Posted on 11/29/2008 5:04:06 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The residents of this town are learning to enjoy Korean barbecue, and are wary of bailing out American automakers. 'The foreign cars took the lead, and they deserve it,' says one.
This attractive old mill town along the Chattahoochee River, with its brick downtown and streets of cozy, unpretentious homes, could be the backdrop for a patriotic American car commercial -- lacking only the plaintive croak of a Bob Seger or John Mellencamp.
But America's Big Three automakers, which are teetering at a financial abyss, shouldn't expect much sympathy here.
Kia Motors, the South Korean automaker, is building a plant in town, promising 2,500 jobs to help replace a textile industry that has all but vanished. The locals are excited to have nonunion work that will start at about $14 per hour. They are discovering the joys of bulgogi -- a different kind of barbecue -- at the Korean restaurants popping up.
And many are wondering why Detroit still thinks it's so special that it can ask taxpayers for a $25-billion bailout.
"The foreign cars took the lead, and they deserve it," said Emile Earles, owner of Sweet Georgia Brown, a gift shop on a quiet downtown thoroughfare.
Earles, 60, said she is fed up with Detroit -- fed up with its fat labor contracts, its arrogant CEOs and even her Cadillac, which gets only 15 miles per gallon and cost her dearly when gas spiked to $4.
Buying American, she added, "is still a big deal. But you can only be patriotic until you can't afford it anymore."
Such sentiments represent more than a marketing problem for the CEOs of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, who will return to Congress next week to argue that a federal cash infusion will help them avoid bankruptcy.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Don’t worry, 0Bambi will come to the Union thugs’ rescue with card check legislation.
I agree. They made the mess.. They should clean it up. If declaring bankruptcy is the way to save them, so be it.
I would go to South Korea again.
I have no interest in ever returning to Japan or the Philippines although I would rather go to either of those before spending an hour in Detroit.
Learning? Took me one bite, and that was in a Korean restaurant where nobody spoke English -- we were not their target market.
No, salesman Eddie, but I haven't heard them bragging on their 83 Mustang or their 1990's something Caprice Classic either.
If you are ever on the east coast, and have a hankering for Korean BBQ, there are tons of places in Palisades Park and Fort Lee, NJ, all of which are good to great.
South Korea has changed a lot in the last 10 years. Much more modern, traffic and the roads are better. Lots of technology everywhere.
of course they are recovering from having a socialist government so the economy is in rough shape.
Also note to self: try out that Korean BBQ in Bellevue...
“Learning? Took me one bite, and that was in a Korean restaurant where nobody spoke English — we were not their target market.”
They have some very good food.
I'm gonna do some bragging on my 2004 Honda Civic si. There is nothing GM makes for the price that can come close to it in terms of handling. I drive over a mountain twice a day and it is awesome....
What is in Korean bar-b-que? Not trying to be funny, just curious. Is it tomato or vinegar based?
Still love my Sonata, which is built with pride in Alabama. Great on fuel, considering the fact that it has six under the hood. The Detroilet defenders (or, more accurately, defenders of the piss poor management of the big three) can stuff it.
But the way things are going, my next car will probably be a Korean make, unless I can find a really great deal on a used Toyota or Honda: They've just gotten to be too expensive to buy new. My first Corolla cost a bit below $10,000. My second was in the neighborhood of $14,000. Today, a new Corolla of the sort I drive runs nearly $20,000. And even "Toyota Certified" used ones run between $15,000 and $18,000!
It's a shame, really, but they're just pricing me out of their brand.
Mark
Korean BBQ is sufficiently different that the question doesn’t quite apply. Maybe somebody here can explain...
Hey, this is in my backyard (almost!). LOL.
I live in the same county as the KIA plant. It’s in the southern part and I live in the northern part. Although the sign used in the story was from when it was first announced over two years ago. It looks a lot different now. I keep posting on here [the internet] to people who say that the whole industry is suffering, not just the unionized automakers. [They think there should be a bailout, me - not so much]. This story gives me another source to cite. Although, they are a little off in some of their points. There are not Korean restaurants popping up in the area. Most people only go to West Point to go fishing in the lake. And unemployment here in Troup Co. is at 7.0%, not 8.9%. They are correct about the textile market though. We’ve had a couple of major employers in that industry close over the last several years. And a lot of people are excited about having a new employer of their size in this area.
Did somebody put a gun to her head to buy this Cadillac?
This UAW issue can either make or break the GA special election. Now the GWB/mcCain Republican party of pre-election 2008 would work with democrats to bailout UAW democrat voters, dis Georgia and loose that Senate Seat also. has the party learned ??
soy sauce, sugar, garlic. Very little tomato in asian cuisine.
Well, I have been to downtown Atlanta, and its no prize.
The term American made car is a stretch in and of itself IMO. My Dodge Truck was made in Mexico. Jeep is made in Canookistan I think (could be wrong)..... These days the term assembled in America may be the better rant as to what is or isn’t good for USA. Not sure of the validity of the statement yet once heard that more than 90% of Toyota was made in America and assembled here yet Big 3 were using mostly foreign made parts and being assembled here......anyone know if that is true ?
I am imagining it to be a terryaki style as in Japanese cuisine.
You ever think about a Subaru?
So that's you tearin' up 17...?
< |:)~
Ok, sounds delicious! Especially pork...
No, but once Detroit gets its bailout there will be a gun to all taxpayers' heads to pay for Cadillacs and their counterparts.
Bulgogi is mashi-sao!
I bought a KIA Sportage. I hate driving in general, but I do love driving that car. I’m proud and glad it’s made in the USA. It’s no surprise to me that it runs so well.
And the Koreans are really expert at walking (sp?) the dog, I hear.
I sure wish Detroit could be more like Detroit.
—Hyundai owner
I won’t brag on a ‘57 Honda, but I will brag on my old ‘89 Honda. Best car I ever owned, especially compared to the various Detroit junk that I had driven previously. If it hadn’t been for that woman in the SUV that tried to cut across three lanes of stopped traffic when the third lane was not stopped, I would still have that car today.
The only thing I have to say to this is...the American auto makers make lots of fuel efficient vehicles. And they are cost competitive. And dependable. Buyers have a choice.
The unions are killing the US auto industry, not the product.
But keep in mind, if we need to ramp up production for a full scale war..Kia and Honda??? Even the “pope mobile” for Barry is a GM product.
“What is in Korean bar-b-que? Is it tomato or vinegar based?”
Neither really. It is generally based on ginger, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, onions and lots of red pepper paste. In some restaurants the meat is cooked on a metal pan that is then directly served sizzling hot. This is generally beef.
Another way you’ll find it is where they have a grill in your table and the meat is cooked there. You’ll get pork, beef, chicken, fish, and goose this way. Then you take a big leaf of lettuce (not iceberg) and put the cooked meat inside along with spices, rice, pepper and then pop the whole thing in your mouth. This way is technically not bulgogi but the meat is prepared pretty much the same way just cooked and served differently.
FREE CLUE HERE.
If your first though is to go back 51 years for something to brag about, you ain't got it anymore.
END FREE CLUE.
I think you meant ‘woking’?!
Seriesly, garlic is essential in cooking....
“I am imagining it to be a terryaki style as in Japanese cuisine.”
It can taste similiar but not as sweet and a lot more spicy.
Yeah, but taxpayers already had a gun put to their head when Kia was given $420 million in taxpayer subsidies to open there, too.
If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
it’s with beef ribs
Well, there was a day when the auto makers could give into the workers ever-growing demands and pass the cost of the whole compensation package on to the public in the form of higher new car prices. Those days are over.
man I love sweet and spicy, salty and vinegary and beefy!
Ok, then its not much different than Thai...cool.
Wild oinkers around here get cooked with brown sugar, soy, ginger, pepper and garlic. Its all good then.
Q: What do they call a Korean with more than one dog?
A: A rancher.
The "Big 3" can't figure out this simple formula to compete in a global market? Or they don't have the courage to do it?
Either way, it's business. No bail out. Same for the banks.
It looks as though the $420 million consisted of free land, taxpayer-funded training, and a new interstate interchange. I'm a fan of free markets, but even I can see that there's quite a difference between luring a productive company to your state v. propping up a failed business model.
***snicker***
Maybe you haven’t heard of the Cobalt SS
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/in-the-autobog-garage-2009-chevy-cobalt-ss-turbo/
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