Cash for Buying American? Your Thoughts?

Thinking of American workers for a change, yes.

NO!! Not now, not ever again. The money belongs to the people, and it’s not for redistribution. If American workers produced more quality competitive products without having to resort to having huge tariffs on imports, it is a consideration when buying. But, when our taxes have to prop a failing enterprise; let the enterprise fail. We all make choices; and we live with them – at least most of us do – we aren’t in line for another handout; and we get off our dead butts and go to work.

Build cars that people want to buy and it’s a moot issue. Many of the parts are built or assembled outside America so are we really getting what we think we are anyway? It seems no matter where I go in the U.S. and even Europe I look at the tag and it’s built in China, Mexico, or Taiwan. It’s getting almost impossible to buy American anyway.

I am a firm beleiver in buying American products, I also know that a lot of Toyotas, Nissans, Mazdas, and other Foreign Companys that manufacture cars have operations here. But the american companies, have let the auto unions dictate to them what they will work for driving up the cost of the American Car products….The Foreign Car companies have not bowed to that pressure, and therefore have maintained a lower cost for their products….So if the government wants to subsidize the american auto industry, they should deal harshly with the unions, by putting them inline with other foreign auto makers for wages and benefits. I worked for a fortune 500 company for over 30 years, in various skilled, and responsible positions, and never during my work history did I receive an average of $73 per hour for wages and benefits…In fact my maximum compensation at the time of my early retirement (due to my job being sent off shore) including wages, benefits, vacation, retirement, insurance, and other compensation was not over $35 per hour… so why do the auto workers think they deserve $73 dollars average compensation packages…We the american people have cut our own necks, due to greed… I do buy American when possible, but that is getting hard, due to the amount of products being imported from China by Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and other large chain stores, but they have done this in an effort to put more money in their pockets, by being able to sell cheaper, and increase profits, again GREED….rules…and we the american people let it continue…and participated in it….

One step closer in an attempt to keep the USD inside the US consumer market but it is too late. Buy a Chrysler minivan and you end up sending USD to Canada. Buy a Toyota made in the USA and you end up sending USD to Japan. Migra-dollars going to Mexico… Look at the parts content of any automobile sold in the US and again you see USD flowing out of the U.S. economy. There are very many ways that the USD is being siphoned out of the U.S. but at least the status-quo is beginning to realize one of the core problems. (but only because the status-quo is running out of targets to exploit) Protect the U.S. economy? Don’t be silly. The U.S. economy is a wreck and getting worse. Why would anyone want to protect such a disaster? Oh wait, it’s because “If you are not part of the solution, then there is money to be made from prolonging the problem.” Carry on then.

We should all support American products…what there is of them.

I would settle for cars assembled in the US.Or in case it happens,for cars assembled somewhere else from parts made here.(rather unlikely)

I am not sure where this idea came from, but it won’t work. There are often unintended consequences to forcing things like “buy American”. Everyone has the opportunity to “buy American” whenever they want, including the “cash for clunkers” program. If these loyal Americans are not doing it, there must be a reason.
This would just be another government intrusion on the free market. It would certainly cause retaliation by foreign countries and we would likely be violating the trade policies we signed up to.
Bad idea.
Dennis

So, buy American? How about a Ford – but Ford Focus cars, one of the most popular in the recent Cash for Clunkers program, is built in MEXICO. ????? This preserves American jobs? I drive Volvo cars. I am on my family’s 12th. It is not reasonable to buy an American car when you are living in Europe – and that is what my family did. Currently my older brother is driving a Toyota truck (manufactured in Texas), his wife a BMW X3, my younger brother an OLD BMW (he’s had it since 1973), my nephew a Saturn, his wife a Honda Civic (both manufactured in the USA), my niece a Honda Accord and a Honda Odessey (with 3 little boys in car seats it takes a minivan). Most of these cars DO provide AMERICAN JOBS – whereas the Ford cars made in Mexico or Canada do not.
Furthermore, buying the car is just a very small part of the jobs produced with a car. My cars have been maintained by the same independent mechanic for about 20 years, and he employs his brothers, nephews, and cousins in a family enterprise. Best mechanics I’ve ever found – and this directly provides American jobs. So, before you cry from the lectern about “buying American” – think about what you are saying!

Buying American does the following:
Economic –
even with contraction of the U.S. auto industry there are 3 times as many American Auto jobs than foreign auto jobs. More of your money gets spread through the economy. Likewise, how much does it cost us to pay for unemployment compensation, welfare, etc?
Technology –
Many u.s. manufacturers also are leading suppliers to our national defense industry. History has proven, over and over again, that the leaders in technology translate to leadership in world economies.
Less and less college students are going into engineering fields because the jobs and salaries are not there. Our smartest are going into Marketing and business.
National Security –
Would you want our tanks, armored vehicles developed by Japan or China? What would happen if we are hit with another terrorist attack. If we were thinking about retaliation would we need to ask permission from these nations? Also, I worked in the defense industry and when we sold fighter planes to other nations we NEVER gave them the latest technology, even our allies.
I will always remember this quote from a talk radio host during the 80’s when there was a debate about our economy going from a manufacturing economy to a service based economy. He said, “What are you going to do when the Soviets come charging across the border, throw Insurance policies at them?” We can now substitute Al Queda for the Soviets.

I don’t believe that I’ve seen an issue addressed on this platform where every view is so spot on. Myself, I’ll continue to buy American (companies) and that’s all I can do. It’s like giving to third world programs and people say that much of those funds are being extorted… I know that I’m trying to do the right thing… perhaps our maker will sort it out. The complaints about Ford and the like outsourcing to other countries well… they had no choice in the name of competition… or they would have expired even earlier. Personally I do not believe that there is enough difference in quality or longivity to make the decision difficult as opposed to buying foriegn in these difficult times. I believe most foriegn car buyers do their buying in spite and I also believe that with the American auto industry gone, it becomes a national security issue.

I really enjoyed this post. I will definitely check back later for more informative posts from you. Thanks!