USA: Manufacturing our Future (Investing in the American Car)

We are always told to buy American Goods even though you are never sure how “American” a product really is. Take for example a car created by the Big 3: GM, Ford and Chrysler. Sure some of the parts, design, and perhaps the assembly are done in the USA, but not necessarily. Despite all this I try to support Ford and for the most part it has been a positive experience. Every once in a while though I take a major hit in the wallet such as the time the head gasket went, or when a sensor goes haywire.

Engineering mistakes do occur, and it is hard to hold it against a struggling car manufacturer or its’ employees. Still it’s a major inconvenience and frustrating, when you can’t get to your job because your car is in the shop. At one point in time my Taurus was there for two weeks! I’m sure my experience was not anomaly. I am willing to bet that there are thousands who have sworn off the big three forever. Who is to blame for all these quality issues?

A company needs to create quality innovative products if they want to be successful. Quality is not free despite the popular phrase spit out by corporate hacks. I highly doubt that a couple rounds of layoffs are going to help matters either. Toyota spends billions on research and design while the Big Three throw around chump change. Hence we got crappy American cars and massive layoffs. When will it end? How do we keep manufacturing jobs here? Is it even important for the USA to create cars anymore? Will the USA manufacture anything in the future?

Without an engineering and manufacturing sector, we will be unequipped to fight wars in the future. We will be unable to support our economy. We won’t have middle class. The USA will quickly fall behind in the world. No longer will the USA be known for cutting edge technology and innovation. Some argue that this has already happened. How to we fix this? How do we reverse the trend?

Our government needs to start investing in our future, today before it is too late. Otherwise we will become a Third World Country. Think of it as a long time investment in the USA to guarantee that we remain number one. The key focus should be alternative energies and creating more fuel efficient products.

I believe the United States has the capability to create efficient, safe, and reliable cars. I admit it will take billions to get the job done. The money should be given as long as the products follow strict conditions for determining quality:

• Efficient: Every Car Model should get 45-50 miles per gallon
• Safe: The highest safety rating must be received
• Reliable: Honda and Toyota cars would be used as the base model. The product should, however aim to surpass these models.
• Affordable: The car should be priced the same as Honda and Toyota products.
  

Another constraint is that the product should be manufactured and assembled here. That way we keep our manufacturing base as well as our engineering and business sectors. No doubt this will take the best minds around, and lots of money to accomplish the feat. But if you believe in the future and are proud to be an American then it is a proposition worth taking.

Tags:
* comedy * humor * funny * silly * politics * president * george bush * republican * democrat
* conservative * liberal * congress * entertainment * pop culture * Outsourcing * Manufacturing
* Engineering * Ford * GM * Chrysler * Toyota * Cars * Economy * Buy American * Honda
* Middle Class * Corporation * Taxes * Business * Big Three * Detroit * Big 3