I believe that you are right on the money as far as what needs to be done at GM and probably the other two as well. It’s time for some real grownups to kick the heirs apparent out of the board rooms and the executive offices of these corporations and force them to come into the 21st century.

As far as what makes a US-made car, I believe it is one that is built from the barest materials right here in the US. Sorry, I don’t consider a car made in Mexico a US made car even though it has an American name on it. That being said, the Mexican manufacturing sector does have some positive benefits for us here in the US. We would have even more illegal aliens pouring across our borders every day without it. It’s sort of a neighborly thing to do.

My quarrel with the “Americanization” of the Japanese auto industry by putting assembly plants in the US is the fact that those plants only assemble parts manufactured in Japan. That makes a great deal of the labor force utilized in the manufacturing of those cars foreign. It’s kind of a dodge for the Japanese to claim that their cars are “made in America” when they are only assembled here. If they wanted to remedy this situation by placing parts manufacturing facilities here — even in non-union southern states — I would be more willing to concede the point.

As far as the treatment of the Japanese laborer, you are absolutely correct. The same cannot be said for the American laborer. Too often American corporations. businesses and even government entities treat their employees as necessary evils to the process and seek every avenue to get rid of them. Recent off-shoring of American jobs illustrates this point perfectly. If employers would treat their employees fairly then there would be no need for unions. However, I have not found this to be the case, particularly as I live in a “fire-at-will” state. Workers in Texas and most southern states have absolutely no protection from unfair labor practices by law or in the court system since tort reform swept through here pushed by big insurance, big business and carried by Republicans. Sorry, I know what I know on this one from first-hand experience.

Despite the “infiltration” of the foreign car companies into the South, poverty remains a plague on our society down here. Before his foolish demise, John Edwards was devoting his life to this problem. It still exists, and there seems to be little help on the way at the state level.

The Big 3 have spent billions trying to avoid or at least delay innovation — seat belts, rear view mirrors, catalytic converters, higher fuel efficiency, and more. Meanwhile the top dogs skim off obscene amounts of money and perks.

My Chrysler PT Cruiser was built in Mexico; other people’s Hondas were built in the US. So, what makes a vehicle a US car at this point anyway?

Jack, how much of the success of the infiltration of foreign car manufacturers into the South has been to avoid the UAW’s influence in the rust belt? And how much of the Japanese model of loyalty to workers has come with it? It’s easy to criticize the Japanese for being anti-union, but it seems that there’s more of a culture of cooperation and respect between workers and management there than here. Does that culture make unions less necessary because worker needs are considered — that they’re seen as an asset more than as a cost?

Thanks for reminding us of CAFTA, that only leaves SHAFTA out!

I did see — or I should say Mrs. jack saw the Cheney/Gonzalez story last night on our local FOX affiliate. I researched it, and unfortunately it is being pushed by a lame-duck district attorney who didn’t even win the Democratic Primary in a heavily Democratic county in South Texas a/k/a The Valley. I wish it had a little more chance of succeeding, but it will probably hit the trash can on January 1 when the new Democratic DA takes over. SORRY!

Thanks for stopping by.

I haven’t thought of that song in years! I chose the name because I love the quiet and stillness of the evening and early morning hours.

I agree the automakers need to be saved for the sole purpose of workers being able to keep their jobs. I find it interesting that Bush&Co. were willing to bail out WS, but not the automakers.
Ford has a cool little hybid SUV and if I had the means to buy one, I would.

I also agree with your thoughts on NAFTA, and now we have CAFTA as well. Sheesh.

On a happier note, did you see Cheney has been indicted? Not that it will stick….

Sorry, it’s my age. I couldn’t help myself.

Thanks for the artcle on Mexican plants for U.S. automakers. This is just another piece of the ever-maddening story of our economic mess. NAFTA was shoved down our throats by politicians on both sides of the aisle and has cost us dearly. On the up side, those auto plants in Mexico have given some, albeit small, help in stemming the overwhelming flow of illegal aliens from across our southern border, but the loss of an American job is the loss of an American job. The unrestrained tenets of capitalism are breaking the middle class of our country.

That all being said, I am not ready to throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak. We still have over 3 million jobs to protect in our nation, not to mention all the ancillary jobs and small businesses that would be adversely affected by the collapse of such a driving force in our economy. Please see my post for today, Hang On Sloopy, when I get it posted later. There is a lot at stake here and some workable solution must be found.

Thanks for stopping by.

My brother-in-law, who is 50 years-old, lives in an old steel town and is pro – anything – American, bought his first import car this year.

Good writing deserves to be seen…my pleasure.

Thanks for the referral. I am told by Mrs. Jack that I have gotten a lot of hits from your referral.

It is true that the South and the people here are very complex. We wear our history very seriously. In fact, too seriously!

Thanks for stopping by. Come on back, ya’hear?