From: fred_s@earwax.pei.com (Fred Scott)
Newsgroups: ba.general
Subject: Re: stupid consumers
Date: 3 Oct 92 02:19:53 GMT
Organization: Protocol Engines Incorporated

In article <1992Oct3.011004.8164@leland.Stanford.EDU> eap@leland.Stanford.EDU (Eric Perozziello) writes:
>(I wrote:)
>>Your logic is off.  Your arguments make a good case against lassez-faire
>>libertarianism (and in fact, such considerations are why I yell "fuck Adam
>>Smith" every time I see a couple of `em) but they really have little to do
>>with the nationalities of the corporations involved.  If such tactics are a
>>part of the Japanese way of doing business:
>>
>>1. This is incidental and not necessarily indicative of the way *all* Japanese
>>   companies behave.  (Arguing otherwise is leaving yourself open to a
>>   justifiable charge of racism.)
>
>The japanese companies that do business here do. No I'm not racist- come off
>it!  I think it lies in the japanese gov'ts policies.

You are generalizing on the tactics of all Japanese companies doing business
in the U.S. based on one example, if in fact, your example was valid - I'll
give it the benefit of the doubt for argument's sake.  I don't believe your
generalization is valid: how does this one example prove that all other
Japanese companies pursue the same strategy?  What makes you think the
Japanese government has anything to do with international sales strategy of
every single Japanese company that sells in America?

>>3. An American company could pull this sort of tactic just as easily as a
>>   Japanese company can - *IF* it could produce product in question
>>   as efficiently.
>
>Totally wrong! There are regulations that tie american industries' hands
>int his country, but let others walk all over them. Then in Japan,
>they *LOVE* to tarrif our goods coming over there (HEAVILY). Fair?
>I don't think so. 

What happens in Japan is, perhaps,  another issue.  I agree that Japan has
a reputation for a strange sort of protectionism which I've read is more
practical in nature (requiring foriegners to break into closed-knit
distribution circles or something like that) than official government policy.
(Apart from certain protected industries, of course.  We have a few of our
own, you know.)  Personally, I wonder if this is an accurate picture or if
it's the result of a hostile American press telling the story.  I don't know.

None the less, even if it's true, you're changing your complaint - you started
out bitching about dumping practices.  I still maintain these could be done
just as easily by an American company as by a Japanese.  If not, specifically,
why not?  *What* regulation(s) tie the hands of a U.S. company which are not
also enforced against a foriegn one.

I would certainly support any call to boycott a specific company which
habitually resorts to monopolistic dumping practices and predatory pricing,
*regardless* of its national origin.

>>4. (and this is the biggest problem I have with your logic) IF ILLEGAL
>>   'DUMPING' IS WHAT UPSET ABOUT, THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE AMERICAN GOV'T FOR
>>   NOT ENFORCING DUMPING LAWS - *NOT* WITH THE AMERICAN CONSUMER FOR WANTING
>>   THE CHEAPEST, BEST PRODUCT HE CAN GET HIS HANDS ON.  Your solution, blindly
>>   buying a product constructed in America (when you can even figure out
>>   whether a product qualifies as American-built or not, which you seldom can
>>   with something as complex as an automobile), misses the point completely.
>
>I agree with the first point- the problem is in DC.  I disagree with the 
>second. Just cause the US GOv't allows it, doesn't mean we have to be stupid
>and fall for the unfair games being played!

Bull.  Find the *right* problem and fix it.  Your solution is a tactless
bludgeon to be used against *all* Japanese companies, innocent or guilty of
the practices you describe.  That's unfair in my book.

>>>TRUE AMERICANS BUY AMERICAN!
>>
>>I don't (necessarily, always) and I'm a true American.  Your 'theory' is
>>disproved.
>
>By my definition of "True American", I'd respectfully disagree.

Ah, but that's exactly my point.  As near as I can figure, your definition of
"True American" are those who share your controversial viewpoints.  This makes
it pretty worthless as a definition, except for your personal propaganda
purposes.

Fred
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