Originally Posted By: VNTS
Not sure about GM but Chrsler paid everything back save about 1 billion( was the amount loaned to "Old Carco" and that was the part of the old chrysler which went insolvent and was liquidated).
As I said Honda and Toyota got 200 million each in subsidies for the hybrids so yes I guess Chrysler screwed the taxpayer becasue they got more
When you think of the government waste, 1 billion is a drop in the bucket. For ex last year 2010 the US taxpayer gave illegal aliens over 4.2 billion in cash benefits, think the tax credit w
Originally Posted By: johnachak
Originally Posted By: Robespierre
GM and Chrysler have already received plenty of my money in the form of bailouts. So they already have a noncompetitive advantage over "foreign" companies. Why should I grant them another? The "buy American" crowd is essentially arguing against free market competition and for the buddy-buddy system. As far as I'm concerned, US companies can compete for my business just like any other company.
Most of the foreign companies were either subsidized by their governments or were given big incentives to export long before GM or Chrysler were bailed out. As far as employing American, I don't know which industry you are talking about. As for the Global economy, many foreign governments are getting bailed out or are going bankrupt. Unless you are going to live or retire Globally instead of in the USA, you may want to consider contributing all you can to the US economy. As far as competing, most of the American vehicles are actually better than their foreign competitors. Try one.
I don't doubt that lots of foreign auto manufacturers are subsidized by their governments. That's irrelevant to me. The only companies that I've been personally forced to subsidize are US companies. US companies have already profited from me, even though I've never bought a car from them. I'll go out of my way to "buy American" as soon as American companies go out of their way to "employ American". They don't deserve any sort of loyalty from me or anybody else.
The only vehicle I've ever bought new was a Kawasaki. There was no American equivalent to that bike. I currently own two used American vehicles. I bought them because they were cheap and they were good enough. They're certainly not the best, but I don't want to pay for the best. Lately I've been considering buying a new vehicle within the next year or so. If I do, country of origin or "domestic content" simply won't be a factor in my decision.
