Originally Posted by
Michael Gibbons
Right now the Big Three are in dire straights because of foreign competition.
The "Big Three" are in trouble because of a combination of things. They have consistently failed to produce attractive, desireable, and durable cars that compete with their foreign counterparts. The stupid deals they have made with the UAW are a huge factor in their troubles too.
Originally Posted by
Michael Gibbons
If and I mean IF.. everyone for the next four years bought nothing but traditional American cars the economy would take a extreme upswing because the demand would go up so high they would have to hire all the people back that took buyouts and then some.
I would posit a totally different outcome of that scenario. Due to the lack of real competition, cars would become the crappy junk that the "Big Three" produced in the 70's and 80's and would at the same time become more expensive. There would be a complete meltdown in auto manufaturing as consumers decide to hang on to their reliable old imports rather than spend their money on junk.
Competition is sometimes painful, but it is the only way to ensure that the consumer gets a wide selection of goods and services at the best possible price.
As to the comment about Dec 7th 1941, the list of historical grieviances is endless. Those who insist on dwelling on them do nothing but make themselves miserable.
"History is strewn with the wrecks of nations which have gained a little progressiveness at the cost of a great deal of hard manliness, and have thus prepared themselves for destruction as soon as the movements of the world gave a chance for it." -Walter Bagehot