This is a long introduction to an article at the bottom:
Growing up having my grandfather, all my uncles and my dad working and retire from General Motors, I have developed a certain amount of loyalty toward General Motors and have been inclined to have an enormous amount of unwavering loyalty to American made vehicles period. I wanted to work at the same plant that they all retired from, even when I was sixteen I wished the plant would not shut down, I wanted to work there.
I am like a Christian on a crusade when I hear someone talking about buying a Camry or a VW Jetta or a Kia (why somebody would ever buy a car made in Korea is beyond me anyhow). I make myself sound crazy preaching to them that they should buy American, crazy or not I will continue to do that, because I think it is patriotic to buy American, and if I am buying a NEW car that is all I will ever buy, think that is taking it too far? Try this on, one of the first questions to the guy who wants my blessing to marry my daughter is going to be “would you ever buy a foreign vehicle?”
I absolutely hate continuing to monitor the dwindling situation of General Motors. It irritates me to see such an icon of American history (this goes for Ford as well) continue to flail its arms in the water to avoid drowning. I am convinced that the article below is accurate by saying that turning GM around is like winning the war on terrorism; it is going to take a lot of time and a lot of sacrifices and if people are unwilling to share in the sacrifices it will take that much longer.
What it comes down to, is I feel beaten (personally). Although I know that General Motors has turned into this enormous machine that is completely out of control with overhead, too many plants, a misconceived reputation of non-reliability, and a grim future of snowballing health care costs for its employees and retirees, I feel like we have been beaten on our own field at our own game.
To me it is like the 1984 hockey game during the cold war when we defeated the USSR as the underdogs, beat them at their own game. Today, Asia playing off of an old reputation (and as far as I am concerned untrue reputation) and using the advantage of selling cars in the United States and Asia, they are beating us at our own game.
I know and am sure that twenty years from now, GM will rise back to the top, and may not be a car giant but will be a streamlined, efficient, profit spewing, Toyota stomping machine that is so well greased that it runs like clockwork…Until then, GM will be in the Intensive Care Unit close to needing life support with doctors running around like crazy trying to figure out what it will take to get GM healthy again. If you are at the least interested in the behind the scenes problems with General Motors.....read on :-)
Read GMs Unfortunate Tragedy of General Motors
3 comments:
Because American Pride is unstoppable, I tend to agree that we should keep with our own and buy GM or any other American Made Car. HOWEVER, it irks me to no end for someone to say that and not be able to recognize that there are other items that you wear or use every day that are foreign made. Obviously your loyalty is strong, and I admire that of you. Times, people, and the economy change at the drop of a dime, which is what most consumers have at heart. How can they spend that dime the most efficient way? Well, unfortunately for us, but fortunate for the foreigners, it's to buy that car, toaster, underwear, fruit, or building materials that were not made in America.
To compare yourself to a Christian on a Crusade is quite compelling to me also. Do you believe in God as strongly as you believe in GM?
God Bless you!
I obviously know that there are lots of items (including items on American made vehicles) that I purchase not made in America. HOWEVER, when I can, I buy American. When I bought my first expensive guitar I bought a Martin made in Pennsylvania for example. Many times it is unavoidable to buy something that is not made in Asia when you purchase a radio or a knife or even an American flag!! I stay conscious of it though and try to stay true to America.
You are definitely right; consumers spend based off what is "thrifty." Trust me, I understand that, but I say you can find a vehicle made by General Motors, Ford or Dodge at $15,000 made just as well as one from Toyota, Nissan, or Mitsubishi and I will do that, I wish more Americans would also.
I compared myself to a Christian on a Crusade as a humorous comparison, whether I believe in God or not does not enter into it. It was a comparison of my belief of buying American and about the Christian's belief in God during the Crusades, get it?
Thanks for visiting, some really good points.
Wade
Wade, I agree with you. Did you know that last year, Toyota refused to open a plant in the southern US, I believe it was Alabama. They said that American workers were too lazy. So, they took the plant to Canada and opened it there. Truth is, they were afraid to open a plant in USA, they would have to deal with Unions and Health Benefits. In Canada, as you know, Health Benefits are covered by the Canadian Government. My problem with the Japanese is huge, you probably already knew that, and it has been my ban-bane on the internets. Japanese Maquiladoras outnumber every other foreign Country's investment here in Baja. The Japanese also one year ago signed an accord with Mexico, which allows them to open up massive Industry in Mexico without human rights or environmental guidelines and, get this, be exempt from taxes. Japanese Banks have poured billions into the Mexico banking system to bail it out, they are here to stay. Let me turn you on to an article by my friend, Nancy: TEXT
America can win this game by developing the Hybrid, and pricing it so that we can afford it!! We really need to run with this, all the way, and outsource Japan.
Meanwhile, we are driving a Ford F150 Super Crew , and OMG I still have my 1968 VW Van, and that's another story.
Wade, things were so bad over there, I could not bring myself to open up your blog, I just couldn't do it. I was terrified that something had happened to you. Glad you are home.
Post a Comment