. Optima with their new 5 speed auto. So far "only 4.5K miles" the Optima is one of the best cars I've owned since the late 70s.

 

[javacontour]

What I find interesting is that the "Buy American" crowd is probably also the first group to cry about CEO pay.

IIRC, Japanese CEO's are not paid at the same level as US CEO's.

I found this tidbit interesting, and if true, may explain a lot. Look at the comments. Near the end is an interesting comparison. If they are talking about similar if not the same level of management, then US executives are being paid THOUSANDS of times more than their Toyota counterparts.

http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2006/11/where_all_the_p.html

I really believe that, if true, this is one of the major problems. US companies are focused almost solely on next quarters numbers. Toyota is focused on building cars and making money.

If anyone has a comparison of what the top man at Toyota makes in comparison to the top man at GM, I'd sure like to see it.

I'm certainly not an anti-wealthy kind of guy. However, if your executive pay is not in line with results, then one has to wonder what the excutives are really doing.

 

[javacontour]

This page is interesting.

http://www.manifest.co.uk/news/2004/20040510Forbes.htm

Read the text at the top, saying US executives make more than other executives worldwide.

The top guy at Toyota makes $903,000, yes, less than a million while Toyota has a market capitalization of $130 Billion as of the writing of the above linked article.

Maybe he should look into offering his services to GM or Ford. I'm sure he could make more than $903K

 

[javacontour]

One more discussion that talks about the differences in CEO/Executive Compensation

http://www.tpmcafe.com/node/26358

 

[ScottB]

I think you have stumbled upon one of the biggest reasons whey we're failing here.
Clueless CEOs of big corp's just CAN'T care if they're that far removed from the rest of us.

 

[m2200b]

I'm still of the opinion the fit and finish on a Hiroshima made Mazda 3 looks pretty nice compared to Cobalts and Focuses.

 

[ScottB]

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I'm still of the opinion the fit and finish on a Hiroshima made Mazda 3 looks pretty nice compared to Cobalts and Focuses.

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Nope, it's clearly better.
I've looked at all these cars to really compare them and that's why said cars are sitting on the lots.

 

[cousincletus]

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Fortunately (or not as may be the case) "Buying American" is becoming outdated as the knuckleheads that shout it.
No Harley is made with 100% "American" parts.
GM/Ford make THEIR vehicles outside of the US.
I will take a Japanese owned company any day that knows how to make good vehicles and employs AMERICANS by the 10's of thousands and whom have a better chance to retire with some money rather than eating dog food.

Nothing will make (or break) a better "American Auto Maker" than a good dose of competition - that's what this country is about - isn't it???

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First of all, there is enough competition within the USA to not need any more foreign competitors. Don't forget, we are a big countr with 300 million people. Second, the domestic companies employ tens of thousands more than all the foreign transplants combined, so that argument is lame also. Third, GM and Ford don't make all their autos outside the USA like you're claiming. Most are made in the USA or Canada. Don't forget that Canadians buy a lot of US made autos too. Fourth, don't start the name calling, numbnuts, unless you want it right back.

 

[javacontour]

The best are not afraid of competition.

So, it is my opinion that if the "Buy American" crowd really thinks the domestic automakers build the best cars today, that there would be no fear of competition.

Personally, if I felt my carmaker made the best car, I'd say bring it on, and not line up a litany of excuses and blaming those who choose not to buy the same things they choose.

If someone chooses to by Toyota over GM, is that the buyers problem/fault, or is it GM's.

Frankly, it's GM's problem. Not every buyer has the same critera for what makes a car the best.

I guess I like this ironic quote the best

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don't start the name calling, numbnuts

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Ahh, the irony.

Cousincletus, have you traded in your made in Taiwan computer for one of our Sun's yet, made in Oregon?

 

[MaximaGuy]

Personally, I would not buy a GM, Ford or Chrysler product no matter what rebates they offer. It is just a matter of choice and being sensible to read consumer reports Japanese auto makers produce better products that the American manufactures.

Having said that not all folks who buy non-American vehicles are sensible, I know a bunch of id.ots who own MB and service them at JiffyLube, over and above the fact that MB is last on the long term reliability ratings by JD Power.