Angry Ford dealer in SC blasts imports in ads

[onager]

Source: Associated Press

Angry Ford dealer in SC blasts imports in ads

By Russ Bynum, Associated Press Writer – Tue Dec 9, 6:22 pm ET

SAVANNAH, Ga. – A Ford dealer angered over the proposed bailout of U.S. automakers blames the nation's sour economy on Congress and criticized buyers of Japanese cars, calling the vehicles "rice ready ... not road ready" in a radio ad.

O.C. Welch, who owns a dealership near Savannah in Hardeeville, S.C., began airing the minute-long ad on a dozen stations in the area over the weekend. The ad sounds more like a talk-radio tirade than a sales pitch.

"All you people that buy all your Toyotas and send that money to Japan, you know, when you don't have a job to make your Toyota car payment, don't come crying to me," Welch says in the ad. "All those cars are rice ready. They're not road ready..."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/ap_on_re_us/angry_auto_ad

[Radical Activist]

1. god bless the uaw.

They incite race hatred and convince people that protecting the environment costs jobs. Didn't they used to be progressive? Time for new UAW leadership too.

[onager]

2. This guy probably hates the UAW and all unions.

Just a small-town car dealer with a big mouth and an empty head. Rush Limbaugh without the lucky breaks, that's all.

The article notes that he sold 15 cars after running the ad.

So we're probably looking at the next Congressman from SC...

[Radical Activist]

10. He probably does.

But the UAW is forced to resort to racist rhetoric against foreign cars because they never unionized the domestic plants of foreign auto companies. That's where this guy picks it up from. They should have been a unoin for auto workers instead of being a union for detroit CEO's.

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. What specific "racist rhetoric" has the UAW used?

:shrug:

[Radical Activist]

66. I'm sure their spokespersons

are smart enough not to have those kind of comments quoted in the press. The rest of my response is the same as comment 65.

[Freddie Stubbs]

105. So, you have absolutely no proof whatsoever that any UAW officials made any xenophobic statements?

How would they have communicated these statements in such a way that the press would not find out about them? Smoke signals? Semaphore flag signaling? Aldis lamp?

[MrModerate]

3. But this guy is a dealer, not a union member . . .

Not saying that the UAW leadership doesn't have problems, but they're not guilty in this case.

[Radical Activist]

6. The UAW spends a lot of time promoting that kind of thinking don't they?

Who's always using lines about buying American when they should be saying "buy union?" If the UAW was any good they would have unionized the domestic plants run by foreign companies by now and the overseas GM plants too.

[FreakinDJ]

26. UAW has been criticizing the Trade Agreements not the cars

Which if you would take the time to read the fine print you would be highly critical of too.

[Radical Activist]

63. hah

Don't worry, I do criticize trade agreements.

[No Elephants]

40. "Buy American" is an economic entreaty, not a racial one. Americans come in all

races, ethnicities and religions.

[Tunkamerica]

4. you want to cite your claim?

seems like projection.

[Radical Activist]

7. You've never heard

that kind of talk from UAW leaders with the rhetoric against foreign cars?

[Tunkamerica]

13. i was more referring to the claim that this guy is somehow in

league with the uaw. I see no connection except a possible confluence of opinion, if that.

[Radical Activist]

15. True.

I didn't mean to imply more than that.

[JVS]

5. They also do management's bidding and serve as poster-children for the needy big 3

[Radical Activist]

8. They should be out there demanding

that the bailout protect workers first instead of making concessions.

[liberation]

17. God bless those taking an unrelated subject

and use it to justify their unsubstantiated claims.

When discussing the merits of Oranges (The racist Ford dealer) talking about apples (the Auto Union Workers) may not be the best approach.

But by all means, use the actions of a douche bag dealer to attack the auto workers and their character. I am sure that following your logic, the people working in the Chinese sweatshops producing all that WallMart crap, must be in the same league as the Walton family when it comes to general douchebagery. Right?

[Radical Activist]

18. So when UAW leaders

go on about buying American and make xenophobic statements about foreign car companies...you don't think that has an effect? You don't think that talk spreads around or influences anyone? Because they're certainly trying to influence people to think that way. All this guy did was take their rhetoric to the next logical step forward.

I'm not insulting auto workers. I'm insulting the current leadership that does a piss poor job of representing auto workers.

[liberation]

19. When they do that, sure your criticism will be granted

But since the article was about a specific CAR DEALER, not the UAW leadership (or membership for that matter)... it just shows that you just wanted to get your jab at the UAW.


Gotta love this country, where someone just can't possibly a racist bigot asshole all on his own. No siree bob, it must have been them UAW peeps with all their racist talk (which you offer no proof or reference whatsoever, BTW) that pushed this guy to come up with that over the top racist ad campaign. Right?


The only facts that we know are that: the ad was racist, and was made by an individual dealer. That is all, any attempt to extrapolate that into an institutional racism as being part of the UAW is intellectually dishonest at best.

[Radical Activist]

65. The wealthy class

ALWAYS attempts to divide the working class against each other by using racism and xenophobia. Progressive unions are one of the few forces who have worked against that. When you have a union that abandons those efforts and takes up the banner of "buy American" instead of "buy union" the results are predictable. This is the result. No, I don't directly blame the UAW for this one particular person but their approach and actions create an environment where ads like this one are inevitable.

The UAW needs to be an international auto workers union instead of a marketing stooge for the Big 3.

[liberation]

79. So basically all you can do is go off on tangential arguments

and not own to the fact that you were using this, a non union-related news piece, to bash unions.

This conversation, is thus over. As I am sure I may have a better result from conducting a similar argument with my wall.


But I must say, I can't wait to see what other union-unrelated thread you pick in order to show your contempt with the UAW.

[Born Free]

22. This was not the UAW, had nothing to do with the UAW

Many years ago it was common to hear "rice burners" when referring to Japanese built motorcycles, as time progressed they were eventually called "metrics" describing the type of fasteners used being metric rather than SAE which the Americans made products used. The term "metrics" included all products that used metric fasteners, including some European. "Rice Ready" is politically wrong but sounds like it comes from the old description "Rice Burner".

He used a bad choice of words but did make a very important point in that people that prefer to buy products and services that increase profits to foreign corporations should not complain when they no longer have a good job producing American made products. People can justify their purchases any way they want but in the end, when you refuse to buy products and services that feed fellow Americans you are contributing to their downfall.

I will take it one step further and say that anyone that has their retirement funds investing in foreign corporations for the higher profits, is "BETTING against America". They are sending their retirement money to foreign corporations believing the Americans will fail. Too many people want to blame it all on the rich - they blame the "rich" for sending the good jobs out of the country while they ignore their own retirement funds continue to do the same. Every man is right in his own eyes and we all can sit back and point fingers, but in the end we are all in this together so we need to ask ourselves "who do you want to see get the better jobs?"

[Hannah Bell]

23. central casting wants your avatar back.

che's risen from the dead to lodge a formal complaint.

[Radical Activist]

62. Yeah, I'm sure Che would approve of pitting workers against each other

based on their nationality.
Are you serious? :eyes:

[Hannah Bell]

76. i'm serious. che says quit taking his avatar in vain. he will haunt you.

[Suji to Seoul]

25. Union bashing asshole. Go away!

eom

[Radical Activist]

64. I don't bash unions...

I bash union leaders who don't do their job for their members and the movement.

[No Elephants]

39. The guy using the rhetoric is a car dealer, not a member of the UAW. nt

[brentspeak]

78. Radical Activists's stated hobby: "Confusing others"

Apparently, DU is a forum for your "hobby".

[Bake]

111. I don't see anything about "race hatred" in his comments.

I don't necessarily agree with them, but it's not the extreme that you describe.

I suppose it is not possible to support one's OWN country/economy without hating everyone else. At least not in your view.

Bake

[tomreedtoon]

9. Like it or not, you've got to be racist about autos.

The Big Three have been pushing their "American" cars...many of which are no longer made in America by Americans. The UAW has been silent because they want to hang on to the few jobs they still have.

And the response from Toyota said something about "how do you say our workers in Alabama are worth less than the ones in Detroit" or something like that? Well, taking a look at the low wages the non-union Alabama Toyota maker is earning, compared to what Detroit is making, might give you a clue.

Like it or not, folks, if you want the Big Three to survive, you will have to be racist too. The Japanese may make better cars (with nonunion labor) but you won't be allowed to buy them. The tariffs will be raised on them, and you'll have to buy Detroit Rust to save the Big Three makers and their UAW slaves. (Bet you thought union membership would free you, right? Not when they're tied to one industry.)

[Radical Activist]

11. They're not even tied to one industry.

They're tied to one sector of one industry based in Detroit. Progressive unions used to support the idea of organizing all workers, even in the south and even at foreign owned companies.

[tomreedtoon]

14. You're right, RA, but it's been a long time since River Rouge.

The awful part is, I've thrown the name "River Rouge" into the faces of a lot of UAW people, and they don't even understand the reference.

From my perspective, the UAW should have done more than try to get the maximum bennies for their workers. They should have organized workers across the industry, as you say. But they should have also demanded a voice in company affairs. They might have provided a whiff of real-world air up in the hermetically sealed executive suites, and suggested to the bosses how they could avoid the trouble they're in.

The UAW doesn't have the courage of those guys in that little company that performed a sit-in because they were fired without benefits. Now the UAW is forced to support management in some very uncomfortable ways, even as that management seeks to destroy the UAW.

[silverojo]

16. The racism I don't like is "rice ready"

Just because we're against what Asian GOVERNMENTS are doing, doesn't mean we should be racist against Asian people. That'd be like judging all Americans by what Bush has been doing for the past 8 years.

Racism doesn't need to be brought into this. We can buy American cars, and avoid buying Chinese goods (as much as one can, in this day and age). But there's no need to resort to racist remarks like the one in this ad.

[Sub Atomic]

82. HEAR! HEAR!

[tomreedtoon]

89. To the guys who make these ads there's no diff.

Engaging traditional racism is the surest way these guys can get the redneck dollars flowing their way. Besides, they knew that on an even playing field, a car made by a foreign manufacturer that actually cares about quality is going to beat Detroit Rust any day. So they have to find some way to make the foreign product less desirable...let's see, what could it be...I have it! RACISM! Fait accompli!

[JustAnotherGen]

90. I took issue with the

"rice ready" as well . . . I don't care what the history of it is - it's 2008 and that's unacceptable.

[mainer]

97. "Rice ready?" At least they're ready for SOMETHING

After having owned both a Ford and a Chrysler, both of which continually broke down (and the Ford was downright dangerous) I became a Toyota and Subaru convert. Yep, they're both good for hauling rice ... and people. And my Toyota is now approaching 200,000 miles with nary a problem.

I'll be happy to haul rice while that guy sits stranded with his rusty junk.

[Freddie Stubbs]

32. Is the cost of living in Alabama the same as the cost of living in Detroit?

:shrug:

[tomreedtoon]

88. Once you factor in the BEER, yes.

And the cost of all those traffic accidents from guys rushing home in a desperate need to get to their BEER. I see that in Florida, and the most deadly place to drive a car or stand is between these guys and their BEER.

[sasquatch]

12. A racist in SC! I'm shocked I tell you!

:sacasm:

[truthisfreedom]

20. Sigh. When the going gets weird...

The weird turn pro. I'm telling you, people... we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg here.

[pinniped]

21. Who the F is gonna come crying to this turd????

"It's a blatant, ignorant, racist remark from somebody who should know better," Mori said.

This guy's giving him too much credit. He sounds too stupid to know better.

[madrchsod]

24. the toyota plant in california is union

the foreign auto companies buy off small rural counties in "red states" to locate their plants because they know the workforce will not vote for a union.

that policy bit nissan on the ass when they found out they could`t find enough intelligent help in Alabama to assemble their autos. they had to move to canada.

the auto dealer in sc is expressing what a lot of people think about japanese cars across this country...

[Nihil]

29. Hmmm ...

> the foreign auto companies buy off small rural counties in "red states"
> to locate their plants because they know the workforce will not vote for
> a union.

So who is at fault here? The foreign auto company or the local workforce
who are too stupid to vote for their own protection?


> that policy bit nissan on the ass when they found out they could`t find
> enough intelligent help in Alabama to assemble their autos. they had to
> move to canada.

Maybe it was just the way you wrote it but it would appear that you are
celebrating the sorry fact that Nissan couldn't find "enough intelligent
help in Alabama"? Nah ... it wouldn't really be that you prefer to be
an unemployed dumbshit than an educated worker would it? (And yes, I am
restraining myself from drawing parallels to *your* use of the English
language.)


> the auto dealer in sc is expressing what a lot of people think
> about japanese cars across this country...

Maybe that guy isn't as un-representative "a lot of people" in the US
as I thought ...?

Shame ... I really like most of the Americans that I've met ... didn't
realise that they were as rare as you appear to suggest ...
:-(

[pokercat999]

27. For the last thirty years, dollar for dollar, pound for pound,

the best, most reliable cars in the world have been build by Japanese companies in Japan and now in the US.

[Joe Steel]

35. Says who?

Who's to say what's best for American car buyers? They're a diverse group and value automobile attributes differently.

[pokercat999]

85. READ MY POST I defined "best" as most reliable and there

are many sources including "Consumers Reports" that will verify my statement. Anecdotally I have been in the automotive repair business for most of those 30 years and have seen the repairs required by just about every car sold in America.

[Joe Steel]

93. I DID READ IT

You didn't define "best" as "most reliable." You said "best, most reliable" meaning "best" and "most reliable."

Both words are subjective. They mean whatever the user wants them to mean.

[mikeytherat]

28. "Rice ready, not road ready"???

Jeez, even your attempts to be racist suck, Mr. Welch. I mean, WTF does that statement even mean?

mikey_the_rat

[nc4bo]

31. I just saw a commercial for Powers Swain Chevy (Fayetteville, NC area) - same thing well not exactly

but I got the message loud and clear. Just now on CNN...man.

Mentioned something about PS contributing to and supporting some 9/11 fund when Honda, Toyota, etc. did not.

Short version: Support American auto dealerships not those dirty, rotten unAmerican ones.

Oh dear.

[Joe Steel]

36. What's wrong with supporting American wokers?

Why would that bother you?

[nc4bo]

43. Do we really need more "us" vs. "them". The south, in general, is not

exactly the most tolerant place in the country and NC is filled to the brim with racist pieces of crap.

To bring up 9/11 - September 11th, 2001 in a damn car commercial is a really lowdown, irresponsible, f'd up thing to do and reeks of typical Republican right-wing hate mongering bullshit.

What does a car dealership have to do with 9/11?

I have no problem promoting American cars (we own a PT Cruiser, Dodge Dakota, Ford 150 and a 92 vette, my daughter and mother each own a Ford Focus, I think we're doing our part) BUT we can definitely promote American made without bringing TERRA/9/11 into the mix.

[Joe Steel]

45. You're right.

The events of September 11, 2001 have been abused. Nevertheless, we can't let that be a reason to accept further encroachment on American economic sovereignty and abuse of American workers. Distasteful as it might be, we may have to shrug-off the excesses and stay focused on the prize.

[nc4bo]

57. I really have to fight my own urge to purge regarding foreign cars...

Coming home from Md, my hubby and I really took time to notice how many foreign cars were in our immediate circle. At one time the count was 1 American car for every 5-6 foreign ones. It was sickening.

We just drove and talked about what can "we" do and what the automakers can do to turn things around. Better quality? Better deals? More attractive vehicles? What role can our government play in it (besides the loans). Educating car buyers about the economic food chain (although it should be obvious) by supporting American owned companies and its workers or even how we can bring back our personal pride when we by and drive American cars.

We chatted about everything that popped into our minds.

By the time we got back home, we never did come to any real conclusions on what to do.

ETA: My own PT Cruiser (used) which I thought was American made is actually a Product of Mexico. Nice, huh? I didn't find out until after I bought the car, while wiping down the inside of the doors and read the nice little sticker.

[Joe Steel]

60. Advertising.

Advertising is the key to victory; and universal single-payer health insurance wouldn't hurt.

Right now, many Americans believe foreign cars are better than American cars. They're not. They haven't been for awhile. American manufacturers have to make sure the car buying public get the message.

Secondly, the American manufacturers have to get the health care monkey off their backs. Most foreign manufacturers, including those operating in the US, don't buy health care for their employees. American manufacturers should have that advantage.

[pipoman]

96. Are you talking about foreign nameplates?

If you are counting American made vs. 'foreign', I hope you are accounting for those foreign nameplate cars which are in fact American labor and use American manufacturing contractors for parts. For instance if you are counting Toyota Camry, Corolla, etc. as 'foreign', I contend they are far more American than your admittedly Mexican made PT Cruiser. If I have to choose, I would rather the labor end of the cost of the vehicle I buy remain in the US over the 1-2% profit which is sent back to the home country of the manufacturer. In addition Toyota stock is actively traded here on the NYSE so it is part of many Americans stock portfolios and retirement accounts.

In the case of your PT Cruiser, the only money going into the American economy is the profit (1-2%) into the pockets of the suits in Detroit who don't help our economy, profits do help the stock holders...when there are rofits that is.. and maybe a bit in some engineers pockets. The bulk of the cost of production is going into the Mexican economy.

I contend that a Toyota Camry is more American than your PT Cruiser.

[Joe Steel]

101. You're right...up to a point.

You have a very good point; many foreign cars are made by Americans. The problem is, those Americans are being exploited by foreign bosses and their American stooges. Until these foreign-bossed American workers demand the same wages and benefits their American peers receive, they might as well be foreigners.

[nc4bo]

106. Jeezus Christ I never said it was and if you read my post(s) you'd see

I was extremely disappointed.

And according to you, even though "nameplate" foreign car companies use American labor, they are far from ideal. I've read, right here if I may add, that some of these sleaze bag foreign companies do not pay for their employees health care (or it can't compete with ours) and choose to build their factories in strategic places around the country.

It's not the average joe public's fault that sleaze ball American car manufacturers outsource anything to do with these vehicles. We will look for the American name, we find a car we like whether on a showroom floor or sitting on someone's front yard with a For Sale sign on it and will buy it if the price is right and we like the car. It never occurred to me to look inside of a passenger door (when I'm the driver) to find that sticker - now if it were located on a ledge under the hood, sure - easy to see and right in your face!

It's not the union worker's fault that sleaze ball American car manufacturers outsource anything to do with these vehicles. They work for a living, they also need a benefits package that they can support their families with. I don't agree with everything unions do but they do make sure the employees are not taken advantage of by big business.

It is the car manufacturer's fault. They are not held accountable for outsourcing by any one, there are no penalities, fines or need for shame. Outsourcing, when labor is available here, is just plain bullsh*$. The American "nameplate" + 100% American made car should be a source of pride, it used to be!

Foreign companies should provide the same benefits that American companies provide for their workers.

All of them have done their fair share of contributing to the pain of the middle class.

[pipoman]

109. Exactly my point

the big 3 are not friends to the American economy, so why should I give them my hard earned money just because the name plate meant made in America once upon a time? People can rag on the Toyota and Honda plants and their pay scale if they want but I believe there is a correlation between the exodus of Detroit jobs to Mexico and the wages/benefits demanded by the unions, they are shopping for cheaper labor. The people working at the Toyota plants are feeding families too. Maybe if the executives AND the union labor at the big 3 got real about what their incomes should be for the work they perform, maybe they wouldn't be broke and maybe they wouldn't have to truck the jobs to Mexico.

"We will look for the American name, we find a car we like whether on a showroom floor or sitting on someone's front yard with a For Sale sign on it and will buy it if the price is right and we like the car."

Welcome to the 21st Century, American name means not one shit anymore. The dealer in the OP can stick his formerly American made Mexican junk in his ass and go cry on Felipe Calderón's shoulder. The reason Ford became the powerhouse it once was is because it's workers could afford to buy the products they were producing, not so in Mexico. And blame for the lame trade agreements rests wholly on the shoulders of our elected Dems and Pugs. One party, sadly, isn't to blame for this mess.

[Doremus]

33. Bad, bad politicians. Bad, bad government. (Psst: where's MY cut??)

Welch said he's mostly mad at politicians, blasting them in his ad as only being good for "slinging mud and spending our tax dollars." He said the government should offer tax incentives for consumers to buy new cars rather than spend money bailing out Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.


Politicians are only good at spending our tax dollars. By the way, gimme some.

Dipstick.

[Joe Steel]

34. A bit harsh, perhaps...

A bit harsh, perhaps, but somebody has to do something. Buying a foreign car is an act economic treason. Someone has to stand-up for American workers.

[Mudoria]

38. Right

Why buy a rice burner when you can buy a UAW built vehicle and the profits stay in America?

[superduperfarleft]

44. You can defend american workers without defending bigoted jerks like this guy.n/t

[Joe Steel]

46. Rice Ready?

Is that what you mean by bigoted? It hardly seems like enough to justify the betrayal of American workers.

[superduperfarleft]

48. Sorry, I don't buy cars from pasty-faced crackers.

And the betrayal of american workers doesn't justify xenophobia and bigotry.

[Joe Steel]

51. As I said...

As I said, the rice thing was a bit harsh. Nevertheless, criticizing the auto dealer for such minor thing is counterproductive when the economic health of America is at risk.

[hatrack]

50. "Economic treason"? Too bad GM didn't have a hybrid back in 2001 when I last bought a car, huh?

Too bad neither Ford didn't have one. Too bad Chrysler didn't have one, because I sure would have preferred to buy an American hybrid.

Unfortunately, while Detroit was spending billions over a decade marketing Testosterone Shitwagons, Honda and Toyota were doing some engineering to build really efficient cars. Too bad about Detroit's strategic "planning", huh?

Economic treason? Bite me.

[Joe Steel]

54. Detroit was making the cars Americans wanted.

If you wanted a hybrid, you were out-of-step. You're a misfit. We can tolerate misfits for awhile but when things get tough, when the time for fighting comes, we'll have look around and see who's with us and who isn't.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Joe Steel]

56. We won't have to.

We'll just watch for hybrids. Your Japanese hybrid will betray you.

That's ironic, isn't it?

You betrayed your countrymen and the object of your betrayal will betray you.

Kind of like the 30 pieces of silver being counterfeit.

[MilesColtrane]

58. Confirmed troll.

[Joe Steel]

61. What does that mean?

Got anything to give your comment substance or are you just trying to make yourself seem relevant?

[Nihil]

99. No.

> If you wanted a hybrid, you were out-of-step.

No. It was Detroit that was "out-of-step", not in its factories
but in its R&D and direction. Out of step by about 10 years.

> You're a misfit.

You're a troll.
I'd rather be an environmentally-aware "misfit" than a brain-dead troll.

> We can tolerate misfits for awhile but when things get tough, when
> the time for fighting comes, we'll have look around and see who's
> with us and who isn't.

Quite like this forum really: DU can tolerate violence-advocating trolls
for a while but it's not too hard to see "who's with us and who isn't".

[Joe Steel]

100. Yes.

Detroit was doing quite well selling what Americans wanted, SUVs and trucks. Over half of all the vehicles sold in the US in recent years fit into those categories. By definition, then, anyone who wanted a hybrid was a misfit.

Being a misfit is OK. A healthy community can tolerate the odd and unusual for awhile but when the community become stressed and the misfits become a burden on the community's welfare and the community's ability to address the problems they face, things must change.

[tabasco]

108. Only an idiot blames customers for a failing business.

You must be a misfit to do something so stupid.

[Ignis]

112. You're with us, or you're a terrorist!

Didn't your Glorious Leader already make that argument? How'd it work out for the USA over the past 8 years?

:hi:

[raccoon]

53. And you think American auto workers don't buy any foreign cars?

[Joe Steel]

59. I'm sure they do.

But not many. And, when the time comes, their coworkers will "reason" with them.

[Radical Activist]

67. The UAW's failure to organize workers

at American auto plants owned by foreign companies is an act of treason against American workers. They should have been worrying about what's best for all auto workers instead of worrying about what's best for Detroit CEO's.

[Joe Steel]

68. It's easier said than done.

Most foreign manufacturers have located their plants in right-to-work states with a long history of antagonism toward unions and culture of submission to capital.

[Radical Activist]

70. That's true.

I have a hard time thinking that they couldn't have done it with more resources. Maybe if they had spent more time and effort organizing those plants instead of getting Democrats to vote against better fuel economy standards.

I hope that we'll have new laws with Obama that will make organizing those plants easier and I hope that we'll have UAW leadership that will break free from Detroit enough to do it.

[Romulox]

73. You don't know what you're talking about. ALL of the transplants are in "Right to Work" states.

I'm not going to bother to explain what that means. Look it up.

[Radical Activist]

74. I was a union member in a right to work state.

So I know what it means and I know there are unions that organize in them against the odds. If someone wants to send me links about the UAW trying to unionize US factories owned by foreign companies I'd be glad to see it.

I'll give them credit for organizing the Mitsubishi in Illinois. I wonder how their members at Mitsubishi feel about all the "buy American" rhetoric from the union? Doesn't it threaten their jobs?

[Romulox]

75. If you know what "Right to Work" means, then you know that what you ask is impossible.

"Right to Work" laws make it virtually impossible to organize unions to participate in collective bargaining. This is by design.

"I was a union member in a right to work state."

Right. A weak and ineffectual union with zero leverage over ownership. You might as well have joined the Elk's Lodge, for all the good it would do.

[liberation]

80. Wow... really?

So you were union in a "Right to work" state?

Just when I thought you could not possibly be pulling any more smoke out of your derriere... boom you leave that golden nugget right there. LOL.

[Tunkamerica]

87. i worked for a union (stage workers) in NC

Didn't get my card because I found better work, but there are unions in right to work states.

[JustAnotherGen]

91. Hmm

I travel abroad a lot for vacation and I've driven quite a few different models of foreign cars. Here's what the US Automakers need to come out with to prevent me taking an elevator to the gallows:

I drive a 2006 Nissan Altima and I've driven it's Megane counterpart: Give me a car like that. Reliable, nothing going wrong with 46K miles on it, fuel efficient.


I also loved the Smart Car I've rented a few times, and see a few on the road. Can GM do that? Can they do it toute suite? Look - if they have to cheat, then cheat. Steal the blueprint and go forth and get it on the market.

Mini Coopers - I almost bought one when I went for my Altima. Again, cheat if they need to. Just steal the blueprint, smack a different name on it and let anyone but Ford manufacture it.

Sorry - my previous car was a 2000 Mercury Cougar that I bought brand new. If it could go wrong, it did go wrong. Including having the transmission go at 60,130 miles. That's right - the minute the warranty ran out. Ditto the sun roof, etc. etc.


We also need to move away from Mil-Standards and the Engineering of designing something that is meant to last for only as long as the warranty. I have every intent to drive my current car for another 7 years at a minimum. I think cars hold little value in the first place because the minute you use it as its intended to be used - it's value drops. It boggles my mind, the car ads (both Imports and Domestic): Only $59,999 after Manufacturers Rebate.
It's simply NOT worth that much money.

And it really REALLY irks me that the folks making these luxury cars - could never afford to buy one.


I agree Joe Steel - I do agree with what you are saying. But I think the issue is bigger. These Auto Manufacturers need HIGH Quality cars at prices their EMPLOYEES can afford to purchase them at. Is it treason? Or is it us saying: We want a product that American Manufacturers are not providing/manufacturing/bringing to market?

[Joe Steel]

107. Many of us can tell horror stories of American cars.

Many of us can tell horror stories of American cars and hearing them makes understanding the attraction of a foreign car much easier to understand. We realize the consumer wants the best value he can get for his money and sees it in the foreign car. He's focused on his interests and is blind to the damage he's doing to the American economy, slight as it is in his single act. I don't know of anything I could say which would change the mind of the car buyer. He would have to be an exceptionally far-sighted individual to put the interests of the American economy above his own.

[JustAnotherGen]

114. But I only have so much money

Can Cadillac make a fuel efficient car that is a smooth a drive as my Altima - AND give my a 17K price point - AND employee people in America?


They need to listen to this customer.

Next up? Women's apparel? Many women have stopped buying clothing (myself included) because they aren't making anything we want to wear. Unless we want to dress like tramps. :rotfl: I'm 35 - I'm forced to buy Brooks Brothers because they dress us like grown women - no belly shirts in the entire store.

[pampango]

103. Which ones are "foreign", though? (See post 96 above.)

"If you are counting American made vs. 'foreign', I hope you are accounting for those foreign nameplate cars which are in fact American labor and use American manufacturing contractors for parts. For instance if you are counting Toyota Camry, Corolla, etc. as 'foreign', I contend they are far more American than your admittedly Mexican made PT Cruiser. If I have to choose, I would rather the labor end of the cost of the vehicle I buy remain in the US over the 1-2% profit which is sent back to the home country of the manufacturer. In addition Toyota stock is actively traded here on the NYSE so it is part of many Americans stock portfolios and retirement accounts.

In the case of your PT Cruiser, the only money going into the American economy is the profit (1-2%) into the pockets of the suits in Detroit who don't help our economy, profits do help the stock holders...when there are rofits that is.. and maybe a bit in some engineers pockets. The bulk of the cost of production is going into the Mexican economy.

I contend that a Toyota Camry is more American than your PT Cruiser."

Are cars more "American" if they are made in the US, have "American" name plates but made elsewhere, made in the US with parts coming from all over the world? Is it more important to have the manufacturing jobs be here or the profits from car sales stay here (though stock in the auto companies is owned by people all over the world)? If the employees at the foreign auto manufacturing plants in the US were as unionized as the Big Three's, would we be having this discussion since they would represent thousands of UAW jobs?

[DBoon]

37. but Toyota made my car in Fremont, California!

Don't those workers needs a job too?

Sounds like a racist rant from someone who still believes all the evil jap propaganda from WWII

[No Elephants]

41. Depends on how you interpret "Buy American." I tried to buy american a while

back and gave up because it was too complicated. Where to the materials come from? Whether is the assembly done? How much of the work actually was or was not done in America, etc.

[Joe Steel]

47. Good Point.

There's probably no such thing as an American car anymore. Nevertheless, buying an American brand makes a statement. It says you respect American tradition and that you're committing yourself to support American workers.

[No Elephants]

104. Yes, but my point is that American workers may have more to do with a foreign brand

that is made in the U.S. than they do with a so-called American brand. In clothing sold under American brand names, for example, maybe only the label was sewn on in America. Maybe not even that.

[Joe Steel]

110. Given a choice...

Certainly some foreign cars are built by Americans in America and some American cars are built by foreigners in Mexico and Canada. Given a choice between the two, I'd go with the American car built in Mexico or Canada. That choice at least preserves the appearance of economic independence.

[superduperfarleft]

42. What a bigoted prick.

He could've made his point without a slur against all Asians.

[MissMillie]

49. well, I bought one "American" car

it needed a 3rd (!!!) engine before 100K miles.

And the one time I need to replace the radiator (after hitting a dog on the highway), it took 4 weeks to get the part.



It was a Ford/Mercury product, and oddly enough, it was assembled in MEXICO!


Every Toyota I've ever bought was made in OHIO.

[Joe Steel]

52. How do you know it was made in Ohio?

Do you know it for a fact?

Not every Japanese car sold in the US is made in the US.

[MissMillie]

81. I saw the dealer invoice

I do know that what you said is true, but I also know that the cars I purchased were indeed made in OH.

[Joe Steel]

86. OK.

At least that's something.

[Dappleganger]

69. I'm tired of driving shitty cars just to be 'American'

I would really have loved it if my 2001 Chrysler T&C minivan hadn't blown the transmission in '03, had the AC go out TWICE and nearly every little cosmetic nicety (cup holders, trim, seatbelts, console, etc.) have something to go wrong with it so fast. It looked beautiful when we first bought it but fell apart faster than we could drive it. Same happened with our Ford Focus, too--ended up selling that one before things got too bad.

[TK421]

117. .......

:rofl: Holy shit, I just cracked a rib laughing at that!!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[high density]

71. Well, when corporate America stops offshoring everything...

I'll be in a better position to buy some car I don't like based on nationalism. Until then I have to put my money into the best value. The Japanese are making cars people want, while the US automakers are too busy dreaming that they can tell us what to want.

This is kind of funny coming from a Ford dealer. Ford has a strategic relationship with Mazda and owned a third of that company until recently trimming their holdings to have more cash on hand.

[Romulox]

72. Until you support your fellow workers, I will continue to support outsourcing/offshoring.

See how a vicious cycle is formed? It is sad (but still kind of funny) to hear outraged IT workers complain that they aren't supposed to be the ones who have to "compete"...

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

98. Where exactly are you hearing that? n/t

[AndyTiedye]

77. Probably an Effective Marketing Ploy in Georgia

He makes the news and gets some business from racist assholes like himself.

[florida08]

83. can't believe what I'm seeing

Before criticizing this man you should do some research. This is about protecting American jobs and way of life. Japanese cars do not pay union wages so of course they can undersell. Please read these articles and see what is happening to our country because of the so-called Free Trade Agreement. We are getting the shaft and believe me it will trickle down to all of us. Support your country by supporting your workers:

Auto unions must organize transplant firms

Japanese auto companies neither trust nor understand the American notion of labor unionism. Ah, but there's the rub. The very companies that operate as nonunion transplants in the United States have always confronted a unionized workforce at home, organized by the Japanese Automobile Workers Confederation.
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-cutler1210.artdec10,0,6675746.story

Japan's automakers have a union in their country. Guess who got raises there? Are Americans subsidizing Japanese workers by paying American workers less?
http://www.japaneconomynews.com/2007/03/15/japans-auto-workers-get-pay-raises-a-bit-and-better-bonuses/


German carmakers attack US help for rivals
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/ANA02/309259920/1193

Ungrateful Allies
http://www.antiwar.com/eland/?articleid=12990

[florida08]

84. I did find out

that the Toyota corolla is made by the UAW so buy all of those you want..lol here's the list of UAW and CAW cars made
http://www.uaw.org/uawmade/auto/2008/index.cfm

[and-justice-for-all]

92. Perhaps if ford did'nt make such shitty autos...

this might not be an issue. But all they want to churn out is more Earth Destroyers and Gas vacuums, sorry Ford, you should have woke up 15 years ago.

And the racist remarks do not do you any justice. He should be yelling at Ford Cooperate and not people who buy quality autos.

If I could, I would drive a Volkswagen or a BMW, maybe even a Mazada or Saab..

[depakid]

94. This hypocrite owned a Mazda dealership!

http://wot.motortrend.com/6387159/auto-news/ford-dealers-advertisement-protesting-auto-industry-loans-deemed-racist/index.html

Sounds like just another stupid Southern Republican ideologue- and likely a racist to boot.

[Tesha]

115. That's tricky to assess because Fprd owned* a large portion of Mazda.

Really, the whole argument about American cars vs. foreign cars is
ludicrous these days because there's no such thing as a purely
American car and not very many purely-foreign cars.

Tesha

* Ford may *STILL* own a large portion of Mazda but has certainly
announced their intent to sell that portion to raise cash.

[treestar]

95. Merely because something was made by Americans doesn't

make it the best product.

These "capitalists" don't follow their own creed!

[420inTN]

102. Which car is more "American"?

A Big 3 car built in Mexico or Canada, or a "rice ready" vehicle built in MS/TN/AL?

[KamaAina]

113. Why does he hate Kentucky so much?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota#Toyota_North_America

Toyota Motor North America headquarters is located in New York City and operates at a holding company level in North America. Its manufacturing headquarters is located in Hebron, Kentucky, and is known as Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, or TEMA.

Toyota has a large presence in the United States with five major assembly plants in Huntsville, Alabama; Georgetown, Kentucky; Princeton, Indiana; San Antonio, Texas; Buffalo, West Virginia; and a new one being built in Blue Springs, Mississippi. Toyota also has a joint-venture operation with General Motors at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), in Fremont, California, which began in 1984, and with Subaru at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA), in Lafayette, Indiana, which started in 2006. Production on a new manufacturing plant in Tupelo, Mississippi is scheduled for completion in 2010. North America is a major automobile market for Toyota. In these assembly plants, the Toyota Camry and the 2007 Toyota Tundra are manufactured, among others.

He'd seriously rather people buy cars made in Dearborn, Michigan than in Kentucky, Alabama, Texas, West Virginia or Mississippi? Yankee-lover. :P

[Realityhack]

116. Racist retard n/t