Don't complain about our economy, if you drive Japanese!

[IluvAmerica]

Because you're making things worse. Here’s what I mean:

On TV a bit ago, I saw NBC interviewing a jobless couple whose house was in foreclosure. On the driveway was their Nissan. I shouted,“Hey, Guys, a couple in Japan are bowing at you in gratitude for their jobs.”

Ugh! Jobless Americans driving Japanese cars.....helping put even more Americans out of work!

Oh, how I itch to tell them that, but I’m chicken.

But I tell myself: The Japanese have been seducing us for years. They give their cars and trucks American-sounding names. And our media give them billions in free advertising that they’re supposedly better*. And they flood us with seductive ads. So, no wonder we get sucked in.

*But see March ‘09 J.D. Roberts report: For reliability, Buick is No. 1, tops Lexus. And Lincoln & Mercury are in the top 5. Today, differences between Japanese and American, exist only in persons' minds influenced by media who tout Japanese cars. Most media are BIASED for them.

Yes, most media promote Japanese vehicles FOR FREE, and indirectly pan American makes. So, Japanese dealers really push this:“Consumer Rpts says, Edmunds says.” What a leg up this gives them, and it’s FREE!

Plus they pitch,“Don’t forget, we give America jobs. We build cars right here in the US and hire Americans to build them.”

That’s shrewd! Hire us to assemble vehicles and make people think “Gee, they’re built here by us. That makes them American.”

That FLAWED belief, helps sell millions of Japanese vehicles. But here’s reality: MOST Japanese vehicles come here by boat from Japan.

And the crucial thing is what country gets the profit from the vehicles sold here irrespective of where they’re assembled. FACT: every year Japanese mother-corporations in Japan reap billions from vehicle sales in the US. Yes, almost 1/3 of their income comes from the US. And these billions benefit Japan, NOT America!

We’re Japan’s cash cow! This, despite almost 50 million here with no health care, 37 million in poverty, 12 million kids hungry each day, 77,000 bridges close to collapse, highways crumbling, inner-city schools deteriorating, and unemployment 9% and climbing..Michigan almost 14%.

Considering that, we feed Japan? Can we sell cars there? Only a pittance! In ‘08 in Japan, they bought 10,000 American cars! But in America they sold 3 MILLION of theirs! Fair exchange? Fair dealing?

They’ve even refused to buy our apples. Unlike us, they’re fiercely loyal to their products. In effect, they close their market to us, but FEAST on America. Geez!

At least the Germans, who sell cars here, let us build and sell in Germany. So do the French, Spanish, Italians, British, Chinese, and Latin Americans. They all respect and like our cars. Yes, we profitably build and sell cars almost everywhere but in Japan.

It’s estimated that from our driving so much Japanese, that is, from our “JAPANESE-CAR-I-TIS,” we’ve already lost a million jobs. And if we keep burying our heads in the sand, and our makers lose more market, estimates say up to 5 million more of us will lose jobs. And some predict with trickle-down it could be more like 6 million.

Now the Japanese do give us 350,000 jobs or so to sell vehicles and assemble some here. But those 350,000 could cost us up to 6 million jobs!!! That’s a good deal?

And now that Chrysler is in bankruptcy, and GM on the edge, the Japanese likely are smelling blood, licking their chops. Shall we just let them takeover?

NO! NO! A new, stronger GM and Chrysler will emerge backed fully by the US government. And Ford is solid! Last month Ford outsold Toyota here! Maybe at last we’re starting to wake up.

Yes, hopefully, we’re realizing that more than ever we need to support our own companies. MILLIONS OF OUR JOBS AND OUR ECONOMY ARE AT RISK.

Support America, not Japan! DRIVE AMERICAN!

P.S. Please help our economy and pass this message on to many people!

[pair8head]

That all sounds good however, there are a number of Japanese automobiles that are produced in the USA.
And a number of American automobiles aren't all that much made in America anymore.

I once bought what I believed to be an American made automobile who's engine and drive train turned out to have been made in Brazil.

Don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer in "Buy American" Just would someone please help us out a bit by identifying what is and what isn't "American Built"?

[IluvAmerica]

pair8head,

Respectfully, suggest you reread the part above about the important thing being what country gets the benefits of the profit made on a car or truck sold in America.......no matter where it is assembled.

[pair8head]

IluvAmerica:

Profits are just a small part of the system. The paychecks earned by Americans spend just as well if they come from Toyota as they do if they come from Ford.

Many of the "American Made" vehicles are merely assembled here out of foreign made parts too.

Like it or not you just don't see any "All American Made Autos" anymore.

I wish we could say "Buy American" and be able to point out a truly American product..........

[IluvAmerica]

Pair8Head, I don't see how logically you can say, "Profits are just a small part of the system."

In Japan they get two billion or so dollars a year in profits from the 3 million vehicles they sell in the USA. That money benefits the people of Japan. It provides heath care for them, builds schools, refurnishes infrastructure, et cetera, et cetera.

Whereas, how much profit do we get from Japan from the puny 10,000 vehicles they buy from us?

And remember they've even refused to buy apples from us.

Think about it.

[IluvAmerica]

Please forgive me for the double posting.

pair8head, you make vibes like a Japanese car salesperson.

[pair8head]

IluvAmerica: Yes they do make a lot of profit I won't deny that. However on the vehicles they build here in the USA the Americans building those vehicles are earning a living wage, receiving healthcare and other benefits.

I just want to point out that not every "American" Car is American made and not every "Japaneese" car is made in Japan.

[IluvAmerica]

pair8head,

Don't forget the math: The Japanese and Koreans together give us about 375,000 jobs to assemble and sell their vehicles. And as you say those Americans working for them earn a living wage, receive health care, and other benefits.

But if the end result is that for those 375,000 we lose 3-5 million other jobs, does that add up to a good deal for America? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

In any case, I appreciate your courteous exchange. You're obviously a gentleman or lady.

[pair8head]

Thank you IluvAmerica I too appreciate it when we can have a conversation in which we tend to disagree on some things without resulting in name calling.

I'm male btw

My whole argument in a nutshell is this.

With so many things that used to be made in America moving overseas and with some foreign companys now doing business in the USA it's tough to acurately say what is American made and what isn't. I'm all for buying American I just need a little help identifying it sometimes.

[IluvAmerica]

So, what you should weigh most then, is whether the seller is an American or foreign company.

If it's the latter, the benefits or profits will go to some foreign country.

And, of course, the best example is the two billion in profits Japan has been taking out of America each year. Japan is a super-parasite on our economy.(South Korea is number two) They (Japan) sell us three million cars a year, but only buy 10,000 of ours. And as I mentioned they have even refused to buy our apples.

Anyway, that two billion dollars in profits they yearly get out of us provides lots of good things for the people of Japan, nothing for us in America what with our needs so desperate of late.

[pair8head]

IluvAmerica: I don't really know how to answer you.
What I would like to know (and it may help me answer you) is how much is profit?

Bear with me here.

Take one car and say it sells for $20,000.00.

Now how much of that 20 grand went to parts?
how much went to wages and bennies?
How much of the cost of the parts went to wages and bennies of the people who produced them?
How much of the costs of the raw materials went to the wages and bennies of the people who produced them? Follow me?

I'm thinking and I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) that the total profit the Company makes on that one car doesn't add up to the wages and bennies of all involved in producing that car.

[IluvAmerica]

All I tell you is check out on Google a March press release from Japan In it Japanese automakers revealed they get 31% of their profits from the U.S.A. And they sell 3 million vehicles a year here.

Needless to say, that's a lot of profit.

[Bren]

What an asinine post. As long as you bought "whatever" in the US you have contributed to the US economy. Bottom line - shut up & spread your half-truths and blame elsewhere.

[Amanda]

I think the focus here is all wrong. You are not taking into account all the taxes and fees that are paid by Americans who buy Japanese vehicles, and those taxes and fees go directly to the Government, state agencies, not to mention the individual dealer profits. Think of all the jobs and profits they are making on parts for those Japanese vehicles, the maintenance and mechanical work on those vehicles, all profits coming directly to Americans for their services. Also take into account the American banks that are financing and profiting off loans made on Japanese vehicles, the American banks that are struggling themselves. Be thankful that Americans are still able to buy new cars at all.

I don't know how they determine the ranks of new car reliability, but you can't argue that Japanese cars have been historically better built, more reliable, and longer lasting than American. American manufacturers have improved their quality in recent years but it will take a long time to convince the public that they are equal to or better than Japanese.

With the economy where it's at, Americans are forced to think individually (albeit selfishly) and make decisions based on their own financial situations. They want a car with the least "cost of ownership" that's going to be reliable and last them for many years to come. They also have to take into account gas prices and fuel economy. The Japanese have had fuel economy on their minds for decades. In the 80s they were making Hondas and Toyotas with 40+mpg on the highway. Not only does that leave more money in our pockets, but less pollution in the air, and less oil profits in Arab pockets.

In 96, GM released the EV1 (fully Electric Vehicle) but not for sale, only by lease. Even after the rave reviews by its drivers, the protests, pleadings, and the cash offers to buy, GM gathered up it's flock of EV1s and CRUSHED THEM. Why?? This could have meant huge profits, countless jobs, a new future for GM and other automakers to follow. Imagine the potential sales they could have brought in if a fully electric mass produced vehicle was available when gas prices skyrocketed and everyone scrambled to buy hybrids. GM would not be in trouble today if they had not made the decision to demolish the EV1s.

In 99 Honda was building the Insight which was the first Hybrid vehicle ever sold here, which many Americans shrugged off as a tree-huggers clown car. A year later when the Prius came, people didn't pay much attention to that either. Until gas prices soared, then Americans were all over the Prius (imagine the possible EV1 sales) and American automakers finally jumped on board and started producing their own hybrids. American automakers attention to fuel economy has been straggling behind and it shows in their sales.

Another note, CEOs in Japan are not like CEOs in America. American CEOs make astronomical salaries with crazy bonuses and severance packages and retirement benefits. They spend money on private jets on their way to ask the government for bail-out money. I think I read an average years ago that a Japanese CEO makes more than 10 TIMES LESS than their American CEO counterpart. If you want to be fair to Americans and keep American jobs, attack American CEOs for their greed, not Japanese companies.

Question: How many other items in your home are "Made in Japan"?

Where do you think the components in the computer you are sitting at were made? The cell phone you use every day? The basic technology for thousands of products bought and used by Americans every day? The medical technologies that save countless American lives?

The bottom line is, Japanese technology, whether it is in electronics or in automobiles or anything else, has been ahead of Americans for decades. Am I sorry that people are losing their jobs because America can't keep up? Sure I am, but we have no one to blame but ourselves. You can't blame them for being smarter than us.

[Capitolist]

If our American companies cannot create a product worth buying then their failure cannot be stopped.

With the failure of the big auto companies will come new smaller companies who will make innovative products people will buy. Then the economy will improve. Until then expect more of the same.

[Linda]

I have to say, that while I do think we should buy American as much as possible, if the American product is beyond what the typical American EARNS and we "typical" Americans need the items/products than we aren't giving any options but to buy Japanese imports products.

I do my best NOT to buy any Chinese products especially food and toys but there is no way to avoid buying imported products completely.

[Rick from Oak Forest]

Boy this iluvAmerica chick is a real piece of brain-damaged, partisan work.

She does this same moronic schtick over and over with different titles on different blogs. Just do a google search for iluvAmerica and you'll find them.

I busted her for her lies and propaganda on the following thread.

And of course she cut and ran away when she couldn't defend herself.

Here's the thread link: http://www.topix.com/forum/city/oak-forest-il ...

Trust me ... it's worth a good read!