From: ges@stiatl.salestech.com (Gerald Sullivan)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos
Subject: Buy American parrots (was Re: 1991 Lincoln Continental.)
Date: 8 Apr 92 22:22:21 GMT
Organization: Sales Technologies, Inc.

gunter@uniwa.uwa.oz.au (Gunter Ahrendt) writes:

>The thing you (oh stuff america, i only care about my pathetic self) people
>miss is, well just look at all the west's unemployed, massive economic troubles
>and debt's, so all you 'high-on-a-horse' self-centered fools are saying, stuff
>the US worker, i have a job, i buy what i like, japs make it cheaper, so i'll
>take that, sure they have no financial troubles, sure they earn less and can
>thus make it cheaper, sure they have no unemployment by comparision, sure they
>are real open to trade with the west...but hell what do you care, why don't you
>go and live in japan if you think so highly of them, don't you have any pride,
>just how the hell do you expect the Americans to compete with them, lower all
>the wages for the workers?

Yes, if that is what it takes to increase productivity. 
What gives an autoworker a right to $40,000/year (the average salary
of striking Caterpillar workers). Millions would do the same job for
1/2 of that. Why are these guys special? Most people in this country
don't have the power to blackmail their employer into paying more than they
are worth. 

It is idiots like you, Lee Iacocca, and the UAW members I see on TV whining
about how $40,000/year is not enough for them that makes me vow never to
buy an American (or any other car) built by UAW members. If you think
protectionism is good for America (or any other country) and benefits the 
country as a whole, you are seriously lacking in basic economic understanding.
Buying American for the reasons you give is a sure way to kill an industry.
Protectionism ("buy American" even if it is crap is voluntary protectionism)
benefits only a particular industry and its workers (UAW slime in the auto
industry) at the expense of "society" as a whole. Who is selfish in this 
scenario? 

People like yourself think exactly like the politicians and 
union bosses want you to. The world is full of suckers like yourself
who swallow it hook, line, and sinker. You look only at the immediate 
consequences of a policy (save the job of some UAW deadbeat or save GM) 
while ignoring the long term implications (the milions of people FORCED 
to buy an inferior product at a higher price, therefore having less money t
o spend to buy other things that required labor to build, the cost of 
subsidizing an inefficient industry etc.).

>This is really great, i love seeing all these selfish people, who care stuff
>all about their own country, saying one one hand, "Gee, isn't the unemployment
>situation bad...etc etc" and on the other, i'm gonna buy nothing but imports..

>THINK.

>maybe just maybe...you are so shortsighted and stubborn...you really don't
>care.

You seem to be the one lacking in the ability to reason beyond one step.
I suggest you and others like you learn some basic economics. Look at
countries that have followed your advice (Britain for example).

Your reasoning it about as shortsighted as is possible. Parroting the same
worn out  BS hardly strikes me as farsighted.

>Hey if all our economies get back on track, sure buy what you like, but when
>times are tough like they are now, think about your country and your fellow
>countrymen...not yourself.

Sorry for the strong language; what goes around comes around. 

BTW I drive a VW. I will never buy an American car until I can find one as
good as a VW. I will always buy the best product for the money. Even if
it is built by "Japs",  "Krauts" or other foriegners. I consider it
my patriotic duty to do so. I will do it until fascists like yourself
force me to do otherwise.
-- 
___________________________________________________________________
Jerry Sullivan, Sales Technologies, Inc.  Atlanta,GA 
ges@salestech.com,...uupsi!stiatl!ges I don't speak for my employer.
Withdrawing in disgust is not apathy. Vote none of the above.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.privacy