Why doesn't the us gov support american jobs by stopping imports & the outsourcing of jobs?

Question

I get angry everytime I read about another U.S. factory closing and more american workers losing their jobs. Today I read about Chrysler laying off hundreds of workers. To me, the solution is simple and I don't know why the government can't see this: Stop allowing so many foreign car imports. Obviously, if there were not so many foreign cars sold in this country, then american car manufactorers would make a profit, just as they have done for decades. The us gov should support the american manufactorers in this country. Other countries have limits on imports coming in and they do not allow trade deficits like our politicians in Washington. What ever happened to patriotism? I don't believe the elected officials care about keeping jobs for Americans anymore. I don't know what they care about, but it isn't patriotism.

Answer 1

Who did you plan to sell our products to? We have a lot of exports & imports promote good will. I would like to cut off imports from countries who campaign against the US & that includes France & some other biggies.
The American car manufactors have most of their parts made overseas & still can not compete quality or price wise. The culprit is the Union.
We have limits on imports but they are tied to our exports.
Other countries can do as they please. We have a different goverment & are one of the wealthiest nations. Companies need less goverment control not more control. That was the downfall of Russia - goverment controlled business & now their country is gone. Free enterprise works - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Answer 2

OK...do you think about consequences? First of all, think about how many foreign cars are made in the US like Honda. Think of all the US jobs that would be lost. Then, if we cut down on foreign cars being imported, they'd cut how many we could export, again, causing a loss in US jobs. The reason we have a trade deficit is because we can afford foreign goods, and many foreigners cannot afford our stuff because we make more money than they do. This current situation is just one example of the constant struggle the US has had with employment since slavery in 1607.

Also, if we only had American cars to buy, prices would go up which would reduce the number of cars made, which again would result in job loss.

Answer 3

Capital investment is a two-way street.Capital also flows into the US from foreign corporations creating jobs for Americans (e.g. both Japanese and European car companies have built factories in the US to make their cars). Controlling the outflow of capital could trigger retaliation by other countries. Capitalism requires the free flow of capital between countries. A capitalist wants no barriers. As a socialist, your position is consistent. However, there is no guarantee that capital controls will produce more jobs here in the US. The job situation here is already being negatively impacted by the socialist policies of over regulation and high taxation.

Answer 4

Factories close for many reasons. The problem that you bring up has little to do with being patriotic. Remember that the United States was built upon the lovely foundation of CAPITALISM...and according to the rules of capitalism, governments are not supposed to interfere with the market. And Americans are BIG supporters of capitalism [to the point of forcing it on other nations] as long as it works in our favor.
However, allowing imported goods into the country forces our own companies to improve their goods or prices in order to compete. Competition in the market allows prices to stay low, which enables more people access to goods [Walmart, dollar stores]. That is what healthy competition does--it makes everyone work harder to get the prize. When governments protect their industries through subsidies [or tariffs etc.] it creates an unfair and unhealthy competitive environment--kind of like an athlete taking steriods.
American car companies are unable to make profits [like before] for many reasons:
1. they refuse to listen to the demands of the market and anticipate future market demands. For example, Americans have been preferring to buy fuel saving and economic cars since the 80's...yet American car manufaturers laugh in the face of competition [ha ha!] and create the largest, most expensive, gas-guzzling autos possible. Despite their temporary popularity--anyone with the slightest bit of business sense and/or knowledge of politics in the Middle East [where oil comes from] would know that gas prices are just going to continue to rise--making their car eventually very unpopular.
2. Labor unions. Don't get me wrong--I am a HUGE fan of labor unions. However, in recent history they have been very good at winning--higher wages, more benefits etc. for their workers. That is great for the workers, until their wages rise higher than is reasonable in relation to profits. The sad story is that American workers have negotiated our jobs to other countries with endless calls for raises and more benefits [not that we don't need or deserve them] but it is just bad for the market. Business can not be expected to produce more at a lower price [as the market demands] when the workers only work 8 hours a day at $25 an hour, and have full medical and retirement benefits...with annual or merit raises each year. In essence, we have actually pushed ourselves out of the labor market.
3. the auto industry is artificially supporting our oil and petrol industry by refusing to build cars that are energy efficient and less polluting.

But don't despair, the market will swing our way again. American employees will become entrepreneurs and start specializing and offering services that will bring the corporations back again. The American auto industry will remember that we really do prefer their cars--as long as they are designed to be fuel efficient.

Answer 5

Its called free trade!

If buying imports is the problem why do people do it? If you stop buying a product demand goes away and the product is eventually withdrawn. So forget patriotism and politicians it's called political dollarism and there are kickbacks to the pollies who vote for a product to get on the market in any country. Foreign affairs misters and trade ministers are the benefitters

Answer 6

You think our government cares about the people? our government, both republicans and democrats have been leading us in the wrong direction for years. They are only concerned with making money for themselves. and laughin at us all the way to the bank while we fight about the non issues they put in front of us.