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Originally Posted by mountainbiker
I had a dream last night. I was driving a huge All-American built SUV with a petrol-free engine going 80 mph and "big footing" little punk-ass 2.0L cars. Then I woke up.
I never took any economics classes in university, but it prob would be interesting to find a class geared around this "Buy American" subject. Let me throw a few more things out there just to make our heads hurt.
1. Have you ever travelled to Japan. How many American cars do you see on their roads? You think there are many American cars in France? Here in Germany the majority I would say are German. In fact, the taxis here are even Mers, BMWs, and Audis. There definitely is a problem with selling vehicles in other countries. Japanese tend to be very patriotic and buy Japanese built cars. Then there is the way the country sets their own money rates, China is a good example. Also, there is a problem with import duties, where many countries charge large fees and the US does not.
2. What is an "American car"? Have you seen vehicles under Ford? Do you think of Jaguar or Landrover as American? Is the definition of an "American car" is one built in America on American soil? That would mean Toyota USA, etc. are "American cars". Is the Dodge Charger a remake of an "American car"? Or is it a car with a German engine built by a company with a large German shareholder? Okay, now on to our babies, HUMMER. HUMMER built by GM. An international car company that makes cars across the world. Have you heard of Vaxihall and Opel? Do they sound like GM products? My opinion of an America car is a car built by a USA firm somewhere in the Americas. Even those built in Canada and Mexico, by the US companies tend to have higher USA built content. Transplants do employee US employees, but tend to use less total US content. Just my opinion.
3: I was just visiting my home (VA Beach, VA) on home leave, and it was fun to see the number of pickup trucks and SUVs. It was also nice to see gas at the mid $2 mark. Now, move over to Europe -- where gas varies from $7-9 a gallon (granted a lot of this is tax) -- and you don't see the same volume of trucks and SUVs. The volume here is with vehicles and engines under 2.0L, e.g., Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Nissan Micra, Mini Cooper, etc. Are our "Amercian companies" competing well in this international market place? (I hope they are.)
You ever see Opel or Vauxhaull in Europe? Those are both GM owned Corporations, and I believe they have a very large share of the Market. Saab is owned by GM. GM of China is a growing money making concern for GM. I believe they are number one in Asia with VW breathing down their neck.
GM is also very large in South Africa and Asia, including the middle east, as well as Brazil.
I know what we are all trying to say here. I too would like to buy American and keep America the great place it is. Even though we are now in a global market place, there must be steps that can be taken to help.
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