Dodge Dakota ForumDodge Dakota PhotosDodgeDakota.net Membership
  Forums   Forum Tools
07:46:35 - 04/28/2024

General Dakota Board
FromMessage
MEB
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/02/2002
08:37:33

Subject: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
I’m about fed up with people buying Japanese, Korean, German, etc. vehicles and the first thing they do is slap an American flag on it like they are some kind of patriot. Don’t get me wrong I’d love to see every American be 100% supportive of 9/ll, America, the flag and our armed forces. People in the armed forces are true heroes, every one of them. I have flags flying at my house and on my Chevy and Dodge vehicles. Putting an American flag on a Japanese vehicle don’t make it right! Where is the patriotism? I know that some of these vehicles are made in America by hard working Americans. However, if the American people bought American vehicles instead, Ford, GM and DC would put these same skilled people to work building American vehicles. Truth is the profits from these foreign vehicles are going overseas to the very governments that are most responsible for killing the American steel industry. These same governments have single handedly driven some of our largest steel companies into bankruptcy putting thousands of Americans out of work. Everyone conveniently forgets that Japan, in addition to being our enemies in our largest war that killed many of our forefathers not to long ago, has been found guilty in an International Trade Commission court of dumping government subsidized steel in the USA leading to a crisis in the steel industry. For me, I’ll always buy American. God bless America!!!





SuperBee
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/02/2002
09:22:04

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
so when you buy your dodge the profit goes to a company thats in America?
since when?
maybe if you bought dodge before they were bought by the germans



Gary F
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/02/2002
09:50:22

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Thanks for the sentiments regarding our armed forces. I've been in the Air Force for 18+ years.
I do have a few comments though. I'm 100% with ya on buying "American" vehicles. I've only owned Chrysler products since the day I could afford to buy a car/truck.
These days though, the line does seem to be blurred between what is American built and what isn't. For example, many American workers are employed by foreign auto companies that have factories right here in the USA. And some American nameplates are built in foreign countries. While I can't name them all, some examples are the PT Cruiser built in Mexico, the Dodge Caravan, Intrepid and other LH cars built in Canada. Until recently the Neon was also built in Mexico (along with IL). I believe that the Ram truck is built in Mexico. So my point is that even though it might be a Dodge, that doesn't mean that American workers are putting them together. On the other hand, there is a BMW plant in South Carolina, Mercedes plant in Alabama, Honda plant in Ohio, etc. The list goes on.
Bottom line, check that window sticker before you buy that import. You might be helping your fellow American worker.
I don't know enough to comment on the steel industry and the other things mentioned above.
Gary



AmsoilSponsor
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/02/2002
10:00:02

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:

Patriotism?

REDUCE AMERICAN DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL !!!

Amsoil = www.american-synthetic-oil.com

Industry tests have shown improved fuel economy of 2 - 5% in vehicles using synthetic lubricants. Many AMSOIL customer testimonials tell of even greater savings. If all cars in America used AMSOIL synthetic motor oil, gear lubes and drive train fluids, we would save enough fuel to drive to the sun and back 165 to 420 times over.

But there is another way to reduce oil usage. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are designed for extended drain intervals and reduce the amount of oil used by as much as 80%.

Fewer oil changes means less oil used.

Keep America on the road with AMSOIL, the Original Synthetic Motor Oil, and The First in Synthetics!

Thank You,

Steven Roark, Amsoil Dealer, www.dodgedakotas.com Sponsor
www.american-synthetic-oil.com





nuckenfuts
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/02/2002
11:47:27

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
OUTSTANDING! finaly someone who thinks like me(shares my opinion on forign vehicles bought by Americans)Right-on MEB. If only everyone shared our opinion on this subj. this country would see a big change.



nate
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/02/2002
12:16:57

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
to show your true loyalty to america, you need to do it at WALMART. Gary F. brings up an excellent fact about current economics concerning import vs. domestic cars - buy big three, yes, but read the friggin sticker. example - you want to buy an f150. two in a lot side by side that look the same. if you look at the sticker, you will see that one was made in mexico and one in missouri. you should, of course, but the one from missouri. most folks are completely unaware of that. but... the underlying fact is that the vast majority of all consumer expenditures in the united states is done at WALMART and the like. at walmart, china is king. i have nothing against chinese people and i'm all for them having jobs, but not at the expense of jobs at home. read the label on everything you buy. if you have a choice, pay more to buy american. regardless of quality, you should sleep better at night knowing that joe down the road is that much further from getting laid off. i'm sure everyone on this board knows where an old textile mill used to be. they were pretty much wiped out by "free trade" and nafta. my .02 - and i dont care what anyone else thinks. made in (any country other than usa) sux.
God, mother, and country. Semper Fi.



XXXXXXXXX
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/02/2002
12:36:13

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:

BRING MANUFACTURING BACK TO THE STATES !!!

Litigation, Courts, High Taxes and Unions
have driven manufacturing overseas !!!



nuckenfuts
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/02/2002
12:42:14

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
OOOH-Yah! (nuf said)



Dak95
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/02/2002
15:02:56

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Weeeeelllll, let's see.............

Let's play devil's advocate here and ask y'all why I should pay more for a bad quality product just because it supports ole Joe down the street? Joe is a Union member getting paid $22 an hour to put a shock on car and still gets it wrong because "it don't matter, I'm a Union Member and pay my dues, and they can't fire me" attitude!?
American Quality is an oxy-moron. Y'all have brand new Dodge trucks and look at all the problems you are happy to live with! Most people want an appliance they can drive 100,000 miles with only gas stops and the occasional jiffy lube. Honda/Toyota etc have somehow developed a reputation to be able to supply those appliances.
Hey, I have a Dakota and a couple older Italian cars. I know to expect the fuel gauge to not work and some oil in the driveway.....that's from my Dak!!
With the "world" economy there is very little that is made in any one country anymore. My sister lost her job after 10 years when Union Underwear pulled the plug and moved to Mexico so you can buy your Fruit Of The Looms at Wal-Mart for $2.99 instead of $3.99 cuz everyone is to blame by buying at the cheapest place/thing.
That's my .02 worth.

Thanks for the support otherwise, as an Active Duty Air Force guy that just got back from a year remote in Korea without my wife and kids it sure is good to see those flags. I don't even care too awful much if they are on a Hyundia!!! ;-)




deflated one
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/02/2002
16:17:50

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Why dont we all stop for just a second and think what it would be like if we didnt have other countries. Then, due to the nature of our self-interest, we would compete with each other and the same principal displayed on this forum would apply to the people agreeing with each other now. I.E. (Civil War) (Confederates vs. Yankees)



deflated one
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/02/2002
16:19:13

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Why dont we all stop for just a second and think what it would be like if we didnt have other countries. Then, due to the nature of our self-interest, we would compete with each other and the same principal displayed on this forum would apply to the people agreeing with each other now. I.E. (Civil War) (Confederates vs. Yankees)



4.7Heaven
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/02/2002
16:26:38

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
deflated one-

What the ?????????????????????????????

Dak95-

You are straight on! Sometimes you "zoomies" are pretty cool! Those A-10's can spit some lead and do some serious damage for an old plane. saw the carnage in the desert but that was from a "ground pounder" point of view. Go Army!






what???
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/02/2002
16:35:42

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:

deflated one is a left-over socialist commie!





DaveR
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/02/2002
17:32:18

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Personaly i think the "don't tread on me flag" is as appropriate as the stars and strips. That is why i choose to fly it, because it conveys a more to the point message.
As far as stuff that's made in America, some is of good quality while some is udder junk. This is true for everywhere. An example comes from the machineshop I work in. We have gotten castings for rudder tiller arms in from China and when compaired to the castings that come from the company owned foundry in PA. The chinese parts are a bit cheaper, even after shipping. The only difference is you can't drive to china to bitch about pourocity.
A saying comes to mind in this instance:
In heaven the mechanics are german, The cooks are french, and the police are british. In hell the mechanics are french, the cooks are english, and the police are german.



YJ
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/02/2002
18:17:00

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Dak95's got a valid point.
I've purchased Chevy's and Chryslers. That's it. But after this truck, I'm gettin' a little bit tired. I work hard for the money I make, Uncle Sam takes $18 grand from me each year to help this country. I work at a thriving american business that also helps this country. I only bought American vehicles because I've always been a patriot. But even after hours/years/money I put into our economy, my dakota takes a little bit more. Unfortunately, the only way the US automakers will learn to exceed, rather than meet, is when the number of us 'loyal-return-buyers' of american made products diminishes. Of course, even then, the big three might just buy even more cheap, good parts from the big Jap 3 to sell under their names.

My opinion,
YJ

Black 2K QC 4x4 4.7 3.92 KVT910DVD
Black 91 YJ 4LHO Borla | 5" Suspension | 33BFGMT



costcutting
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/02/2002
21:41:12

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
WEll I got rid of my Dak thanks to numerous problems that never were made right.

I hated every minute of the selling process but I had to decide: Make payments AND repair bills or find a vehicle that I can make payments on and drive worry free? I chose the latter and bought a Suzuki. Is it good? Dunno. Will it last forever, again dunno. I never have owned an Asian vehicle before so I will learn on this one I suppose.

THe problem is not so much the $22.00 union guy. ITs the beancounters and wall street that demand instant returns on their investment. Something has to go in the current equation boys and thats money spend on R&D and procurement of high quality components used to make a car or truck. What goes is product developement and good engineering principles. In its place are compromises and asinine cost cutting. Detroit still insists on living on "next quarters profits" at the expense of long term customer satisfaction and market share. Face it, Camrys and Accords have all the sex appeal of a blade of grass yet they have displaced the Ford/Chevy duo as the 1-2 selling cars in the US. By the way, nearly all those Accords and Camrys are built right here with AMerican labor so I guess that kinda weakens the "$22.00/hr union pay argument.

The problem is American business has become a slave to wall street and when was the last time we saw a true entrepenuer like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Eli Whitney, the Wright Bros??? The heros now are the Al Dunlaps, the Kenneth Lays, the Ivan Boeskys and other "corporate raiders" that make lots of money by simply moving ownership from one entity to another. Nothing is sacred anymore. If there's a play, then so be it. Oh, hey sorry we have to sh*tcan thousands of jobs but lookie here, I increased the stock price a whopping five bucks a share!!! Plus, as CEO, I'm increasing the dividend, sunny or gray, again. Wanna bump up the stock price? Fire a lot of workers. Who is the one to watch in Detroit? Its not a Zora Duntov (the corvette guru) or a Lee Iacoca, or a Billy Mitchell or Harley Earl for that matter. ITs the pointy headed beancounter that figured out how to take three cents cost out of a fifty cent part. He's the one who rises thru the ranks because Wall Street says this is good. Car making in Detroit has become an enterprise where you trickle in minimum investment on one end and yet expect magnificent returns on the other end. Well boys, its ain't working. You're losing market share weekly. Your quest to squeeze maximum profit out of each vehicle has resulted in some frightening number of recalls. (Can you say FORD?) You use the cheapest possible components in your vehicles then laugh when a customer (me) comes back for the fourth time to get his rotors replaced because they warped....again. What was once the pride of the industrialized world has now become an amalgamated lineup cars destined for the rental fleets. (can you say Chevrolet?) Yes, Detroit cars are certainly good, in a sense. But good ain't good enough in this market.

Given the choices we have as consumers its not too hard to see where this will go eventually. Ford may end up in the arms of a Nissan or perhaps a Honda or maybe even a Korean automaker. Remember when Hyundai was synonomous with the work Junk? Check out their lineups now. THey are getting good reviews from repected authorities in the automotive world. GM will outlast Ford and DC simply because of its sheer size but in the long run, its days are numbered as well. DC is well, DC...primarly a ward of Daimler and the game planning is done in Stuggart, not Auburn Hills.

In closing, let me say that I was one of the biggest buy american guys around. I went head to head with Accord and Camry owners. I defended Detroit in ways that would surely make Lee Iacocca proud. I drove primarily Chrysler products most of my adult life. I extored people to buy american, no matter what the cost. I sneered at Japanese cars and laughed at the thought of a Korean company actually screwing together a car that held up better then my radio flyer wagon. I wretched at the very thought of driving a Japanese vehicle when thousands of americans were out of work.
Not anymore.
You see, in a free market economy such as this, the guy who builds a better mousetrap will get the business, plain, pure and simple. Now, how you go about building a better mousetrap than the other guy,well that indeed is more complicated.
Yet the sooner Harvard Business School goes back to teaching good old business fundamentals and the sooner wall street realizes that there ain't much blood left in the turnip, the better off the consumer AND the american worker will be.

We don't have much time.



Dak95
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/02/2002
22:26:53

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
WOW!

Great topic, great points being made.......

Can we really do something about it? I see Jaguar becoming a gussied up Ford, Mercedes-Benz using cheap plastic interiors on the lower priced models, hell, even Porsche is building an SUV!!

Face it, it's all about the $$$. It's not just in Detroit, BMW owns the MINI, Ford has most of Mazda, Volvo, and Jag. GM has SAAB and 20% of FIAT which includes Alfa Romeo but not Ferarri, not to mention most all of Daewoo (probably not a good thing!). And let's not forget our own Daimler-Chrysler. Merges and buy outs, in my opinion, will somehow make all cars very similar to each other. Sure, there will be some out there trying to keep a niche, Saleen is doing it, but at $250,000 a copy for the S7!
Look at what Toyota has done with the Tundra....sorry boys, it's a damn nice truck! Not for me, I'll keep my ole Dak but that's just a choice I've made but many die hard "America" only folks are driven' Toyota's.
I can't bring myself to buy an Asian car (even if it is built in Ohio by Americans) the profit goes back to the land of the rising sun. I will NEVER buy one. Stupid, self-serving, and narrow minded?? Maybe. But I guess that's what makes America great.

I have the choice. I have the freedom. And I can say
"shove that up your jap/fart-pipe/winged/stickered econo-box excuse for a car"

Because I have the RIGHT!

Happy 4th of July folks, fly the flag high!!

:-)



deflated one
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/03/2002
08:32:43

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Looks like costcutting did his homework too!



Bernd
*GenIII*
 Email User Profile


7/03/2002
08:42:46

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
And you think American cars have "Made in the USA" parts on them??? (I'll bet money that even Amsoil has European or Asian parts on their machines that make the US Synthetic Oil.)

Just remember who initially built this great country of ours...immigrants from overseas.

1997 Dodge Dakota SLT - V6
Supercharged/Intercooled @ 10# w/Nitrous
14.55 @ 96.01mph

Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/03/2002
08:59:03

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Oh, your rotors warped?

I've got a 01, QC, 4.7, 5spd, trie and handling pack, Towing pack, etc. now with 20K.

My brakes are fine! Been waiting for it to happen. The few emergency stops I've made, I felt the pulsing and clicking from the anti lock rears, not the warped rotors.

Are you one of the many who, accelerates to the sign/light, and then SHUTS IT DOWN with heavy braking, never/ ever gliding between? People on average are such shi$$y drivers these days!



cadetdak
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/03/2002
12:15:07

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
throught I'd make a quick point here. I drove a 97 dodge dakota till I totaled it (big accident=long story) with 60,000 miles on it. the only problems I had, which all vehicles are liable to have, was that the tape deck ate tapes took it into the dealer then finally bought a new head unit because I wanted a cd player. my point is this any vehicle you drive is going to have problems. My mom's mercedes needed new headlights after only 2000 miles, a friend's honda civic needed a new tranmission after only 500 miles.

Now let's get to my accident here I am driving an american made vehicle (country of origin from the sticker reads this

engine= United States
transmission= United States
final place of assembly= United States

I get into an accident with a foreign made product a toyota tacoma, and guess what I walked away while the driver of the tacoma spent a week in the hospital.

So my point is this, while all vehicles WILL and do have problems my primary concern is safety, now you can say well this jap car has a five star safety rating well think about this. Crash test are done at 40 mph my accident occured at 70mph, by the way the dakotya only got a one star rating and I think the tacoma got a 4 star. I keep hearing more and more how the lower rated american vehicles survive better in a crash then the higher rated import vehicles.

just somethign to think about.



YJ
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/03/2002
12:37:10

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Costcutting, a suzuki? I guess the name on your post says it all. ; )

YJ
Black 2K QC 4x4 4.7 3.92 KVT910DVD
Black 91 YJ 4LHO Borla | 5" suspension | 33BFGMT



Buy American
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/03/2002
13:32:52

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
I totally disagree with Dak95 on that $22 hour union boy issue (don't get me wrong those people piss me off as much as the next guy) But I would rather drive a vehicle that is "made in the USA" than any where else. I owned a 99 ram (bought it new, like many others) the truck was built in Mexico, and it had all kinds of rattles in it, the doors didn't close like either of the 96's I've had, and the paint didn't even match from the box to the front end. Junk. By the way do you even have a clue why Daimler was interested in Chrysler? ........ The truck market, the Jeep market, and because they were able to put the whole package together a lot more efficent than they could.

Costcutting: What kind of warranty does your SKUZUKI have on it? What do you think it will be worth in 10 years or so? More than likely 150 bucks or so (thats what I paid for my last 10 year old SKUZUKI bush buggy)



costcutting
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/03/2002
15:10:25

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Well, look at it this way. I have 3500 miles on teh Suzuki and it has not been back to the dealer once.

Same mileage at this same point in time on the Dakota 2 years ago and it had been back to the dealer 3 times in the first two months. So you go figure it out.

Finally, I did not buy a Suzuki for what it will be WORTH in 10 years, I bought it for what it is worth TODAY and that is reliability. Sure, I wil come back in 10 years and let you know how its going. Notice I stated "time will tell" if this vehicle is reliable or not. I did not do an endorsement of Suzuki products.



Buy American
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/03/2002
15:28:28

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
No how about you look at it this way, My 2001 Dak now has 34,000 on it and its never been to the dealer EVER. And its covered for 5 years or 100,000. My wifes Dakota (92) just turned 280,000, no problem getting there and many more. If you want to see reliability, I have an 87 Dakota in my yard Purchased new for $10500 in January 1987, V6 5 speed short box LE. It was finally retired in September 2001 with 780,000 racked up on it, still runs as strong as the day it was new. The engine is untouched so is the transmission,(other than a new clutch at 290,000) and the rear end is also orig. The last time the truck was at a dealer was January 1987. It recieved regular maintance, thats it. Hows that for reliability? Better than any rice burner Id say.



forexfour
GenI
 Email User Profile


7/03/2002
15:47:46

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
I agree with allot of the points made here about the Union worker and the jobs leaving the US because Americans are so cheap! Everyone wants to save a buck. When it comes to my stuff I do not want the lowest price, I want quality. If quality comes from Japan one what I need that is what I buy. It sucks that the country has come to this.
The union worker, it is amazing at how fast a card table and a deck of cards can be broken out at 1000 and 1500 just to get that break in, Oh and then there is lunch!!! Don't forget about five o'clock! If everyone could just drop what they were doing at a certain time of the day that would be great!?? We could be the best country in the world! Yeah right!!!
Unions can be good for all but some, not all make the American worker look like a lazy dumbass!!! You see this all over. I am all for fairness at work and not being underpaid or screwed all of the time. I know for me I make the same amount every Friday. I hope to only work 40 hours but end up with allot more, plus weekend problems. I will work any situation til it is complete and not be happy or comfortable til it is done.

I am Proud to live in the US and fly the flag Proudly. I even shed a tear everytime the national anthem is sung SERIOUSLY because what the song stands!

It would also be nice if life could be fair to all of us but thats a whole nother topic!

FXF

I have always bought American named companies cars. I know that it is not all made in the US especially more now than Years ago.

Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!! FourXFour's Web site

Muzzy
GenIII
 Email User Profile


7/05/2002
02:29:52

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Let me give you some enlightenment on the American Union Worker...

I am 3rd generation Chrylser family member. My grandfather retired from Chrysler as superintendant of the Trenton Engine plant after 30 years in. My uncle retired from Chrysler 10 years ago after putting 30 years in. My dad just retired from Chrysler last February after putting 34 years in. He was in charge of updating the CNC code on all the 4 cylinder production line machines.

My dad was always a die hard union man. UAW all the way....until recently. Him and I would argue everytime anything union was brought up in coversation. There was a time in this nation when unions were needed. Job choice wasn't there 75-100 years ago and companies would treat workers as slaves. Most people back then did not have the opporunities we have today to just quit and work somewhere else. Most companies today realize that happy employees = productive employees. People that stay in poor jobs have either no self esteem or are just plain stupid. Back to the story of my dad...DC made their offer a year and a half ago for retirement and near retirement packages to employees in order to make reductions in work force without laying people off. Many of the people that worked with my dad were at or near retirement age or had enough points and took the package. My dad decided to stick it out for a few more years to pay off the house he built before he retired. Plus he would get a little more of a pension. Well after all those experienced old timers left that were making close to max hourly, DC hired lots of new younger employees to replace them. For the last year and a half my dad has come home almost every day complaining about his job. These new generation of American works are getting paid between $16-$18 an hour, but have ZERO work ethic. My dad stated these guy show up late, drunk, on drugs, or not at all. He said they don't care to learn the job which has shifted the burden of keeping the production line he works on all up to him and a couple other old timers. The stress and overtime was starting to take a toll on him. And guess what??? You can't fire these schmucks because they are UNION. He had complained numerous times to management and they can't do anything. He even complained to his UAW local, but all they seem to care about is that the dues are getting paid. My dad is no longer a UAW fan. The next package they offered, he took. He has seen the light on what I have been trying to tell him for years.

If you want a quality car, then trash the unions and fully automate the plants with robotics. Train the employees that are willing to be robotic techs and programmers and let the rest get a job as janitors.

-Muzzy

2001 EC Dakota 4x4 - 287ci V8 - 5 Speed - 3.92 gears/w Sure Grip
Borla Stainless Steel Headers - IAT Adjuster
Flowmaster Force II Cat Back - Ported TB/Custom Cold Air intake
H&K USC Security System
Coming Soon - head porting/ install HO cams & valve springs

Doh
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/05/2002
03:36:05

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
Cool opinions everyone.

As a mechanical engineer, I've dealt with both union and non-union shops, and IN GENERAL, I would much rather deal with the non-union places. In my, admittedly limited, experience, many of the union workers were so stubborn that they wouldn't do anything but their specific job, which made it extremely difficult to get anything done.

As far as the US Steel industry goes, that is a complicated issue. A large reason that the US Steel industry is having problems is due to short term thinking and lack of R&D. The per person output of US Steel Mills is far lower than Japan's, and the quality and choice of metal is typically not as high. Furthermore, while Japan has dumped steel in the past, the US has countered with high tariffs to protect the less efficient US mills. There was a Time Magazine article a few months ago, where it was mentioned that the latest tariffs on steel might save 4,000 US Steel jobs, but cost 40,000 manufacturing jobs in the US (I forget the actual numbers, but I think the ratio is correct). In general, I am a strong believer that the best way to strengthen a company is to force it to compete instead of protecting it with tariffs, so I have a hard time supporting any protectionist attitudes.

Typically, it seems that the only way a company learns is when consumers vote with their money, so I would argue that if you want to make America strong, you should buy the product that is best for you regardless of where it is made. This will force companies to stay competitive.

Of course, given the fact that many large companies are multinational, buying American seems to be becoming more and more a myth than a reality.

In any case, my Dakota kicks ass and I wouldn't want anything else. I just hope I don't have too many problems with it.



J.D. Leddon
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/05/2002
06:15:41

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
I've had America & Jap cars & trucks. But I totaled out my 2000 Dakota in a roll over at 80 M.P.H. & walked away from it without a scratch on me.My buddy had a few scrapes but he was still walkin. So you tell me think a truck built somewhere else besides America would've let me walk away. I don't think so. The only thing that saved me that day was the Grace of God & a American built truck. i was so impressed that I walked away from the wreck unhurt I bought another Dakota. So people wake up & realise there isn't a better build truck than right here in the good olr U.S.A. Don't forget to fly those rebel flagd with the good old American flag. Happy 4th everyone



Dave Mitchell
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/05/2002
11:27:59

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
I think we should all just buy items made in China, export EVERY last non-executive job in the US there to those poor schmucks getting nothing from their Communist leaders except a mandate that you are allowed 2 male children and that's it.

Once all the non-executive jobs are all exported, we can jack the income tax to say... 75%... Bump up the capital gains tax to the same level, Social Security can go to 20%.

The United States will truly have the entirely service and information economy they all touted as ideal when I was in high school in the '70's.
Then the rest of us can become dependents of the Socialist state the United States will become.

WELFARE FOR EVERYONE! FOODSTAMPS FOR ALL!

LET THE REST OF THE WORLD WORK!

We can live off the executives like they did us!

<GRIN>

There... Does that work? (pardon de pun).

Dave



Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/05/2002
13:13:24

RE: Patriotism?
IP: Logged

Message:
I have owned a few jap trucks and I have found that when they do need to be worked on that it is so expensive that you usually end up junking them.
Let's face it, America builds the best trucks in the world.

Dodge, GM and FORD !



   P 1 Next Page>>


 



Home | Forums | Members | Pictures | Contact Us

This site is in no way affiliated with Chrysler or any of its subsidiaries.