You can quote him all you want...that doesn't make it "truth".

 

I think the lines are being unncessarily blurred here...

Robert, what I'm reading from your posts is that that Nissan & Toyota are a big part of American culture and every bit as American as Chrysler. But I'm also reading the argument that Chrysler cannot be American as it is owned by a German company. However, BMW/Merc also have a presence in the US where they build SUVs, which aren't built anywhere else... does that also make them American in the same way as the Nissan & Toyota? Somehow I don't think BMW/Merc would want to be misrepresented, if, in fact, that is your argument.

Is that a fair summary of your comments thus far? If so, then its full of contradictions... or am I missing something?

 

I've read I think every post you have made on this site, and that is probably one of the least argumentative ones. I find this hillarious.

 

Not speaking foe Robert, but what I have seen on here many times is people point to Chrysler as American (when they are not anymore), then rip on Toyota as a foreign company. This is a contradiction in my opinion.

 

I’m not talking about culture nor am I saying Toyota or Nissan or any of the rest of the international nameplates who manufacture here are “American”, whatever that term really means in today’s world.

What I’m talking about is business…I’m talking about the VERY significant impact that all these “foreign” companies make to the U.S. economy.

They make that contribution by building manufacturing plants and design centers and headquarters buildings and testing facilities and engine plants and transmission plants and all the other facilities needed to build a vehicle here as well as employing tens of thousands of Americans to do so not to mention the thousands upon thousands of people and business who benefit from the business brought to them by those nameplates building here.

What I’m talking about and railing against are those who blindly and ridiculously want to ignore all that as if it’s meaningless.

As for Chrysler, I don’t really care whether anybody wants to call Chrysler American or not…personally, I think it rather strange to call Chrysler and American company today but the primary reason I pointed Chrysler out because it’s a perfect example of how void of substance and how inconsistnetly applied many of their arguments are.

 

I think you've summarised the thread well... non-US companies do contribute to the US economy but that does not mean they are American companies just because of their presence here (Asian and Euro). All the talk about Chrysler being foreign was also a moot point and a pointless discussion topic.

So what was this thread about again... oh yes, a very good article noting how ESPECIALLU valuable the local automakers (GM, Ford, DCX) contribution to the economy really is.

It's funny how the Asian makers claim to be great for America while the Euros are happy to lay claim to being Euro irrespective of where they assemble vehicles. As I commented earlier about Toyota claiming to be every bit as Australian as Holden, Asian makers (in particular) will say whatever it takes to gain a larger market share in a foreign market. I guess that is why you are taking the 'great for economy' line because it's been ingrained by your employer.

 

So true.

 

"" You twist things aroung to suit your argument.""

I always wondered if I was the only one that noticed the constant and convenient context changing.

 

That was a great read, and I will be printing up several copies, to hopefully enlighten some sheep. This one article is great (and I too am floored that it actually ran in ANY newspaper), but it will take a whole slew of similar articles, as the American people, might just be "the dumbest people on the planet"! No offense my fellow Americans, but that's JMO. Oh and for Mr. Nashville, I'm sure france has taken notice, and would love to thank you, but they have a little problem showing appreciation for those that help them........so don't hold your breath!

 

The irony of you, of all people, intending to 'enlighten some sheep' is overwhelming...

 

That's only because in your mind, I'm a moron. But It's OK, I don't blame you, and I fully understand YOU ( as well as many others ) are a product of the many forces at work, brainwashing the American public, against our great country. Not to mention the irony of people like you, and nashville thinking your purchase of your lexus's, nison's is helping our country.

 

Not to mention US the tax payer, and what the hell can we do? I sure as hell didn't pay my taxes, so some foreign company could get some nice landscaping around their building! It's complete BS IMO. We should have a tax code that allows US to chose what our tax $$$ goes to!

 

 

I can't believe this thread is still going on!!!

Since you want to complain about the deal Kia got, I can’t help but wonder if you bothered to actually look-up what Kia got for building its first U.S. factory in Georgia before you decided to complain abotu it? Somehow I doubt it that you did and since you probably didn't, here are the figures…

Kia is making a $1.2Billion capital investment in building its new plant.

The plant, alone, will create 2,800 new jobs. In addition, there is a commitment from five supplier companies to build facilities bringing another 2,600 jobs to the state.

At an average wage of $20/hour (including benefits) that’s a direct increase to Georgia’s economy of approximately $225Million/year…over a 20 year period, that’s an additional $4.5Billion increase to GA’s economy.

In exchange for all this, Georgia is giving up approximately $363Million which includes utility and infrastructure improvements, land, tax abatements/incentives, building and staffing a training center, etc. ($130Million of the $363 is from private [as in non governmental] organizations).

In other words, even if you ignore the initial $1.2B capital investment, the fist 1.5 years of full production will be more than a break-even point for the state and private investment. Also note, unless you happen to live in Georgia, the only way YOUR tax dollars are involved is in whatever dollars come from federal highway funds which is an obligation the Federal government has when interstate highways/U.S. routs are expanded regardless of “who” they are being expanded for.

As I said many posts ago, I don’t like this game of governments getting involved in wooing private industry to a location but that is the game being played today and many governments feel they must play it to stay competitive. That said, over a 20 year period, this particular agreement will give a $5.7Billion dollar increase to the state of Georgia while requiring an investment of 6.4% of that figure; that doesn’t look like a bad deal to me.

If you doubt my numbers; look them up for yourselves...they are freely available on the web.

Oh, an if some of you insist on clinging to where the 5 or 6 or 7 CENTS on the dollar that comprises a foreign manufacturer’s profit "go" and ignore the 93-94-95 cents they spend to make it (most of which is spent where they manufacture) then I suspect that you either have no real grasp of what it actually takes to build a vehicle or how much of a benefit to the economy that 93 cents on the dollar actually is to the local and U.S. economy or you simply don't want to be confused with the truth.

I guess you are the same people who would rather keep the $363illion and give up the $5.7Billion benefit; likewiese, I suppose you would rather see all these nameplates import everything they sell rather than building and spending here!

 

Don's sell yourself short - I'm sure there are many people that think that.