I agree with the questionable future of our Big 3,but they are but a few of the ones being sold out to foreign business. Someone alluded to loyalty -- when our own companies send it out of the country to be made cheaper, we are being sold out by Big Business. Sure hope we can awaken the powers to be and stop America's big sellout!!! Ron
Take your average generation X or Y person. These people are finally getting old enough to get real jobs, have kids and therefore, have the need for a car/truck, along with some disposable income.
When somebody of that generation thinks "I need a fuel efficient car", they just go to a Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Kia or Subaru dealership.
They don't think Ford, or GM or Chrysler.
If they want an SUV or a truck, they would probably go to a Ford, GM or Dodge dealership.
Detroit has promoted SUVs and Trucks for so long, they are a victim of their own advertising and PR machine.
The "American" car or truck hasn't existed in years. They have parts and sub assemblies that are made in Japan, Germany, China, Mexico, Canada, Korea, Australia and France. Many Ford, GM and Chrysler cars, especially their small car lines are entirely built overseas and many midsized are as well.
Jerrybo66 wrote: It's sad that so many people have so little respect and loyalty for their Country to have turned their back on their fellow worker to buy enough foreign cars to put our auto industry in jeopardy. If the foreign sales were divided among the Big Three they wouldn't be in financial trouble and the tax dollars would stay in the US. I'll not comment on my opinion of those folks but I will say that I will be walking in my "Made in USA" Red Wing shoes before I'll ever buy a foreign made vehicle... IMO...
Jerry, Jerry, Jerry;
Can you be absolutely sure those Red Wings were INDEED made in America? Were the soles, shoelaces, lacing eyes, or even the tags themselves all made in America? Can you be sure? Is the leather ONLY from American cows? is the glue and thread American made? Don't know do you. Perhaps you're just as guilty in murdering the good ole American manufacturing jobs as those of us who choose to buy our foreign built American named vehicles or we who bought an American assembled foreign named vehicle. We just don't scream "GRAB THE ROPE". so loudly.
Jerrybo66 wrote: It's sad that so many people have so little respect and loyalty for their Country to have turned their back on their fellow worker to buy enough foreign cars to put our auto industry in jeopardy. If the foreign sales were divided among the Big Three they wouldn't be in financial trouble and the tax dollars would stay in the US. I'll not comment on my opinion of those folks but I will say that I will be walking in my "Made in USA" Red Wing shoes before I'll ever buy a foreign made vehicle... IMO...
Jerry, Jerry, Jerry;
Can you be absolutely sure those Red Wings were INDEED made in America? Were the soles, shoelaces, lacing eyes, or even the tags themselves all made in America? Can you be sure? Is the leather ONLY from American cows? is the glue and thread American made? Don't know do you. Perhaps you're just as guilty in murdering the good ole American manufacturing jobs as those of us who choose to buy our foreign built American named vehicles or we who bought an American assembled foreign named vehicle. We just don't scream "GRAB THE ROPE". so loudly.
WOW, Where did you come from??? All I know is that I didn't buy them from WangMart (my name for the chinese company) and they don't say Made in china. They were as comfortable as bedroom slippers from the day I put them on and they are about three years old now. Still new for Red Wings. I have been buying Red Wings for over 20 years and will continue to do so as long as they don't say on the label, "Made in China". Yes they cost $175.00 out the door but worth every penny in my comfort, health of my 70 year old feet, my back when walking on concrete, long lasting, and the knowledge I didn't contribute to some foreigners bank account who doesn't care about any of the above. My fellow citizen still have a job. I like to think that I practice what I preach. "Support the Country you live in or live in the Country you support" . My address is the "US of A"... Jeeze.. IMO...If this thread doesn't get zapped I'll not respond to any more negative USA posts... You folks have a nice day...
Jerry.
Support the Country you live in or live in the Country you support
2003 Sierra SP 26'Toy Hauler
1997 F-350, PSD, 4X4, red Crew Cab, long bed.
2007 Arctic Cat Prowler, Arctic Cat 500
Jerry;
Sorry if I ruffled your feathers. That old "buy American" is getting harder and harder to comply with these days. As much as most of us buying public would like to purchase and use items designed, manufactured and packaged right here in these United States, it's more and more difficult to find those products. About the only thing we can do today is consider which purchase benefits more American workers. What after all is American? I have 3 vehicles in my garage or driveway. My Dodge truck was built in Mexico as determined by the German home office. American? My Hyundai was built here in America by American employed workers, same with the BMW. About the only thing American about my neighbors John Deere is the green color, but my Kubota was made here, again by American workers. These lines in the sand are mighty faded and arguably really don't exist any more. Was it my fault? Was it the fault of the typical American consumer? Why was it that we made some decisions to buy products with names that are "foreign". Hard to pin it down to any one particular reason, although the perception of quality or lack thereof may have a lot to do with it. Things are as they are, and likely won't return to the way they were no matter how much we wish. Even my last pair of Red Wing boots didn't last as long as I wished, were not all that comfortable, were quite heavy and were replaced by a pair with origins unknown. I have no idea where my next pair will be made either. I will shop based of fit, comfort and price. If Red Wing wants my business they will have to convince me they make a product that meets my criteria. Do I have a right to speak and think this way. As a war veteran, my days a a Viet Nam Infantry medic many years ago earned me the right to believe I do.
Even Red Wing has boots made in China (their WORX line). There was an on-site workboot truck where I work last month. EVERY BOOT IN THE TRUCK (about 35-40 styles) was from China.
I'm at the point I've more or less given up on getting US-made, I'm just happy if it is NOT from China.
John
1984 Ford B-700 school bus conversion, Thomas body
A bunch of other vehicles
3 nutty cats (Maya, Vierna, Briza)
One lazy dog (Marmaduke)
One wife (Liz)
"A wasted youth is better by far than a wise and productive old age"
-Jim Steinman
It'll be a cold day in Hades when ANYONE tells me what I can buy and from whom (within the bounds of the law, of course; well mostly within the law. I don't always listen to "The Man" ).
68 Me & DW
93 DD
03 DD
06 F150 Screw 6.5' Bed, 4x4, 5.4, 3.73
04 Tahoe 23RB-GL Honda EU2000 Parallel Cables "I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for...food." Col. Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1.
I was surprised to see 80% of the US Heavy Truck Industry is now foreign, European owned.Freightliner, Mack, Sterling are now owned by Volvo or Mercedes. VW and IVECO(Fiat)are looking at PACCAR or Navistar as a possible purchase.
There is a lot of history as to who is to blame. From the lack of industry upgrade, to the tons of money we poured into Japan and Germany after WWII. Our industry suffered with 1920's technology while our competitors were building 1950's technology with our money. Foreign makers tend to upgrade production faster than the US mfgs.
For decades management and workers in the US have been more worried about fighting each other than they were about making better products. This problem hindered the acceptance of upgraded production lines and robotic systems for many years, putting us further behind the foreign companies. Add into that the problems associated with building new plants, government regulations, new taxes, environmental permits, etc, etc. None of that even includes poor choices when it came to R&D and what cars/trucks were produced.
There is a lot of blame to be shared by a lot of folks.
I don't even look at tags much anymore. I used to only buy Chrysler products. Then I noticed my 1985 minivan was made in Canada and I realized we were headed in the 'wrong' direction. I also worked in a part of the automotive industry. That was eye opening as well (Honda isn't as well engineered as I thought).
charlie
2006 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab
2003 Skyline Nomad 24ft Fiver
Me and Wife
Maggie the Old English Sheepdog
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