The USA ran a $79 billion trade deficit in cars last year, INTERNATIONAL TRADE IS A HOAX

[divideandconquer]

"Automotive is another category where the U.S. ran a trade deficit in 2009. It imported $160 billion worth of cars, trucks and auto parts, while only exporting $81 billion, running a deficit of $79 billion."

<http://useconomy.about.com/od/tradepolicy/p/Trade_Deficit.htm>

[FarCenter]

1. But importing oil to gas them up is the bigger problem

"America's dependence on foreign oil drives the trade deficit. In 2009, the U.S. imported over $253 billion in petroleum-related products while only exporting $49 billion."

Plus driving them to WalMart didn't help - "Another large contributor to the trade deficit is consumer products, such as Drugs, Consumer Electronics, Clothing, Household Goods, and Furniture. In 2009, the U.S. ran a $103 billion deficit, importing $253 billion while only exporting $150 billion."

[divideandconquer]

2. The US middles class embrace of globalization is like selling Manhattan for beads and blankets

People wonder about this "jobless recovery", just look at the car in your driveway.

[FarrenH]

3. The US has been running a net trade deficit since the 1960s n/t

[ddeclue]

4. Both of mine: Made in Detroit.

:P

[tammywammy]

8. Are you sure that Dodge wasn't assembled in Canada?

I'm pretty sure the Camaro was assembled in Canada too.

[ddeclue]

9. details details.. just across the river don't count...

it isn't a Japanese car and the company is HQ in Detroit.

[tammywammy]

12. But you said "Made in Detroit"

And neither of those are assembled in Detroit or even the United States. Just pointing out the facts.

But what you're saying is it's okay if I purchase an American branded vehicle even if it's not made in the United States, just where the company is headquartered is the main point.

Either way in the end it doesn't effect me, I just purchased a new vehicle back in late Sept and I'm not in the market to get rid of it.

[ddeclue]

13. all the parts came from the U.S. the design is U.S. the company is U.S.

and the biggest part of the wealth created is in the U.S. big deal if it was assembled across the river in Canada... it's the 51st state anyways..

[tammywammy]

18. Actually 70% of the parts are listed as US or Canada

There's no telling how much of that is US, and that still leaves 30% probably made in Japan or Mexico.

But I got what you're saying, parts content and final assembly don't matter as long as they're headquartered in the US.

[ddeclue]

19. Nope NOT what I'm saying... you keep putting words that aren't true in my mouth.

These are American made cars - DESIGNED HERE and BUILT HERE. Japanese cars are largely built overseas and totally designed there and that's where the money gets shipped back to when you buy one.

You can keep on blabbing but you'll never convince me to buy a Japanese piece of junk.

:eyes:

[tammywammy]

20. I'm not trying to convince you anything about Japanese cars

I've never owned one. :shrug:

And your Challenger isn't built here, that's the point, it's assembled (built) in Canada. If I bought a Chevy from a Mexican plant, it's still not an American built car, it's an American branded car built in Mexico.

[ddeclue]

22. First it's a Charger not a Challenger.. but NO it's an AMERICAN built car.

You might want to take a look at a globe. Both CANADA and MEXICO are part of NORTH AMERICA which means its an AMERICAN built car.

Germany, Japan, and Korea are NOT in North America however.

The car is an American built car.

Stop being a nitpicking pain already and go find another thread to play in.

[tammywammy]

25. Wait, so if I buy something made in Mexico I can say "Made in America"?

Sorry about referring to your car as a Challenger, I didn't refer back to the picture.

[taterguy]

11. Run on imported oil. Thanks for messing up the trade deficit

:sarcasm:, in case anyone couldn't tell

[ddeclue]

14. same imported oil that Japanese, German and Korean cars run on..got a point? I didn't think so.

:P

[taterguy]

21. My bicycle is fueled by food

Most of which is made here in the USA

:P :P :P

[ddeclue]

23. grown by men driving tractors fueled with IMPORTED OIL!

You lose!

:P:P:P

[taterguy]

24. D'OH!

On a slightly less snarktastic note, I wonder how many gallons of fuel it ultimately costs me to ride a bike.

But not enough to actually look that up.

[SoCalDem]

7. and grapes in January

We all got accustomed to having things out-of-season...as if they magically appeared in stores

Once upon a time we were satisfied with having things in abundance (and having them reasonably priced) when they were in season..and then moving on to the next thing..(natural moderation?)

We were satisfied with sheets, carpets, socks, fabrics, etc., made in our own textile-producing areas, we were okay with shoes made here, clothes made here, furniture made here, tires made here, steel made here, etc.

All these industries employed US, used OUR labor to package & transport the goods, employed US to sell them, and relied on US to buy them.. We had a complete circle..

We "like" being able to eat grapes in January, but "forget" that it devalues the grape-growers here, and attached a huge carbon footprint (for the shipping) to those January-grapes...and it doesn't end with grapes.

Buying cheap stuff produced by unseen people from afar, entices OUR businesses to eliminate US from the JOBS we all need.

[Greyhound]

10. We, the workers, have been forced into subsidizing industry for so long we are completely

unaware of it. We hide the true costs associated with industrialization and get the $$ on the back-end, plus a healthy commission.

[Naturalist111]

5. Wake up

It's global welfare. Take from the richest country and give to the poorer countries. It's greed. Both on the corporate side and the individual side. Corporations pay less to build the car and more profits and the purchaser pays less for the car not caring about his fellow country folk having a job. The person saves money. That is what our country is all about. Your on your own. Get another job if you loose your auto factory job.

[divideandconquer]

6. Middle class america will end up sleeping in their Toyota's

A least if it's out of gas, it can't hurt anyone.

[ddeclue]

15. No they won't because those will be repossessed and sold at auction too.

[MellowDem]

16. We import them...

because there is a demand for them. It's not a hoax.

[divideandconquer]

26. Yeah, that's why Japan has a ministry of international trade!

They've targeted our middleclass wages and split the rewards with wall street

[Vinca]

17. Our trade agreements and the ability of companies to outsource

jobs have killed our economy. Greed has won.

[divideandconquer]

Walmart forces successful US companies to move to China

Soon we'll be just a colony for Asia.

[divideandconquer]

27. Walmart forces successful US companies to move to China

Soon we'll be just a colony for Asia.