Originally Posted by VtSteve

Interesting theory on the wages. But how much have Ford's cars made in Mexico been reduced in price? Wages are about 10% of the car's cost. Starting wages at the plants now are not close to what they were. Have you seen dramatic sticker price reductions?

If wages were cut across the board 10%, that's how much companies would save on their operating costs, pretty much period. As for investing, billions are being invested overseas in expanding markets. That's a good thing, as it keeps profits and growth rolling. But it indirectly impacts us all here, but still an important part of the big picture.

There's so many arguments about labor and jobs now. They hate unions, get rid of them, jobs lost, wages down. When consumers have less to spend, demand goes down, jobs go down. Markets are impacted by many things. Do I need to buy a Mexican made Ford Fusion over a Kentucky-made Camry? Some Camry's are now going to be exported. But the big picture is this. Do we help create potential markets by building plants in Mexico? Probably yes, in the long run. I'd rather Mexico be strong not poor. Engineers and designers from Mexico have been training in Michigan. Wonder why?

A lot of the arguments made about the Buy American product push are being made by many people that have fought labor tooth and nail, and cheered when jobs went overseas. Not all certainly, but many. The subject is very complicated, and involves much more than simple corporate domain. Most, if not all of the foreign companies manufacturing in the US are US corporations.

Originally Posted by Keith Atlanta

Buy American is a loaded statement. I think it applies more to consumer goods at the Walmart level. You also have to bring in other factors such as price. If you are standing at home depot looking at something generic you have to draw a line somewhere. If you are going to buy a box of Chinese nails for $2.99 or American nails for $4.49 - sorry but I have to go with Chinese. If its a few cents more, I would go with American. Anybody that tells you we cant compete with China (in most general manufacturing) is full of $hit. We can make good products just as cost effectively as any other country.

Originally Posted by ZP'd

Gee I'd draw a line in a diiferent way.., I'd buy the American made nails and support my fellow American. What? Do the Raylars in your Baja take that much more gas that you can't afford to pay a couple bucks more and support a a American Corporation? This type thinking is what will someday having us totally owned by the Chinese.
If I have to purchase something that is made overseas it's bought at the Mom and Pop hardware store even though it'd be cheaper at Walmart. My wife shops at our local grocer again owned by a local Buisness person that I'm sure is costing me more money, yet pay's divdidends in many way's that initial costs does not reflect.

$10-$12 a hour? Hell you can get that at the un-employment office. In labor you get what you pay for. Want loyalty? A engaged employee? Some of the most successful Companies in the Country have both and pay a fair middle class wage with very little turnover and all the while making excellent profits for their shareholders. Skilled worker or not, in the end the middleclass is what drives the economy, not someone living at the poverty level soaking up goverment assistance,

I've owned G.M' products my entire life. Only lemon I ever had from them was a 96 Grand Am. My old neighbor owned a Toyota Corolla that burned as much oil as gas among other issues. Said to be normal by the Toyota Dealership..

Old school raised I guess, money stays in America and local whenever possible. I prefer the English language..

Originally Posted by VtSteve

The interesting thing is this. Toyota treats their workers very well here. In fact, they treat their workers better than many Americans think auto workers should be treated. We've gone through 3 years of some pretty rabid discussion of the Big Three, and there was little love for workers then. I fail to see how a Buy American argument can be made now based on how a company treats workers, or their health care benefits or hiring practices.

It's yet another case where ideology gets in the way of the thought process. I suspect many would be surprised at what auto makers make nowadays, after the fallout. That said, I'd rather work for Toyota in kentucky than be a union employee for the Big Three.

Originally Posted by VtSteve

I hear ya, lots of junk made today. You need a computer tech to fix a stove

No I don't work for any car company. And I fully understand the Buy American movement, and support it quite a bit. There are many great US made products, and some crap like everywhere else. Originally, many US companies moved some operations overseas to make more money. Nowadays, they do it to take advantage of growing new markets. But in many ways, they've chosen to leave the US market to make a buck.

I support a company like Costco over Wal-Mart, like to use my local hardware store, and try to support good effort and quality whenever. Sometimes, companies need a nudge. Ford didn't do what they did for US manufacturing this year and last because they're nice. They saw the backlash at GM, and tried some PR. It worked for awhile, and appears to be a stabilizing factor.

It truly is the consumer choice, always has been. But the average consumer feels no more loyalty to buying American to support US workers than the companies have to the US consumer or worker at large. That's the real problem. I'd gladly pay an extra $50 for a phone or iPod if it was made and assembled here. But then again, same analogy to Ford. Apple builds them overseas, but makes a lot of money for shareholders.

Originally Posted by soldier4402

Your are right on somethings. Its going to take our government and corporations to work together to bring some jobs back. But the american people have to work with everything as well. People have to start with the mentality that their job might be next and yeah I might spend 5 bucks more on this product but it could mean 20 bucks more in my pocket in the long run.