GM billboard in California "Buy American"

[Sstashmoo]

Here is a great article/example depicting the flippancy and idiocy, with some blatant irony right on the page penned by some clueless moron in California.

It is a billboard that reads simply "GM Buy American"

She goes on to say: Quoted from the article""In some ways, the sign is a bold statement of pride. In other ways, it reminds me of the homeless men at offramps who hold up signs saying, "Please help"."" Funny?

http://www.cnbc.com/id/30748169

It's in CNBC's Jane Wells' column called "Funny business" Does this umm person think this is "funny"? hundreds of thousands of people are going to lose their job on a failure of GM, she thinks this is funny? Do those folks not realize they are going down with us? As they tool along in their Toyota and Honda and chuckle at this billboard? Are they that stupid in California?

On the very same page, she has a story about how bad California's economy is, she goes on to say""if the worst is behind California according to the economists[[as if) , why is California still hurting?

[ccbatson]

"Buying American" is not enough to save GM. It is necessary to unburden them from organized labor and government over regulation in order for them to compete.

The frustrating part is, with the proper [[conservative) leadership, this is very possible. The liberal political agenda is preventing it.

[East Detroit]

People just do what they want for them.

"ME" and "MY" said a particular forumer over and over again.

Besides, what happens to our manufacturing base couldn't affect people in other industries, could it?

[mjs]

Ah, you mean like the conservative administration that helped them exit the hybrid and alternative vehicle markets? Where would GM be today if they had started production of the Volt last year?

[ccbatson]

Excellent point. People do what is best for their own interests. Buying the best product for the lowest price in this case. It is the job of the automaker to provide what their customers want per the above description in order to compete and succeed. Government needs to get out of their way and allow them to compete if there is any hope of success [[or even survival).

[mjs]

Like the government of California deciding that reducing smog was in their best financial interest. If it was in GM's best interest to stay out such a whacky market, they could have simply not sold vehicles in California. Man, if only those beuracrats in the White House didn't get in the way of capitalism where a deal is made only if the buyer and seller's interests meet.

[Sstashmoo]

Batts wrote: "People do what is best for their own interests."

They do and there is nothing wrong with that, however somewhere in everyone's strive for a top spot, the interests of the country as a whole must be considered as well. They haven't been, it's been an all-out Screw you I got mine capitalistic rampage. We need more government oversight and regulation. Not to be confused with socialism. The same reason we have laws and a penal system, individuals cannot always be trusted to do what is best for themselves and society in general. Individuals given free reign cannot always be trusted to do what is best for their country. These folks off-shoring manufacturing knew what they were doing would eventually have an adverse effect here. They don't care about anyone but themselves. A country cannot prosper under those circumstances.

My question is: When is the present administration going to do something about it? The Bush administration did nothing. It's beginning to look like more of the same.

[oladub]

My question is: When is the present administration going to do something about it? The Bush administration did nothing. It's beginning to look like more of the same.[/

One of the first things that GM did since it became Government Motors is to announce that beginning in 2011, GM would begin importing Chinese manufactured cars. Since President Obama fired GM's CEO and is replacing him with his own CEO, the decision to import Chinese cars was made by an Omama appointee. My wild guess is that it is part of what the US agreed to do if China agrees to buy more Treasuries.

[Sstashmoo]

Quote: "My wild guess is that it is part of what the US agreed to do if China agrees to buy more Treasuries."

And probably a very accurate guess. Exploiting the GM brand to funnel even more Chinese junk into the dwindling American markets.

Along the same lines. I was going to buy a new 20 hp Mercury outboard this spring. They have always been built in Wisconsin. Did a little research, not built here anymore. 50 horsepower and below are all built by Tohatsu in Asia. No sale.

[East Detroit]

No sale.

Magnificent valor!

[East Detroit]

Batts wrote: "People do what is best for their own interests."

They do and there is nothing wrong with that...

There is something wrong with being driven only by selfish desires. As humans, rather than animals, we try to rise above base survival instincts... but then again the Reagan 80's has brought us the "ME" generation's children. And you'll see that Asian cultures differ there significantly as they think about community before self. Go figure!

[ccbatson]

Read [[and think about) Ayn Rand's nonfiction work "the virtues of selfishness" Very compelling and eye opening stuff.

[mjs]

Yes, you should do whats in your best self interest, but what Rand fails to understand is that government intervention is necessary to influence whats in your best interest when best interests conflict or when people act irrationally. I build a brick producing furnace on my land because I can make a solid profit and its in my best interest. Its in your best interest to enjoy your neighboring land, not paint your house every other day, and not have an asthma attack. Without government, you can achieve your best interest in one of two ways, you can blow up my oven or you can beat my head in. Of course, my response is to blow up your house or beat your head in. Rand's government is alive and well in Somalia.

[Blarf]

I'd gladly buy American, but most things seems to be made in China. Ehh.

[ccbatson]

She [[Rand) does not fail to acknowledge the role of government in the least. In fact, she is very descriptive of the necessity of government for defense and for arbitrating all contractual relations of individuals insuring free and fair trade.

[mjs]

First, is your right to be free of my smoke fall under national defense or contract rights? Second, I remember her saying what you've said. However, the hero of the book later said he'd only help the government if they eliminated all taxes. Thats not going to fund much of a military or court.

[ccbatson]

That is one of her novels, not her nonfiction work.

Taxes paid voluntarily by those utilizing the services for which they are levied is not an "elimination of taxes"