If anyone ever gives you guff about "Buy 'Murican cars!" you can tell them that Toyota, Honda, Subaru, and a ton of other foreign companies have American plants. Then when they say "Yeah, but that money all goes back to Japan!" you can say "Except for the wages for American workers, local taxes, the local American companies they depend to run, etc." Then I suggest you walk away ASAP, cause if they still want to continue this dumb argument, consternation and hyperbole tend to follow. Also, Toyota is still in NASCAR when Chrysler pulled out years ago. Just sayin'.
Ugh. I get so frustrated every time I have this discussion. It goes even deeper. If you want blank stares instead of consternation take one more step. A company's profits go to its shareholders. Who are the shareholders of Toyota? Three of the top ten shareholders of Toyota are American companies. And those companies have diversified, usually institutionalized, ownership just like the Japanese companies who are the main owners of Toyota. It is certain that Americans own shares and partake in the profits of both the American shareholding companies as well as the main Japanese owners. And it is also probable that American auto workers/teachers/police/etc. union pension funds own a piece of all of those entities and so also profit. It is so complicated. Ownership, ethics, etc. I can't spend an hour on google every time I want to buy an apple.
I have no delusions about that argument making them change their mind. It is too confusing and is usually met by blank stares. But I like to work in the fact that American pensioners are also benefiting. If they continue but are not too angry I ask why they hate old blue-collar people and turn it into a joke, which usually ends it. Maybe, just maybe, they will think about it later but probably not.
yah... I don't often get into it with people. Detroit ate itself. Greed and corruption took her to the ground. I hope she can pull herself back up. As far as trolling goes... I did enjoy, with particular sweetness, helping a young buck cowboy kid understand that he drove a Mexican truck... it was this huge, lifted Dodge MEGAcab... I worked at State Farm Insurance at the time, and when he gave me his VIN, I said something like "Oh - cool! That's one of those new trucks they built in Mexico!" in an excited voice. He sat up straight in his chair and said "NO SIR! That's a D - O - D - G - E, Made in America." I swiveled the screen around to show him the country of manufacture was actually Mexico... he quietly left the office. For what it's worth - I don't really care much where a car is made. Just make it reliably well and I'll buy it again and again and again.
One could only hope.... alas... I think he just left and muttered "fuckin' commie" under his breath and blared some Garth Brooks on the way home. EDIT: ok... so I chuckled at your comment... but then I thought in all seriousness... when was the last time I considered my purchase and evaluated (or re-evaluated) my stance on automobiles, patriotism and international economic theory? I bought a smart phone and a laptop that are made in China, I happen to be wearing underwear made in the USA, a t-shirt made in El Salvador, and a vest made in Nicaragua... perhaps it's shame on me for NOT thinking about these things at point of sale... I think about these things in the abstract sometimes, but it's not like I walk into the store when I need socks and think "how will my purchase change the world?" maybe I should...
I control my point of origin when I can, don't stress about it when I don't. I can get my food local, I buy it local as much as I can. I can't get a locally and ethically sourced smartphone. I'm learning to put down the globe and pick up the bits of trash on the sidewalk. I hate to just parrot a common saying, but think global, act local.
I think about it a lot. It's one of the reasons I started this thread . . . If it helps, I've learned pretty quick to not dwell on the things that seem overwhelmingly out of my control and focus more on the little things I can do that I hope help make a difference. You should, in all seriousness, start a thread about your thoughts today if you can. I have a free afternoon. I'd love to contribute my thoughts when I get home from work.
The big three learned some really hard lessons these past few decades and I think they're coming out better for it. As for buying American, I honestly don't have much room to talk. My car was literally made in Japan. :) Please tell me your truck story happened during the DaimlerChrysler era. "Yeah, not only was your truck made in Mexico, technically you're giving money to a German company."