Chavez really wants that bullet, doesn't he.

[taurusowner]

Where do you work ssbn?  Unless you work for the government, I'd bet you work for a business of some sort.

Maybe we should all kick those greedy businesses out and just work for the government...oh wait what's the name for that again?

[ssbn642]

Maybe we should all kick those greedy businesses out and just work for the government...oh wait what's the name for that again?

With all due respect, I work in the auto industry which is in decline due to people buying imports.  Thanks by the way...

[taurusowner]

I live in Michigan.  It used to be the auto center of the world.  Why is it not anymore?  Because UAW demanded massively bloated wages that the market simply cannot bear.  Auto workers demanded too much money for a job that isn't worth what the think it is, especially with the advances in robotics and the growth of other nations.

You are basically demanding the America auto industry deliberately shoot itself in the foot(more like chest) and not keep up with the rest of the world just so UAW can keeps it's bloated wages.

[De Selby]

I live in Michigan.  It used to be the auto center of the world.  Why is it not anymore?  Because UAW demanded massively bloated wages that the market simply cannot bear.  Auto workers demanded too much money for a job that isn't worth what the think it is, especially with the advances in robotics and the growth of other nations.

So the Japanese workers have no unions and are all underpaid wage slaves? Last I checked, Japan has life pensions and free health care for all its employees, among other union/socialist policies.

This is excuse making designed to cover the real cause of decline in our auto industry-bad decision making at the very top levels of the business.

If a heavily managed/socialist economy ruins auto industries, I'd expect Japan wouldn't be at the top of the market....but hey, there it is for you.  http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/15/bloomberg/sxpay.php

"The strength of Japanese companies is that we cooperate and work together with unions," said Kawaguchi. "At Nissan, we have a very positive relationship with our union."

[Gewehr98]

With all due respect, I work in the auto industry which is in decline due to people buying imports.  Thanks by the way...

"With all due respect", you're SOOOO welcome.  Now, where have I heard that mewling rant before?

Oh, yeah.  They're closing the nearby Janesville GM plant.  There's much weeping and gnashing of teeth, with union stooges predictably stating that they're going under because Americans are buying imports, and that it's oh-so-unAmerican and unpatriotic to do so, taking food from their mouths and all that.

Which is absolutely hilarious, because they build nothing but Suburbans and Tahoes at Janesville.  Evidently, GM didn't get the memo about gas prices pushing through $4.00/gallon.  Yeah, we Americans want to run right out and buy a big FSP (Fuel-Sucking Pig) as gasoline hits a record high. Maybe we can have a Sally Struthers telethon decrying the plight of autoworkers and their management, to better sway consumer opinion towards the gas-guzzling products that are made here.  Un-American and unpatriotic?  My posterior. The juggernaut that is the American auto industry took forever to get the rudder swung hard over after the Arab Oil Embargo, and it looks like they NEVER learned their lesson in the intervening 30+ years.  Jeebus. Cry me a friggin' river.   

[lupinus]

Those ancient IEDs, AK47s, and RPGs sure are giving us a hard time in Iraq.

Only because we let them give us a hard time by tying both of our own hands and one foot behind our back.

So what would be the appropriate response?

Stop waging this nice, pc, war.  Take the gloves off.  Let the military do what it does best, and let them kick the ever loving *expletive deleted*it out of them.

[ssbn642]

In Europe, most countries limit the amount of imports sold or imported in their country, they PROTECT their economy.  The US through NAFTA gave it away.  High paying jobs, think computer programmer, engineer, etc...

As for the US auto industry, I sell cars.  I can sell 10 in one month and only make $750. due to the fact that you think you don't have to pay retail for cars/trucks, but try that at the grocery store.

[ssbn642]

Those ancient IEDs, AK47s, and RPGs sure are giving us a hard time in Iraq.

Only because we let them give us a hard time by tying both of our own hands and one foot behind our back.

So what would be the appropriate response?

Stop waging this nice, pc, war.  Take the gloves off.  Let the military do what it does best, and let them kick the ever loving *expletive deleted*it out of them.

Ever have a butt puckering experience? Been shot at ?  Served in the military?

[The Annoyed Man]

Edit: Post deleted: contributing to the off-topicness.

[ssbn642]

The juggernaut that is the American auto industry took forever to get the rudder swung hard over after the Arab Oil Embargo, and it looks like they NEVER learned their lesson in the intervening 30+ years.  Jeebus. Cry me a friggin' river.  

GM has over 30 models that get 30 MPG or more.

[roo_ster]

He also pulled out the businesses that were stealing that nations wealth, ie. oil.

Did you expect Shell, Mobil, etc. to find the oil, extract it, and get it pumped on to tankers as a charity project?

[roo_ster]

Maybe we should all kick those greedy businesses out and just work for the government...oh wait what's the name for that again?

With all due respect, I work in the auto industry which is in decline due to people buying imports.  Thanks by the way...

You have it backwards: People buy imports because the American auto industry provided products of declining value and quality. 

They have improved over the years, but still play catch-up in most segments.

[Manedwolf]

Maybe we should all kick those greedy businesses out and just work for the government...oh wait what's the name for that again?

With all due respect, I work in the auto industry which is in decline due to people buying imports.  Thanks by the way...

What "imports" might these be? My Honda was built in Ohio. I know someone with a Ford made in Mexico.

Define "import".

[grampster]

I think America should warn the Russians to cease dealing with Chavez or we'll invoke the Monroe Doctrine.

[ssbn642]

There is no "Monroe Doctrine" or any other treaty or "Agreement" that this goverment has entered into that is worth a Damn. This goverment has circled around every one it entered into.  Interior or external.

 This administration is worth just about as any previous admistration in upholding the law of the land.  And I go back 200 years.  Look at how we promised and then treated the American Indian and their  Nations. 

Sorry, I know you won't do the research, just believe our media outlets.

"No nation building" in 2000 by Bush.

Not affiliated with a party, but damn, wake up.

[ssbn642]

What "imports" might these be? My Honda was built in Ohio. I know someone with a Ford made in Mexico.

Define "import".

How about where the PROFITS go overseas.

Lets say GM Makes about 100 Million in domestic product, they then spend 50 Million on infrasructre in the US.  The Japs make 100 Million and they spend 10 Million on their factory infrastrutre.  Where did the rest of the profit go to?

By the way, if you are educated, you can look up these stats.   I won't do the work for you.

[roo_ster]

But, Detroit no longer spends that kind of heavy dough in the USA.  Maybe in Mexico, if you want to consider Mexico part of the USA.

For instance, my old Nissan PU was made in Tennessee.  The Dodge Ram is made in Mexico.  Profits from the Nissan go to Japan & those from the Ram go to the US.

Thing is, the profit margin is just that: marginal.  The rest of the cost to produce a truck: labor, capital, materials, etc. amount to MUCH more than the profit margin.  So, American workers, parts suppliers, the UAW, the lunch diner down the street from the Nissan plant all make a buck when I buy a Nissan PU, along with the rice-eating management.

When I buy a Dodge Ram PU, a buncha Mexicans south of El Paso and some Detroit suits make a buck and American working stiffs get stiffed.

[Sergeant Bob]

I bought my wife a Honda CR-V last fall (great car by the way) and it has actually gone up in value. We got it for $16,000, and you can't touch one similar or even older with more miles on it for less than $20K now.
I guess all those Tahoe drivers are parking their tuna cruisers and going for something with a little better value.

If GM and the rest of the "Big" Three would get their act together, instead of just bitching about them furriners, maybe they could get us "unpatriotic" consumers back.

[Manedwolf]

What "imports" might these be? My Honda was built in Ohio. I know someone with a Ford made in Mexico.

Define "import".

How about where the PROFITS go overseas.

Lets say GM Makes about 100 Million in domestic product, they then spend 50 Million on infrasructre in the US.  The Japs make 100 Million and they spend 10 Million on their factory infrastrutre.  Where did the rest of the profit go to?

By the way, if you are educated, you can look up these stats.   I won't do the work for you.

Uh. Does "Honda of America" mean anything to you?

You do know they have an entire corporate structure here, president and all, that only reports to the parent in Japan, but is a US company?

[doczinn]

Hugo, as does the US has the right to conduct and defend his country as the voters see fit.

This is tiring, really. 50%+1 of the people are OK with it, so it's OK. Right.

Hugo, as does the US has the right to conduct and defend his country as the voters see fit.

Kindly explain how they were stealing.

Why do we even care what he does, OH yea, the media and govt. says we have to... police police police

Now that's the real howler. Invoking some nebulous media/government conspiracy on the opposing side, despite the fact that the mainstream media ignore most of what happens down there.