This thread turned into a giant circle jerk with a few of you guys specifically taking turns pleasuring each other many many posts back. I didn't feel like arguing after I saw that happening.

 

"Don't Put My American Flag on Your Import"

Watch out Pontiac Vibe owners! Hehe Saab count?

 

circle jerk, yea I guess when someone that actually knows and conveys what they know and try and tell you guys in a manner other than putting people down or not knowing the whole story. But I guess thats something that no ones interested in.

 

Don't forget Dodge, Chrysler Jeep etc. They are now foreign also

 

Let's not forget the ca closest to our hearts....Camaro.

It's a lot more complicated issue than an idealisatic bumper sticker....

 

Could I put a third of one on a Mazda? Or a full one on Jaguar?

 

I just thought of something here...Jag is owned by Ford...so who am I helping out there?

 

Atta boy, ProudPony!!



So we should just accept the decline of the US economy and industrial base? When something as simple as giving domestic automakers a fair shake, instead of always assuming the imports are best, could make the difference? Great attitude. Have you even seen how high GM has been in the recent quality surveys?



Reading comprehension isn't one of your strong suits, is it? A post a couple above yours stated this:



How about I just call you an unpatriotic twit?

 

Its as though some ppl think the decline of our economy/ industry will be a good thing! I just will never understand this! Where the hell do they think we'd be if ppl had this additude 50 yrs ago? I highly doubt the transplants, had they been around then, would have switched production to building equipment to defend this country, or the Freedoms so many take for granted! I can only hope people will read this stuff and wise up, before its too f-ing late!

 

Does it back you all feel good that buying an inferior-made car "supports your economy" ?
Even after it falls apart after a few years? When in reality, these "imports" are built in America, most using American parts, just with a Japanese label on the hood?

 

I WANT ONE.

Where are they?

 

Let's take this ONE step further... we have hit on why manufacturing jobs are more critical than service-sector jobs earlier, but this point got away...

In 1939, America was the manufacturing powerhouse of the world. It took all of Europe to equal our manufacturing might, and Asia wasn't even close.
After December 7, 1941 , we were plunged into War from the bombing of Pearl Harbour. We lost almost ALL of our Pacific Fleet in that bombing - including key destroyers and carriers. So when we went to war, we were already at a 35-40% loss of equipment, and much of what was left was dedicated to recovery and ressurection of what was lost - NOT going into immediate battle. When we enterred the European theater of battle, the Atlantic fleet was occupied with German U-boat patrols and choking the flow of supplies through the Mediteranean and the Baltic. In short, we (the USA) started into WW-II in a deficit of supplies and machinery.

Whether you guys know it or not, GM converted from producing cars and trucks to boats, aircraft engines, half-tracks, and numerous other entities. Ford's Rouge plant converted to PT boats, triple-engine airplanes, aircraft engines, and APV's. Singer Sewing Machine company began producing M1-Garand rifles, as did International Harvester. All of the textile mills (which are now gone BTW) switched from dress pants and cotton button-downs and started producing uniforms, vests, ammo belts, and camouflage. All tire companies (Firestone, Goodyear, Cooper, etc) started producing tires for half-tracks, Jeeps, and APV's. Steel mills were converted to making boiler plate for ships and tanks. Sheet metal shops that stamped body panels for cars were converted to making airplane panels, runway plate, and armor plating for aircraft. Oil wells in Texas and Alaska were pumping at capacity, and refinerys were going full tilt making av-gas, diesel, and gasoline for our planes, trucks, tanks, ships, and boats. Chemical companies like DuPont switched over from household supplies to making gunpowder and explosives. Numerous machine shops were converted from tool-and-die type work to making bullets, and heavy artillery.
In short - all manufacturing capacity was directed to the war effort.
IT WAS OUR MANUFACTURING MIGHT THAT WON THAT WAR FOR US - PERIOD.

Now in a few more years, imagine the same situation occuring again... but this time, we (the brilliant Americans) have basically NO MANUFACURING FACILITIES LEFT IN THE US. Remember, we are moving to a "service-sector" market now, letting the third-world countries have all those nasty, dirty, unsafe manufacturing jobs where the regulations are not so hard to comply with and profits are better. All our steel is imported from India and Japan (great allies to have). We have about 12 Toyota assembly plants in the US, that have little or no manufacturing equipment in them at all - they are assembly plants. All the plants from GM and Ford have been shut-down and the equipment sold to Asian buyers. All of our oil supplies are coming from Venezuela and the Middle East. We have NO textile plants left in the US at all (because Asians sew for $.15/hour). Tires come here from Mexico, Central America, and Asia, and we have maybe 20% of the tire-making capacity we had in 1945. The few remaining gun-makers here in the states (Sturm Ruger, Colt, Remington, Winchester, and Marlin) are all crippled by gun laws and are going downhill into oblivion, so we will have no domestic gunmakers left. (You guys do know that even our law enforcement and military buy guns from Taurus(Brazil), Glock(Germany), and Beretta(italy), right? The largest supplier of guns to the US LEAs is now Glock.)

OK - I could go on and on, but if you don't get the picture by now - you never will. If we were plunged into a massive war today, we would indeed be in peril because we don't have the manufacturing might to simply "overpower" another nation with fighting machinery, and we are also way too dependent on other nations for things that are critical to military operations (like fuel, food, supplies, etc.)
Oh we can attack a desert nation the size of Texas and win (within in 3 or 4 years) as long as we contract all of the military support to a commercial corporation who barters with local nations for fuel, airbase utility, and supplies... Big Deal.

Let's talk MAJOR war, with 10 or more nations involved on each side, where allies turn tail and haul *** leaving you standing there alone. War on a global scale, where we have to deplore millions of people all over the world in civilian and military roles. It is my humble opinion, that if the events of WW-II were replayed in todays economic conditions... We would LOSE... badly.
West of the Mississippi would be Japanese/Asian territory, and East of the Mississippi would be under German influence.

Doomsday theory... maybe. But can any of you put together a solid case for me proving that we could rely on our current "ally nations" to provide us with the armament, ammo, and supplies we need to wage war on that level? Thank God we had that kind of manufacturing might back in 1940-1945, or we would all be living in a totally different land - it would NOT be the USA anymore I promise you.

Keep that in mind while you advocate shipping our jobs and equipment overseas to save a buck

 

You believe what you want - it's a free nation (for the time being).
But you demonstrate all of the characteristics of classic denial.
You need to open your eyes to what the US has to offer in cars, consumables, and manufactured goods.

PS - Do you happen to own a 40-pc socket set that you got for less than $5?

 

This thread never even belonged in this forum, and perhaps not even on this board because it easily inspired flame wars.