[William Terrell]

Lots of cars, for one example. Toyota, Nissan, Honda, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz all come to mind as manufacturers with significant American operations.

Those cars are manufactured here using exclusively foreign made parts, except maybe for the bodies. Yes, workers are employed, but only so many can be employed in auto assembly.

With all the components on the cars being foreign produced, each time a man buys a car, the lion's share of what he pays for it must go to those foreign countries. The amount of profit made on the cars is heavily taxed from the manufacturer to the consumer and most businesses in between is are subject to costly regulations.

Thereby, very little of the money traded for these durable goods actually enter the American economy. Much of it enters the economy through government payouts to the welfare system, which is the money taxed from income, FICA, corporate taxes on the amount paid for the product sold.

It's reasonable to assume that the more money entering the economy via welfare disbursements strengthens and expands the socialistic systems in place and demand will create new ones.

Not a good picture, as far as I am concerned.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: "Lots of cars, for one example. . . ."

Thank you. You provided some insight for a question I asked in #48.

[FreedomPoster]

>> Those cars are manufactured here using exclusively foreign made parts, except maybe for the bodies.

Making it up as you go along? For example, I know Honda has a large engine facility here, and I think Toyota does, as well. And here is a press release about their new transmission plant in GA.

I'd suggest getting informed rather than making easily demonstrably false posts.

http://world.honda.com/news/2004/c041109_b.html

In Georgia, Honda will invest US$ 100 million to construct its 13th major plant in North America, a new 250,000 square foot plant that will begin assembly of automatic transmissions in fall 2006. At full capacity, the plant will employ 400 associates and produce 300,000 transmissions per year. Reflecting Honda’s strategy to base powertrain production near vehicle production for synchronous assembly, the plant will initially support production of Honda Odyssey minivans and Pilot SUVs at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC (HMA) in Lincoln, Ala., 60 miles west of the Tallapoosa plant.

In Ohio, Honda will invest US$ 100 million and add 100 new jobs to expand Honda Transmission Mfg. of America, Inc., (HTM) in a move that will result in the transfer of the value-added production of high precision gears from Japan to Ohio. As the new Georgia plant begins production, HTM will gradually shift responsibility for transmission production for the Alabama plant to the new Georgia plant and phase-in the new responsibility for gear production. The expansion will increase HTM’s capital investment to more than US$ 261 million, employment to 900 associates and plant size from the existing 361,000 square feet to 631,000 square feet.

In Alabama, HMA will invest US$ 70 million and add 100 new jobs to begin machining additional engine components at its existing engine plant operations. These components are currently supplied by Honda of America Mfg.’s Anna Engine Plant in Ohio and Honda’s Mohka Plant in Japan. HMA began operations in 2001 and, today, has the capacity to produce 300,000 vehicles and V6 engines per year. HMA’s total investment exceeds US$ 1 billion.

Honda currently has an annual production capacity of one million automatic transmissions in the U.S. and has assembled more than nine million transmissions in America since it began producing automatic transmissions at Honda of America Mfg.’s Anna, Ohio, Engine Plant in 1989. HTM assumed responsibility for transmission production in 1996.

And here's a good summary link that discusses auto engine plants, and other Honda vehicle plants, in the U.S. and North America.

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID1020?mid=20010212001257&mime=asc

[phelanw]

Meanwhile, GM corporate bonds are rated BBB-, one step ahead of junk bond status. GM makes little money producing and selling cars anymore, it makes part of its money financing their sale, and believe it or not, it makes a good portion of its money financing real estate purchases. But as the Fed continues its interest rate hikes, and as the bubble in real estate pops, there will be fewer and fewer purchases of real estate to finance. I have heard some analysts talking openly about GM's impending bankruptcy. Look at a chart of GM's stock, or for that matter, look at Ford's. Then look at Daimler or Honda or Audi or Toyota or Nissan stock. What does that tell you about the future of American jobs? Ask someone from Detroit what is happening with GM subcontractors there.

Meanwhile, oil and copper prices are at historic highs, and the other natural resource products are increasing in price rapidly. The Japanese just renegotiated with their iron suppliers prices that were 75% higher, if my memory serves. An electrician friend told me copper wire prices have doubled since the summer.

Meanwhile, the government pumps up our confidence with phony economic numbers. The commerce department now uses "hedonics" in its reports. Those are phony made up numbers to make it look like the economy is growing faster than it really is. The government uses a birth-death model when reporting job growth, that basically creates imaginary jobs. All this information is public and easy to find.

[1rudeboy]

Those cars are manufactured here using exclusively foreign made parts, except maybe for the bodies.

Shop for a car recently? Ever see a thing called the 'domestic content label?' They're required by law.

[BurbankKarl]

Toyota USA

Direct N.A. Employment 36,349
N.A. Dealer and Supplier Employment 200,000
Direct N.A. Investment $15,265,000,000
Cumulative N.A. Production 11,846,096
N.A. Vehicle Sales (2003) 2,072,190
Cumulative N.A. Vehicle Sales 34,452,600
N.A. Purchasing* $22,722,000,000
N.A. Toyota, Scion and Lexus Dealers 1,713
Total U.S. Philanthropy (since 1991) $227,000,000


Honda USA

25,000 US employees, 100,000 dealership employees and 600 US suppliers.

Alpharetta, GA Power Equipment Headquarters, Auto Zone, Finance, Parts Center
Honda Rider Education Center

Anna, OH Engine Plant
Honda's largest engine facility in the world, the Anna plant annually produces more than one million L-4 andV-6 engines.

Ann Arbor, MI Emissions Lab

Cantil, CA Testing

Colton, CA Honda Rider Education Center

Denver, CO Emissions Testing Lab

East Liberty, OH Automobile Plant

Using Honda's flexible manufacturing, this plant produces cars and light trucks on the same assembly line.

Transportation Research Center (Test Track)
Greensboro, NC R & D Center

Lincoln, AL Automobile and Engine Plant
Opened in 2001, this is our newest North American Automobile Plant, producing the Odyssey minivan, the Pilot and V-6 engine.

Marysville, OH Motorcycle Plant
Honda's first U.S. production facility, the Marysville Motorcycle Plant has produced more than 1.8 million motorcycles and ATVs since 1979.

Automobile Plant One of the most integrated and flexible auto plants in North America, it houses stamping, welding, paint, plastic injection molding and assembly under one roof.

Mojave Desert, CA R & D Test Track

Raymond, OH R & D Center

Russells Point, OH Transmission Plant

Santa Clarita, CA Honda Performance Development (Auto Racing)

Swepsonville, NC Power Equipment Plant

This facility has an annual production capacity of 1.5 million multi-purpose power equipment engines.

R & D Center
Irving, TX Honda Rider Education Center

Troy, OH Honda Rider Education Center

Timmonville, SC All-Terrain Vehicle Plant
Personal Watercraft Plant
Honda's primary ATV plant in North America also handles engine assembly under the same roof and, in 2002, opened a second plant for personal watercraft production.

Torrance, CA U.S. Sales & Marketing Headquarters
R & D Center