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Would You Avoid a Manufacturer Because of Bad Public Policy?

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#7 of 56 Re: Avoid car company based on support of bad public policy? [john_324] by jrdwyer Nov 07, 2006 (8:39 am)
Replying to: john_324 (Nov 07, 2006 8:25 am) You are correct with the issue of Major Moves. The public was pretty much divided in half on it. The biggest cheerleader, our Governor and his pals, got it narrowly passed through typical political promisemaking.   But wouldn't Toyota want every customer they could get (not that they need it right now) and avoid political statements in the first place?   I run a small business and avoid making any political endorsements because I feel it is not a prudent use of my time. Replies to this message: john_324 (Nov 07, 2006 8:47 am) jrdwyer (Nov 07, 2006 9:00 am)
#8 of 56 Re: Avoid car company based on support of bad public policy? [jrdwyer] by john_324 Nov 07, 2006 (8:47 am)
Replying to: jrdwyer (Nov 07, 2006 8:39 am) "But wouldn't Toyota want every customer they could get (not that they need it right now) and avoid political statements in the first place?"   It does seem odd, yes. Usually, if firms are going to "go political", the saavy ones give to both parties/positions, as a way to hedge bets. But in this case, Toyota is probably expecting some big concessions from the governor, hence why it would expend its "market capital" on something so political and potentially alienating. From Toyota's pov: Value of pork from the administration > value of lost sales for its position.   It's kinda depressing (one expects this kind of stuff from Ford and GM, but not a real competitor like Toyota), but it is the way of our system, for better or worse. Replies to this message: jrdwyer (Nov 07, 2006 9:00 am)
#9 of 56 Re: Avoid car company based on support of bad public policy? [john_324] by jrdwyer Nov 07, 2006 (9:00 am)
Replying to: john_324 (Nov 07, 2006 8:47 am) Toyota has gotten a chunk of change from the state of Indiana and local taxing authorities (tax abatement) for locating their plant here. So I guess it was payback time. They also advertise heavily about their local production, local support, etc.   I guess our system needs to be changed and improved. Maybe the next batch of elected leaders will listen?
#10 of 56 It's all at some point going to boil down to..... by rockylee Nov 07, 2006 (9:42 am)
I gotta agree with most of y'alls posts. My problem is that to many politicians receive corporate gifts which is messing up our political system. I think we need some real campaign finance reform and anyone running for office gets X amount of money and that leaves outside influences outside the inner circle. Until then we will have outside influences ruining our politics. Just my $0.02 opinion.   Rocky
#11 of 56 Re: Avoid car company based on support of bad public policy? [kirstie_h] by snakeweasel Nov 07, 2006 (11:15 am)
Replying to: kirstie_h (Nov 07, 2006 7:19 am) If you want to make a personal statement about a corporation based on an certain issue that is very near & dear to you, then fine - but note that keeping track of agendas of all of the companies from whom you may purchase is extremely hard work, and may result in a total inability to purchase anything from anyone, ever.   I agree with that for the most part. There are many companies out there that support things I do not, but unless its one of my "hot issues" I am not going to do much about it.   However if its a hot issue for me I many times will find myself being influenced by that. Also many times there are other issues I will have with a company and a political issue just pushes it over the line (in a case where either the political issue or the other issues alone wouldn't).   VOTE   Yes VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN. Replies to this message: jlawrence01 (Nov 07, 2006 2:50 pm)
#13 of 56 Re: Avoid car company based on support of bad public policy? [snakeweasel] by jlawrence01 Nov 07, 2006 (2:50 pm)
Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 07, 2006 11:15 am) Yes VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN.   You are going to have to pay Daley a fee for the use of his motto.   Seriously, had a friend of mine at our local bakery whisper to me that Saturday was her last day. I asked her where she would be going. Her response was that she was heading to the new WalMart Supercenter. Asked her what she thought about working for WalMart ... and she told me this.   She had been working at a union grocery BUT they would never give her any hours and the union dues she was paying were as much as the full-time employees. Her current employer (the local business guy) gives no benefits and few raises ... AND she'll get a $2.50/hr raise.   All I have to say is that I USED to work for one of those "BEST 100 EMPLOYERS" that would give all those "politically correct" benefits - flex time, extra time for mothers, etc. And all I remember is having to cover for all those benefits ... at no extra pay.   Give me ANY corporation and generally you can make a good argument for or against them.   Ford, Daimler Benz, and VW had strong pro-Nazi ties. Mitsubishi built the planes that bombed Pearl Harbor ... you get the drift.
#14 of 56 So we don't get in trouble... by john_324 Nov 08, 2006 (6:38 am)
...back to cars, I wonder how the upcoming arrival of Chinese cars will be treated by U.S. consumers?   Though plenty of the smaller items in our lives (televisions, etc.) are already made there, there's something different about a vehicle that still is able to provoke strong emotion in people.   Given our balance of trade with China, and that it's an honest-to-god totalitarian state, I wonder how much negative reaction they'll be. Or will people just shrug and say the like how inexpensive a new car can be? Replies to this message: snakeweasel (Nov 08, 2006 7:09 am) fintail (Nov 08, 2006 3:26 pm)
#15 of 56 Re: So we don't get in trouble... [john_324] by snakeweasel Nov 08, 2006 (7:09 am)
Replying to: john_324 (Nov 08, 2006 6:38 am) ...back to cars, I wonder how the upcoming arrival of Chinese cars will be treated by U.S. consumers?   People are going to be cautious and be thinking Yugo.   Though plenty of the smaller items in our lives (televisions, etc.) are already made there,   Consumer electronics and clothing have very few moving parts. A car is a moving part with many moving parts making it work. There in lies the big difference. The Chinese are going to have to prove that they are not the next Yugo.
#16 of 56 Re: Avoid car company based on support of bad public policy? [john_324] by eltonron Nov 08, 2006 (8:29 am)
Replying to: john_324 (Nov 07, 2006 7:41 am) John, I second Kirstie's congrats on an extremely cogent and well-articulated post. Thanks for your help in keeping the discussions both relevant and enlightening!   EltonRon Host- Automotive News and Views Replies to this message: john_324 (Nov 08, 2006 12:20 pm)

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