Out of the job yet? Keep buying foreign....

[Bad Brains]

Everytime I see someone with one of these bumper stickers, I want to ram them with my car. How much do you want to bet that the bumper stick, or even the ink used to print it, wasn't made in America? I wonder how many parts in their car weren't made in America? I wonder how many of their household appliences weren't made in America?

Can someone explain what the bumper stick is suppose to imply? I have to be missing something here.

[tplyons]

They think buying foreign means that jobs in America disappear and are looking for a scapegoat for the poor economy. Someone's looking to blame someone else, it's as simple as that.

[Bad Brains]

Doesn't surprise me.

I just hope these same people with these bumper stickers go through and inventory everything they own to make sure none of it was made in a different country.

[iamlowsound]

I love it when I am riding in my friends Acura (which was made in Canada) and see it on the back of a GM vehicle that was made in Mexico. Makes me laugh.

lowsound

[FL Knifemaker]

There are probably more of those stickers in Michigan than any other state

[v-12]

Originally Posted by tplyons

They think buying foreign means that jobs in America disappear and are looking for a scapegoat for the poor economy. Someone's looking to blame someone else, it's as simple as that.

are you saying buying foreign products doesn't lead to the loss of domestic jobs?


i personally prefer "buy american or apply for foreign welfare".

these bumper stickers have been around a lot longer than the current economic situation.
one of my favorite stories-

"From his first days as a Ford engineer, Jack Roush has been a staunch proponent of American enterprise. Years ago, when one of his employees showed up for work driving a yellow, Japanese-made pickup truck, Roush paid the man in yen."

[FL Knifemaker]

Originally Posted by v-12

are you saying buying foreign products doesn't lead to the loss of domestic jobs?


i personally prefer "buy american or apply for foreign welfare".

these bumper stickers have been around a lot longer than the current economic situation.
one of my favorite stories-

"From his first days as a Ford engineer, Jack Roush has been a staunch proponent of American enterprise. Years ago, when one of his employees showed up for work driving a yellow, Japanese-made pickup truck, Roush paid the man in yen."

+1

Our home is as "Buy American" as possible. It can get expensive for certain things but it's only money. My daily driver was made by AMERICAN MOTORS

[Lesfunk]

It's more expensive to produce things in the US.
I doubt Indosesian factories have to worry about pesky details like Minimum wage, Workers safety, healthcare benefits, and Child labor laws
American consumers won't pay extra to keep production in The U.S.A.

[Bad Brains]

Originally Posted by Lesfunk

American consumers won't pay extra to keep production in The U.S.A.

It's the truth. You can't really blame them though.

[funkalicious101]

I buy what I want the most for the best price. I feel no attachment to my country.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by Bad Brains

Doesn't surprise me.

I just hope these same people with these bumper stickers go through and inventory everything they own to make sure none of it was made in a different country.

You're well aware that your state used to have a powerful manufacturing sector that contributed to the employment of many citizens. Those good paying jobs went overseas.

I should think that as a Detroit area resident you'd appreciate the message. If not, you need to watch Roger and Me.

And yes, hypocrisy is silly, but the message is still an important one.

[chicago_mike]

Globalization. As Orwellian as you want to put it, its not happening, its been happening.

I dont see a big budweiser boycott...

Roger and me...he is doing an update to that. Things have prolly only gotten worse. I know a guiy who lives in Mi, and when I visit him, its like there was a war and no one ever cleaned up the mess. Same goes for the steel towns.

[Joey3313]

I buy American Apparel shirts (made in the states)...


But that's only so I can be a trendy folk-hop gangster scene kid.

[jomahu]

well, if they allowed hemp to be cultivated here, i'd go for that.

[D.Don]

Originally Posted by Bad Brains

Doesn't surprise me.

I just hope these same people with these bumper stickers go through and inventory everything they own to make sure none of it was made in a different country.

Not to even mention every time they fill up their car with gas....

D.Don

[Bad Brains]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

You're well aware that your state used to have a powerful manufacturing sector that contributed to the employment of many citizens. Those good paying jobs went overseas.

I should think that as a Detroit area resident you'd appreciate the message. If not, you need to watch Roger and Me.

And yes, hypocrisy is silly, but the message is still an important one.

My whole point is that the person with the bumper sticker probably owns goods made in other countries.

I'd love to but American made things myself, but if none are offered, or if the ones offered are inferior to those made in other countries, then what do they expect average people to do?

[Oric]

Working at a Toyota factory, I find this amusing. Every single Camry out there is made in the United States, by American workers with American managers (for the most part), using American made parts. The only foreign thing is the name on the back of the car. The building of this factory in my hometown has done nothing but good for the local economy, and all workers are assured job security- Toyota has not laid off workers since 1954. They're being smart and reducing costs through other things, instead of burning through money.
As an autoworker (I probably shouldn't call myself that, I'm only a temporary), I do feel for the employees of the Big Three, many have been screwed over by bad business practices, and Michigan is practically in a depression because of this.

[Jonny B]

Originally Posted by Bad Brains

Everytime I see someone with one of these bumper stickers, I want to ram them with my car. How much do you want to bet that the bumper stick, or even the ink used to print it, wasn't made in America? I wonder how many parts in their car weren't made in America? I wonder how many of their household appliences weren't made in America?

Can someone explain what the bumper stick is suppose to imply? I have to be missing something here.

The bumper sticker is implying that by purchasing products made in foreign lands, with cheaper labor, and more relaxed environmental codes (if any), instead of products produced here, by American citizens, you are in essence negating a job here in the good ol' U.S. of A.

This is in fact true. When Company A, here in the states produces widgets for $.50 a piece and sells them for $1.00 a piece, and Company B, in a foreign land produces widgets for $.10 a piece and sells them for $.80 a piece, demand for Company A's widgets dries up, forcing them to cut costs (usually by laying people off) or to close entirely. This reduces the American job market.

If you haven't noticed, over the last few decades manufacturing jobs have been moving over seas at an alarming rate, thereby leaving many skilled Americans with out jobs. Just in the last six months alone, over 2,000 jobs in my area have been lost to overseas competition. So what the bumper sticker is implying, is that by purchasing products produced in a foreign land, you may actually be putting yourself out of a job.

Now before you go flaming me, or rebutting me, I understand that half the parts in my "American" car come from overseas, as well as half the parts in my "American Made" television, refrigerator, DVD player and so on. The difference, is that my "American Made" products were put together by somebody here in America, thereby keeping jobs, or even creating new ones here in America. When people have jobs, particularly manufacturing jobs, they tend to have disposable income. When people have disposable income, they tend to buy things, like cars, televisions, and refrigerators. If they buy "American Made" items, they keep the buck circulating here in America.

But Wait! That's not all! These awesome people with their disposable income do other things with their money as well. They do crazy things like go to the movies, or go out to eat, or go on vacations and stay in hotels. When they do these things, they keep the unskilled laborers (possibly such as yourself) in the service industry employed, so those people can have a disposable income as well.

So if you don't think that keeping Americans employed is all that big of a deal, by all means, go out and buy the cheapest foreign made whatever it is you're buying and don't think twice about it. But when your job gets downsized (in other words, you get fired) because there is no demand for your services, don't come here and complain.

[Bad Brains]

Originally Posted by Oric

Working at a Toyota factory, I find this amusing. Every single Camry out there is made in the United States, by American workers with American managers (for the most part), using American made parts.

+1

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if those Toyota's were more "American" than many of the Big 3.

[Jonny B]

Originally Posted by Bad Brains

+1

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if those Toyota's were more "American" than many of the Big 3.

But all of them are "American Made". That's the point.

Buying "American Made" products keeps Americans employed.