From: alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu (Amy Young Leith)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Strike at Saturn?
Date: 30 Aug 92 20:00:58 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington

In article <1992Aug30.193347.25465@leland.Stanford.EDU> underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU (Dwight Joe) writes:

>Would Ms. Leigth frigging wake up and please listen to what the
>hell I'm saying?
>
>I am not arguing that the American cars are adequate in quality.
>I'm saying nothing about the quality or desirability of American
>cars.  No where did I say one damn thing about whether an American
>car is good or not.
>
>What I am saying is that it is unfair for the Japanese to
>jack up the price of an American car by 100% over the price
>in the USA..

And I agreed with you.

>But what is certain is that there will be an increase.  I would
>suggest that Ms. Leith take an economics course.  When _all_
>_frigging_ _factors_ _are_ _held_ _constant_, with the
>exception that the price is decreased, demand for the product
>goes up.

And I said that given that most Japanese (granted, I haven't polled a
million of them, this is from discussions with friends from overseas)
are not impressed with American cars, the lowering of the price will
not *greatly* increase the demand, therefore solving all the problems
of the American car manufacturers. 

>I implied nothing.  I only said that the system of pricing in Japan
>is unfair.

And again, I agreed with you.

>I never made a comment about American quality or whether Americans
>should buy American.

>Really?  But apparently, you aren't offended enough by the Japanese
>pricing system.

Offended enough for what?  I disagree with it, and I think it's unfair
to the idea of an equal exchange market.  My money spent on an
inferior car will perhaps in the long run, if joined by many others
refusing imports for political reasons, cause them to change their
practices, my problem is that I don't have the time nor the money to
have the luxury of using my money as a vote made purely on ethics.
 
>Let's do a mental exercise.  What do you think that the Japanese would
>think if the system was reversed?  Namely, let's say that Americans had
>the Japanese import restrictions but that Japan was an open market.
>
>answer:  The Japanese would be pissed.

As Americans are, if they are even aware of the discrepancy (which is
a comment referring to the intelligence and up to date-ness of your
average American citizen).

>But I do agree with some Japanese on one thing.  If Americans thought
>like you, then they are _really_ stupid.  And there are quite a few
>Japanese who think that Americans are 3rd world people, at least
>in intellect.

It's so nice to see ones flair for debate come out in full bloom.
Remind me not to bother next time.

>It's amazing that people like you, Ms. Leith, will twist what I say
>to defend the Japanese pricing system.  At no point have I argued
>that Americans should buy American or anything else.  I only pointed
>out that the Japanese have severe import restrictions.  This is 
>fundamentally unfair.

As well, nowhere have I defended the pricing system the Japanese use
for American cars in their own country.  

>This has to be dealt with immediately.  I know the Japanese mentality.
>If the shoe were on the other foot, i.e. America restricting
>Japanese imports with Japan being an open market, then the Japanese
>would be demanding that something be done about the inequity.
>Unlike some stupid Americans, the Japanese are very analytical
>and are quite aware of reality.

This has been going on for quite some time.  So much for your demand
for an "immediate" reaction.  When you are looking for "stupid
Americans" I suggest you start with the people who are running this
country and directly allowing such trade agreements to exist.  I've
made my opinion known, however the response was a nice form letter
from the legislatures and no acknowledgement from the President, as is
per usual with other issues as well. 

amy
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