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Re: U.S. Auto Workers: "Wot Happened?
"Rita ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï ¿½ï¿½ï¿½" wrote:
> Joe wrote:
>
>
>>>Stop and think. We're told this week that the average annual wage
>>>for a Ford family production line worker is an astounding $65,000!
>>>Where else in the world can an uneducated, ignorant, untalented,
>>>unskilled slob who tightens bolts make anything approaching that
>>>figure?
>>
>>Oh, that's easy - Japan! It's amazing isn't it? We're having trouble
>>competing with people who have even higher wages than we do! It's just
>>incredible. They produce Japanese cars in the U.S. because it's
>>cheaper here! We (in the US) are their cheaper labor force.
>
>
> Not even remotely wrong! Japan's autoworker's salaries don't even come
> close to half of their American counterparts. They produce "Japanese cars
> in the U.S. because it's cheaper here" is not a byproduct of autoworker's
> salaries, but a direct result of import tariffs and "Fair Trade" policies
> imposed by the US so we can compete. Japanese cars are *assembled* in the
> US for the sole reason to get around these unfair taxes an tariffs that
> would be added to the car once it hit the shore.
>
>
Honda Accord has the majority of its parts build in the US as well. Its
not just *assembled* here. Its a full US car in every respect except
the OEM. I agree they get around fees like this.
>>Now just imagine you're in another industry, that competes with the
>>Chinese!!! Sound fun? Detroit had it easy, believe me. Try to find a
>>U.S. made TV. About half of the domestic car market is U.S.-made
>>cars. What percent of the domestic market is held by American-made
>>TV's? clothes? American-made telephones? Stereos? Hmm?
>
>
> Yes, I agree Detroit had it easy with unfair Union protections for unskilled
> and overpaid laborers and the auto industry as a whole basked in all the
> protectionism from the US government to keep them afloat. There is no way
> in hell that you or I can afford to buy American made products like TVs or
> clothes because other countries like China are paying slave wages if they
> are paying wages at all.
>
Unfair with respect to what? Certainly not with respect to the bilking
done by ownership and management. They are and have been even more
overpaid.
Well what do you think happens as a result of US protectionism of auto
industry? What is US protectionism anyway? We take our tax dollars and
pay our own wages? Certainly thats got to hurt other US industries that
are in effect subsidising the underperforming auto industry (or any
other protected industry).
Tarrifs? So we take a piece of profit from each imported car.
Obviously this is wonderful incentive to the profit receivers to import
MORE cars. Might as well give the US govt, stock in foreign automakers.
Besides that, trade will always be balanced. Either through debt, or
harm to other industries. You should recognize the dominance of foreign
electronics as being related to the tarrifs on other foreign products.
A country can only buy from foreign countries as much as foreign
countries buy from it. Else there is a trade deficit, which can't last
forever until balance is returned one way or another. (today this facade
of balance comes through Asians purchasing of US debt)
Welfare is welfare. Same results on every level.
>
>>Those of you tempted to reply to this obvious troll, please don't.
>
>
> Troll or not he does bring up some very valid points. Maybe now these
> overpaid workers will get a taste of reality when they have to get a job at
> Home Depot for $12 an hour telling people what aisle the wax rings for the
> toilet are in. As for the same old boring overpriced garbage Detroit is
> putting out every year, they will now need to get their act together.
> Welcome to the "New World Order" and the "Global Economy" and learn to live
> with it.
>
Post makes few valid points. Its full of sophistry. Blame the powerless.
Bill Clinton was smart to pass NAFTA because by the time NAFTA arrived,
Mexico and Canada were already headed toward being irrelevant. So he
really didnt do anything.
Global economy is right. More than anything though what it does is
makes US companies have to compete harder with other US companies. Ford
and GM dont just need to be better than Toyota, they need to be better
than Toyota by as much as IBM is better than its foreign counterpart.
(Given trade is immediately balanced.)
Why should IBM or any other US company help auto companies through US
tax protectionism when in fact IBm is in competition with auto companies
for foreign revenue?
We need good leadership much more than any change in workers. I
actually Like Bill Ford being in control. I have a feeling he cares
about his company (not necessarily people) and will try to make it
right. He may or may not have the skill to do it.
--
Thank you,
CL Gilbert
"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16
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