Why Won't the American Government Help the "American" Auto Industry Out Financially?

Question

It is sad to see more and more Japanese made cars on the street--I blame the oil companies because if gas were low you and I know we'd be driving a safer SUV. A small piece of Americana is being threatened--at least our local, state, and federal government buys American autos.

In the past we have helped out Boeing, Halliburton, Alcoa, Lockheed Martin, Exxon, Airlines etc. Don't get me started on pick-me-ups to our state-owned companies like USPS or Amtrak.

Foreign companies don't have to worry about unions and unions are good because we want our fellow brethren to receive an adequate wage.

Answer 1

Studebaker, Packard and Hudson would like to know that too...after they change dtheir assembly lines over to help build the US Armed forces in WW2 they never recovered.

the government should help the big 3 move their assembly plants into less expensive areas of the country, you can pay someone on an assembly line in NM a lot less than someone on an assembly line in NJ or Detroit, and they can live a better lifestyle due to the lower cost of living

I watched the Ford Edison plant and GM plant(Elizabeth area) go under, people were getting paid I good wage but that didntgo anywhere in NJ, that same wage here in NM would have people lined up for the jobs, actually could lower the wage by 20% probably

Answer 2

SUVs are not safer. They are more likely to roll over than small cars. And if you were a pedestrian, would you rather be hit by a Civic or an Excursion?

Anyway, it is not the government's job to bail out auto companies. Plenty of Japanese cars are built on US soil, presumably with union labor. The problem is that in general, foreign cars are viewed as better quality cars with a better resale value. If someone buys an American car, it is often because the dealer is cutting prices to sell more cars, or because they have an emotional attachment to American models.

We have helped out airlines and Amtrak because they are part of the infrastructure of our country. A crisis in the Airline business greatly affects business and tourism, while a crisis in American car manufacturing has less of an effect, because there are still foreign cars available.

And Boeing, Halliburton, Lockheed, and others are government contractors, which means that they do business with the government.

Answer 3

First of all the problem with the American Motors co. are lack of quality...
Second.. Fuel efficiency. And We cannot blame it only on the Oil companies......
Where is the Hybrid cars??? the Ethanol???.. that has been in use for over 10 years in Brazil for fuel... Natural gas for vehicles (NGV) ??? That has been in use in several countries for years as well.... the problem is Lack of interest in new technology and investments to develop better cars.
The US Government can't solve that!

Answer 4

Its not just about fuel economy. American cars suck. Once American auto makers start putting out a better product, I am sure they will have a chance at replacing imports.
Most people I know do drive safer SUV's-BMW X5.

Answer 5

You might be too young to remember the Chrysler bailout....?