Well, we are on edge in our house. Why you ask? Well, dh's company is doing a 10% layoff. 10% of their employees are being laid off. He works for a company that supplies to the auto industry.
Think about it. What is your biggest investment? You house right? Well, what is your second biggest investment? Your car. Do you buy your house from overseas? Do you order it and have it shipped here? I don't think so.
Our economy, and not just the economy in Michigan, needs people to get back to the "Buy American" thinking of the 70's.
The most common response when I say to buy American, is to say that the American cars are all from parts made overseas. Yes, many of the parts are, but many of those companies (like my husbands) are also based here in the US and employee many, many Americans. In the end, you are supporting an American based company that pays Americans. That company also supports many smaller suppliers her in in the US who then pay other Americans. Those Americans then use the money they earn to buy computers, hire accountants, get medical care, grocery shop, pay for Cable TV and on and on. If those Americans are not being paid, you are not just hurting the auto industry, you are hurting everyone that depends on that and let me tell you, in the end, you are probably only a few steps away from being impacted buy the record job losses.
The next response is that foreign cars are higher quality. BS... My last 3 cars all lasted 5-7 years and all had well over 100,000 miles and they were HARD miles. On top of that, how long do you really keep your car? Do you need a car that lasts 15 years when you only intend to own it for 3 years? Yes, I did have issues with cars, things to happen, but you can't name me a single car where it never needs a single repair in over 100,000 miles. Domestic cars are high quality and very safe! (my new one has 5 star safety rating all around!)
Are you disgusted that everything in stores is made in China now? Do you peel that Made In China sticker off before you give someone a gift you bought? If so, then why is it so ok to pride yourself, even brag about buying a huge ticket item from Japan, Germany or Sweden?
I was born and raised to buy American cars. I will always and forever buy American because, fact is, my family, friends, state and in the end, a good part of the national economy need the return to Buy American!
Think next time you are car shopping. Are you supporting people you know, your fellow Americans or the people and economy of another country?
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12 years ago
6 comments:
*****STANDING UP AND APPLAUDING*****
REAL Americans BUY American.
Prayers for your husband's job (and my husband's as well.)
I knew you could relate Rebecca. He made it through todays cuts. They are cutting people every Friday. Not that there is ever a good day, but I so hope nothing happens to him next Friday. I am leaving with the girls to go to NYC to see C (and J) on the Big Screen in Time Square and don't want that negative to put a damper on the weekend!
The problem is our government is allowing big corporations to ship some of those jobs overseas too.
Yes, I agree that we should be supporting our country and buying American, but we should also be keeping American jobs here at home too.
Jess- I agree. Dh's company just told a group of workers here that they have people coming up from Mexico. They will be training to replace the US workers and the US workers have to train them. Once they are trained, they will go back to Mexico and the US workers will be laid off. They have no real choice to do it because their severence is reliant on them doing the training. Nice huh.
Unfortulately, it's a "which came first, the chicken or the egg". The companies need to have the sales to support the payroll but they need to US workers to encourage the population to buy American.
We will know tomorrow about dh's job but it is not looking good.
Well, he is still employed for now. They didn't lay off anyone but have said they are going to so again, people have to worry and wait.
Jess- I also wanted to say that I would love to see a tax on companies that ship overseas. I think they should have to pay a tax into the US unemployment and insurance programs. Make it a hefty tax so that overseas work isn't as appealing anymore.
How long do I keep my cars? Over a decade. Hubby's is 11 years old, 110,000 miles. Mine is 8 with 58,000 miles.
So, to answer your question; yes, I need a car to last 15 years. :)
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