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Subscribe to this threadToyota opens new shopping mall in Japan
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Ferg @ Mar 26th 2008 8:43AM
A little bitter are we? You mention the amount of jobs that are being lost in the US auto industry. Have you seen where those jobs are being lost from? I agree it is unfortunate, but the Big 3 did it to themselves by not adapting to the changes as well as having a leach attached to them for many years. While other companies are moving jobs to Mexico and overseas, some others companies are moving facilities to the US. Seems like you have an issue with them on a larger scale.
Lithous @ Mar 26th 2008 8:57AM
Yeah, like instead of Toyota making cars their people want they make a shopping mall to boost sales. Gee, seems like something you import fans would say that GM would do.
BTW, GM probably makes 10% or less of their cars in Mexico. As of right now the only cars they make there and sell in the U.S. that I can think of are the HHR and the VUE. But new cars like the Aura, Sky, Outlook, all brand new, are made in the U.S.
You may mean ford with their Fusion but GM makes their latest technology hybrid systems (WHICH TECHNICALLY ARE BETTER THAN SYNERGY) in the U.S. See how the $115K Lexus hybrid system uses similar but not as complete technology as the Tahoe hybrid system.
Bitter? No. Just can't believe Americans are so dumb. We used to be one of the more educated people on the planet. Now, not so much. Now we fall for a car company building a shopping mall (i.e. if it doesn't work in Japan it will work here, so bring it on over Toyota)
Please go look at the history of Rome and see the parallelisms. Except, we gave the farm away in 50 years on top and Rome more like a thousand.
Guenther @ Mar 26th 2008 10:17AM
Lithous- if I read the post correctly, it isn't that the Japanese Domestics aren't selling the cars people want, its that people don't want (as many) cars- PERIOD. Only way to fight that is with advertising dollars (yen).
John R @ Mar 26th 2008 10:27AM
Its funny people like to compare Rome to the United States. The only similarities are that both had/have strong militaries and were the biggest kid on the block. That's it
The Romans were never nearly as xenophobic as the United States is.
Consider Chritianity. Initially it was viewed with the same discomfort many Americans view Islam today. As soon as it became popular and Rome could see how it could use it to thier advantage, it became the state Religion. I don't see that happening with Islam.
Consider Caligula. I won't go into detail here, but suffice it to say that if Clinton, JFK, or Spitzer acted like this guy...
Also Rome never took over a country by proxy like the US is prone to do nowadays. If Rome were to invade Iraq or where ever else, they would make no qualms, flimsy pretexts or spins about the nature of their motives. Also when Rome took over a place, the people in that place automatically became citizens. When Rome came it was either fight and most certainly lose or submit and live decently, but live.
Anyway, my point is your alluding that the US is Rome is false. When you really get down to the history there really is no analogue.
The planet is so incredibly integrated these days so if you think because if you buy GM
John R @ Mar 26th 2008 10:37AM
"The planet is so incredibly integrated these days so if you think because if you buy GM..."
...Americans solely profit you'd be mistaken. GM and Toyota are global and both companies have stock holders that aren't American.
But I know you know that already. So I don't understand this root for the home team mentality. It doesn't work anymore. If it weren't for foriegn markets GM would be dead in the water. I think Holden and Opel clearly demonstrate that.
I can't stand blind xenophobia.
Lithous @ Mar 26th 2008 12:40PM
"Its funny people like to compare Rome to the United States. The only similarities are that both had/have strong militaries and were the biggest kid on the block. That's it"
I don't know. The History Channel does many Rome shows and many historians seem to allude to that. Like allegence. Romans started caring less about Rome before it fell. Go watch the fall of Rome shows on the History Channel. That's when the historians start making the comparisons.
All because we were smart enough not to oppress every single nation we conquered because it comes back on you 3 fold doesn't mean we aren't like Rome in many ways. We do seem to have no problems going into other countries uninvited.
caddy dave @ Mar 26th 2008 10:20PM
The Japanese way of doing business. Very interesting read from 1991 and scarry how much of it came true.
http;//www.uwsa.com/issues/trade/japanyes.html