2007 Ford Fusion SE from North America - All Comments

But I paid for the full 1/2 hour argument.

It is amazing that there are such strong feelings regarding imports and domestics here in the USA, especially when it seems that all vehicles are global in one way or another.

Please remember that GM, Ford & Chrysler do have operations beyond the borders of the United States, and they also have participated in many joint ventures with foreign automakers, and in many cases owned a percentage of these companies.

Also, please remember that many of those Fords, Chevy's and Chryslers that you drive ARE built beyond the borders of the USA - Canada & Mexico seems to be a favorite place for the "Big Three" to build factories. At the same time these "foreign" automakers have been building more & more vehicles in this country.

I frequently see the argument that although these companies are employing Americans to build their cars, to many people that doesn't matter because they argue "the profits are going out of this country". Doesn't this argument cut both ways?

One final question to ponder - With GM selling off many of their brands, the one perhaps most associated with the USA, mom, apple pie, the freedom to drive wherever and whatever you want - Hummer, is being sold to a Chinese company.

This obviously is helping GM survive, but other than Jeep what other brand screams patriotism?

What will all of this anti-import people say to that?

My feeling is that because this is the United States of America, American's should have the right to decide for themselves what that want to drive. How can driving a Toyota built in this country be any less patriotic than driving a Canadian Chevy? American corporations buy from foreign companies, and out-source overseas, don't they?

(In case you are wondering - I own one domestic vehicle built in Ohio, and an import which is owned by GM)

It's been stated repeatedly, and apparently needs to continue being stated: The U.S. auto industry employs 91% of all auto-related workers in the U.S. In addition, they have very heavy involvement in other very important sectors of the U.S. economy. Regardless of where GM, Ford and Chrysler sell cars, they are STILL a U.S. company providing jobs for U.S. AND foreign citizens. Yes, Japanese companies have plants here. Overall they employ only 9% of the entire auto-related work force in the U.S. The profits from the sales of Japanese cars goes to Japan, not the U.S.

Any time a U.S. citizen purchases a product from a foreign-owned company, he or she is taking jobs away from American citizens. If Americans would return to even a modest degree of patriotism our economy would recover very quickly. Because a foreign company employs 9% of the people in that industry in this country it basically means that buying from them hurts 91% of our people. That is a pretty good argument for supporting American industry. I will continue driving this point home as long I keep seeing comments stating that buying from foreign companies doesn't matter. It DOES matter to the 91% who work for American auto makers.

I wrote the comment on 3rd Jun 2009, 13:08.

I should add that what I am trying to say, is that the entire issue of domestic vs. imports is not black and white, although it seems many are trying to make it that. When in fact it is many shades of gray.

To - 4th Jun 2009, 10:47

If the US Auto Industry employs 91% of the auto workers in the USA, buying an import does not hurt "91% of our people", this would be the case only if EVERY man, woman and child in this country were employed by the US auto industry.

Your math doesn't add up, just as your black & white logic doesn't apply to this issue.

"If the US Auto Industry employs 91% of the auto workers in the USA, buying an import does not hurt "91% of our people", this would be the case only if EVERY man, woman and child in this country were employed by the US auto industry."

It's estimated that 10% of ALL jobs in the U.S. are related to the auto industry. OK, so buying a Japanese car only hurts 9.1% of U.S. citizens. Hope that puts your conscience at ease.

10:47, are you saying the 9% of Americans that found jobs building Hondas, Toyotas, or whatever don't count or don't matter?

What about all of the Americans that work in import dealerships, or work for parts suppliers for imports.

That is pretty narrow-minded thinking in my book.

By the way, where was your TV made? Your microwave? Your MP3 player? How about he computer that you are writing your comments from? What about the gasoline that you are burning in your American car?

My boss helped make my day today. After informing all of us that until further notice we would have no further work, he invited me to lunch with him today. Our area has been hard hit by closed dealerships, supply companies and delivery services. Although our business SEEMINGLY has no connection to the auto industry, the loss of jobs has made purchasing ALL goods and services more difficult. EVERYONE is suffering. Like many Americans my boss had been duped by the ad hype and false claims of reliability and bought himself and his wife Japanese vehicles. Today over lunch he said "You were right. We SHOULD have all done more to support AMERICAN businesses. Now we're ALL seeing the damage we've done." He further informed me that he has replaced his wife's import with a Cadillac and will be replacing his import with a Ford Fusion. If more people like him had listened earlier, we'd still have jobs. Fortunately he and I are wealthy enough to survive a while without incomes. Most people aren't so blessed.

That's why I'll KEEP emphasizing "Buy American" until maybe a few MORE people see the light.

Yes, and the Fusion shared its platform with the Mazda 6.

"By the way, where was your TV made? Your microwave? Your MP3 player? How about he computer that you are writing your comments from? What about the gasoline that you are burning in your American car?'

My TV's (all four) are made in the good old USA. My 29-year-old Microwave was made in Ohio. I don't HAVE an MP3 player and don't want one. My computer is built by a company that is less than 3 miles from my house (and has a 2 year longer warranty than any others). I buy my gas from an American oil company (I wasn't aware that we HAD Japanese oil companies!!).

Today I went to help my boss trade his Honda for a new Fusion. I was amazed that there were only a couple of 2009's left. The lot was sparsely filled with mostly 2010's. My friend at the Ford dealership told me that many people are waking up to the need to buy from U.S. companies. He said the sales of the Fusion is setting records, and that virtually every trade-in is a Japanese car. He pointed out a whole row of late model Camrys, Accords and Altimas on the used car lot.

It is VERY uplifting to begin to see a glimmer of patriotism in more and more people. As I said in comment 23:12, I will continue to reach out to more and more people with the "Buy American" message, but after seeing the incredible example of patriotism at the Ford dealer's lot today (it was PACKED with buyers) maybe the patriotism thing is finally catching on.

"Yes, and the Fusion shared its platform with the Mazda 6"

So?? Ford OWNS Mazda. Ford is an AMERICAN company. We owned a Mazda before Ford took over and dramatically improved the quality. It was made in Japan and was one of the worst built cars we ever owned. Mazdas are now very good cars thanks to Ford. The same can be said of Jaguar. Ford took over Jaguar and took it from one of the least reliable cars on the planet to tied for the most reliable along with Buick (J.D. Powers, 2009). Ford no longer owns Jaguar (it was sold to Tata of India) but the quality studies ranking it tops were done based on 3-year-old vehicles, which is when Ford still owned it.

Such silly arguments as "Ford shares it's platform with Mazda" mean nothing. Ford is, was, and hopefully always will be an AMERICAN company, contributing to the AMERICAN economy. Allowing Foreign-owned companies to take over industry in this country has caused much damage to our economy, and, apparently, to our clear thinking. If a company is not based in the U.S., I'm not buying ANYTHING from them... PERIOD.

"10:47, are you saying the 9% of Americans that found jobs building Hondas, Toyotas, or whatever don't count or don't matter?"

No, I'm just saying that helping 91% of the people beats the heck out of helping just 9%. Our last president wasted our nation's largest surplus helping only 1% of our citizens. We all see where THAT thinking got us.

The angry tone shown by many of those beating the "Buy American" drum is very troubling.

Yes, I like to buy American made products whenever possible, but I have an open mind.

These angry tirades evoke memories of McCarthyism as well as isolationists.

And the American economy was stronger as well. Maybe a return to that pride and helping our own economy is better. I quit buying imports 2 years ago due to drop in quality. I discovered there are nice domestics that are even better.

Thank you 05:51!! It's good to know that other Americans are not "troubled" by the idea of supporting our own industry. I never thought I'd live to see people actually OFFENDED by patriotism. We'll never own another vehicle from a company that is foreign owned. If Chrysler sells to Fiat we'll buy only GM and Ford.