marswind

Automakers Seek Bailout to Reward 40 Years of Bad Decisions

I have heard that Toyota sold two million cars in Japan last year? And isn't it true that American car companies are not allowed to build factories there by Japanese law? And isn't it also true that to export cars to Japan one has to go through about six months of government red tape and inspections per car? And isn't it true that the legacy costs to Japanese manufacturers in Japan are as great or greater than in the U. S. because they have what is called lifetime employment? Is it not true that Toyota and GM have parity in total worldwide production numbers? And because Toyota was able to sell two million cars in it's own closed market, would not that imply that GM sells two million more vehicles everywhere else? Does anyone know what percentage of vehicles sold on Japanese soil are foreign made? Do Japanese automobile manufacturers enjoy monopoly power in Japan? Would it not be true that by giving those companies monopoly power the Japanese government is subsidizing those companies at the expense of the Japanese consumer? And since Japan is subsidizing their auto industry does that not put American domestic brands at a competitive disadvantage (since one half or more of all Japanese branded cars sold in the U.S.A. are made in Japan)? Is it worth it to us to forever cede our manufacturing base to Japan (and others) for a brief downturn, easily bridged, with a relatively small amount of capital? Is it not true that the American domestic brands pay as much as 147 billion in taxes per year? Would it not be unwise to give up these taxes forever in the future, for lack of financing now?