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UER Store
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sweet UER decals:
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 parrot
 
Location: Austin
Gender: Male
 |  | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 20 on 12/19/2008 4:42 PM >
|  | | | I work in service at a Chrysler, Dodge, Nissan dealer. The domestics and the imports are all great cars. The quality is just about par. Interestingly because they need a small fuel efficient car Chrysler has contracted with Nissan to build a car for them. It is less expensive to pay another manufacturer to build their car in a non union plant than to build it themselves.
Don't worry... nothing is gonna be alright. |
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Clockwork
    
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Gender: Male
I WILL KILL THIS MONKEY! I'M CRAZY!
| |  | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 21 on 12/19/2008 11:10 PM >
| | | | Posted by parrot
It is less expensive to pay another manufacturer to build their car in a non union plant than to build it themselves.
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Wow. That's all kinds of fucked up!
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Brent
 
Location: Indianapolis
Gender: Male
Silent Partner
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 22 on 1/6/2009 1:51 AM >
| | | | Being originally from Michigan, (some family from Flint) I understand the push to always "buy american", I try to.
An example of why GM is in dire striats: I have seen family members move cross country to keep a job with GM, and guess what GM does for them? GM buys the house they were living in, pays to move them, finds them a house and fronts them the down payment. How can a company that does this stay competitive? I moved out of state for a job, and no-one payed my way.
So I still believe in buying American, the car might not be made in the states, but the money you pay for that car stays here, rather than going back to Japan.
I just wish I was more active in photography when GM tore down most of it's old factories in MI, it would have been good to get them before they were gone.
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Rattler
Gender: Male
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 23 on 1/20/2009 1:17 PM >
| | | | I love the Top Gear Hilux episode!! I have been born and raised here in MI in the heart of GM country. I had driven GMs all my life until I wanted a small 4x4. The Toyota trucks live up to that image and hype. I am on my 3rd and sold the other 2 still running fine at 160k and 245k. The current isn't even broke in yet at 45k.
I hear an occasional "%^*&ing rice burner" or something. I had a Subaru WRX before the Tacoma I have now and never really heard much. Kinda funny.
I have been to events at the local UAW hall and just ignore the signs since all my Toyota trucks were built in the US. Nothing like some jackass bitching about it and then you have to dare him to open the door of his Chevy and point to the "Assembled In Canada" tag.
[last edit 1/20/2009 1:19 PM by Rattler - edited 1 times]
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seicer
Location: New York
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 24 on 1/20/2009 1:38 PM >
| | | | Posted by LostintheWoods
Toyota Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon, Solara, Venza - Georgetown, Kentucky. |
Camry (and the other four vehicles), made with 100% American-sourced parts. No unions required.
That is an American Revolution (TM).
My dad's 2006 Chevrolet Silverado was manufactured in Mexico, with 45% domestic components. Non-union labor at that!
Abandoned |
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Myelin
 
Location: The End of Canada
Gender: Male
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 25 on 1/20/2009 1:54 PM >
| | | | One thing no one has brought up yet is the fact that there are many other industries that depend (or once depended) on our patronage - not just the auto sector. Do these "buy american" UAW/CAW drones ever stop to think as they browse Walmart or Price Club for a $4 t-shirt that some domestic clothing factory somewhere is struggling or out of business because of society's greed for cheaper off-shore goods? If I had a nickel for every Dodge Caravan in the Walmart lot with the "BUY DOMESTIC" bumpersticker. 
Hypocrits.
The trend toward buying foreign made goods has been going on for DECADES and it's only now that the chickens are coming home to roost that the autoworkers are beating the "buy domestic" drum. No one - least of all autoworkers - cared a damn while everyone else was losing their jobs in other sectors!
Now they want 'sympathy'. As the old expression goes, you'll find it in the dictionary, right between shit and syphillis.
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Nick
Location: Lansing, MI
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 26 on 2/15/2009 11:55 PM >
| | | | Um... I'm pretty sure that by "foreign", they mean "No Strangers Cars".
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Sand
Location: Pac South
Everything interesting is always behind a fence.
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 27 on 2/21/2009 9:32 AM >
| | | | Posted by /-/ooligan
As you can see, I don't like unions. They were an important, positive factor during the industrial revolution but for the past many decades in the USA they've had more of a negative impact on society than a positive one.
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I agree about car unions but the spirit of unions in the old days (the first unions) were really good, and helped people fight injustice and terrible working conditions. Unfortunately, people are greedy and now many unions are only out for themselves to make as much money and perks as possible, instead of fighting bad working conditions or bad policies...
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UniqueStyle
Gender: Male
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 28 on 2/22/2009 1:27 AM >
| | | | Posted by sandaili
I agree about car unions but the spirit of unions in the old days (the first unions) were really good, and helped people fight injustice and terrible working conditions. Unfortunately, people are greedy and now many unions are only out for themselves to make as much money and perks as possible, instead of fighting bad working conditions or bad policies...
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These days, unions are mostly for the lazy people that don't want to put in a decent days work.
JMO
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Nick
Location: Lansing, MI
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 29 on 2/22/2009 4:06 PM >
| | | | Posted by seicer
Camry (and the other four vehicles), made with 100% American-sourced parts. No unions required.
That is an American Revolution (TM).
My dad's 2006 Chevrolet Silverado was manufactured in Mexico, with 45% domestic components. Non-union labor at that!
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But the profits made from the sales of the Camry still go overseas (apart from paying for the labor).
Instead of GM closing it's American plants, it needs to close it's foreign plants. In fact, we need to tell Toyota an Honda that they need to move their HQ here if they want to continue monopolizing the industry thanks to their union free labor policies. Either that, or we all just need to get the balls to tell the UAW to f off and take back our own auto industry and become a self-sustaining nation once again.
What's going to happen if GM, Ford and Chrysler close down and all that's left are Japanese auto makers in America.. and we go to war with Japan for some reason? Who's going to make our military vehicles?
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Nick
Location: Lansing, MI
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 30 on 2/22/2009 4:14 PM >
| | | | Oh, and for the record...
I own two Oldsmobile Cutlasses. One is a 96, one is a 77. Both cars are reliable. I drive the 96 during the winter and the 77 during the summer.
Only work I've ever done to the 77 is maintenance - brakes, oil changes, starter motor, battery - and on a 77, the repair takes about 10 minutes to do thanks to the abundance of space in the engine compartment.
My 96 has proven to be extremely reliable as well. New brakes, windshield, oil changes and.. actually, that's it.
My old 95 Monte Carlo? It got new brakes and a new battery in the 10 years my family owned it. My 94 Beretta? Needed an alternator, battery and brakes. 91 Pontiac Trans-Sport? Alternator, Starter, water pump and brakes.
Somehow I don't buy into the "domestic cars are pieces of shit" ideology.
I'd trust my 32 year old land yacht over a brand new plasticar ANY day.
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yokes
Location: Toronto
Gender: Male
I aim to misbehave
| | | | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 31 on 2/22/2009 4:26 PM >
| | | | Posted by Rattler
I love the Top Gear Hilux episode!!
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My favourite is their test of the Ford Fiesta
http://www.youtube...atch?v=mmlefLw0X5k
At 3:49, the fun starts.
"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel |
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Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
Location: northeastern New York
No matter where you go, there you are...
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 32 on 2/26/2009 6:17 PM >
| | | | Posted by UniqueStyle
These days, unions are mostly for the lazy people that don't want to put in a decent days work.
JMO
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go fuck yourself, but that's just my opinion.
come take a walk with me on my workday and show us how were 'fat and lazy'. That fucking union is about 60% of what is keeping me in a job... until then, shut your suck. I work a job where there is a good chance that I could either be blinded, burned or killed in the course of an eight hour day. Why do I work there? Because I want the American dream. I want to make enough to have a new Chevrolet in the driveway of MY house. If a union helps make that possible, you bet I'll pay the $48 a month dues.
Do I want to work in a cubicle? Do I want to be part of the emerging 'service' economy. No, I want to work a job where I make stuff. Manufacturing made this country great once. It seems everyone has forgotten that or doesn't care.
United Steelworkers
Local 5
International Paper
TIconderoga NY
As a matter of record, I drive nothing but General Motors cars. My 8 Cavaliers were assembled in either Lansing, Michigan or Lordstown OH with engines manufactured in Tonawanda NY. My two Cobalts were also assembled in Lordstown OH. My 1993 and 1998 Chevrolet Luminas and 1999 Monte Carlo were all assembled in Oshawa Ontario by some crazy Canadians who knew how to build a car. My mothers' Silverado was built here in the US as was her 2007 G6 sedan (Lake Orion, Wisconsin)
If GM goes under, I'll buy Fords. If Ford goes under, I'll buy Volkswagens. I will never own a goddamn Japanese or Korean car.
[last edit 2/26/2009 6:26 PM by Samurai - edited 2 times]
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UniqueStyle
Gender: Male
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 33 on 2/27/2009 3:55 AM >
| | | | Posted by Samurai
go fuck yourself, but that's just my opinion.
come take a walk with me on my workday and show us how were 'fat and lazy'. That fucking union is about 60% of what is keeping me in a job... until then, shut your suck. I work a job where there is a good chance that I could either be blinded, burned or killed in the course of an eight hour day. Why do I work there? Because I want the American dream. I want to make enough to have a new Chevrolet in the driveway of MY house. If a union helps make that possible, you bet I'll pay the $48 a month dues.
Do I want to work in a cubicle? Do I want to be part of the emerging 'service' economy. No, I want to work a job where I make stuff. Manufacturing made this country great once. It seems everyone has forgotten that or doesn't care.
United Steelworkers
Local 5
International Paper
TIconderoga NY
As a matter of record, I drive nothing but General Motors cars. My 8 Cavaliers were assembled in either Lansing, Michigan or Lordstown OH with engines manufactured in Tonawanda NY. My two Cobalts were also assembled in Lordstown OH. My 1993 and 1998 Chevrolet Luminas and 1999 Monte Carlo were all assembled in Oshawa Ontario by some crazy Canadians who knew how to build a car. My mothers' Silverado was built here in the US as was her 2007 G6 sedan (Lake Orion, Wisconsin)
If GM goes under, I'll buy Fords. If Ford goes under, I'll buy Volkswagens. I will never own a goddamn Japanese or Korean car.
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I did not mean to piss you off, if I did I am sorry. Everyone has an opinion. We differ, slightly.
I have been on both sides; Union and management.
I had 20 plus years in a union, paid my $40.00- $50.00 a month. I followed the rules and worked hard. I was and I still am proud of what I do.
My opinion is based upon my union experience and many other manufacturing unionized places that I have visited. A lot of places I visit, I see people doing nothing except reading the paper, standing around talking and some even sleeping. The machines are not running and nothing is being produced. Management cannot do anything because they are "protected" by the union.
You are correct manufacturing made this country great "Once".
Now manufacturing is slowly killing itself and allowing other countries to over take the USA in terms of efficiency and quality of product.
Both sides are allowing it to happen by being driven by the almighty profit dollar.
Thank you for your hard work. I can only hope that more people are like you, working hard for the consumer and America.
I too drive American cars. GM cars. I have seen a decline in the quality over the years.
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/-/ooligan
Location: Las Vegas area
Gender: Male
When in danger, when in doubt, RUN IN CIRCLES, SCREAM AND SHOUT!
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 34 on 2/27/2009 5:17 AM >
| | | | Posted by Samurai
go fuck yourself, but that's just my opinion.
come take a walk with me on my workday and show us how were 'fat and lazy'. That fucking union is about 60% of what is keeping me in a job... until then, shut your suck.
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Written (syntax & all) like a true American union worker! Maybe not a lot of education or social skills, but the man's got pride and gusto (that, and a pulse are all you need for some jobs out there), and if you dare argue with him, he'll battle your educated, sharp wit with the sharp knife in his dirty hands to shut your suck for you! That's job-security, American union style, you damn bourgeoisie bastards!
Believe him though when he credits the union --not his employer-- as being most of the reason he has a job. And the union being 60% responsible for that proud man having a job is also perfect evidence supporting the claim that unions are a huge factor in what's bankrupting so many businesses these days.
/-/ooligan
There are no stupid questions, just stupid people. |
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Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
Location: northeastern New York
No matter where you go, there you are...
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 35 on 2/27/2009 9:07 AM >
| | | | Posted by /-/ooligan
Written (syntax & all) like a true American union worker! Maybe not a lot of education or social skills, but the man's got pride and gusto (that, and a pulse are all you need for some jobs out there), and if you dare argue with him, he'll battle your educated, sharp wit with the sharp knife in his dirty hands to shut your suck for you! That's job-security, American union style, you damn bourgeoisie bastards!
Believe him though when he credits the union --not his employer-- as being most of the reason he has a job. And the union being 60% responsible for that proud man having a job is also perfect evidence supporting the claim that unions are a huge factor in what's bankrupting so many businesses these days.
/-/ooligan
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this post reads like an overeducated, underemployed member of the intellectual elite. good for you. I'm glad you managed to judge me by my post. I took the job where I am because in the area I live in, it pays the most. By the standards of other mills in International Papers' mill system, we are the lowest paid. Every year, we give management concessions to keep the mill here. We give up pay, we give up positions, we give up benefits... each contract we give IP more and more so that we can have a job. I suppose that was what i was trying to convey. It just pisses me off, for lack of a better term, that when people say 'union' they get the uniquely American image that you and the above posters had mentioned.
Where I work, we bust our asses for what we have. Granted, there are some jobs higher up the seniority chain that are not that strenuous, but let me tell you, the bottom is no picnic. I work in an environment where there is good chance you could be killed by 100 different things in an 8 hour shift. Myself and the people that I work with have sacrificed any semblance of a normal home or other kind of life to make sure we have a job. We work a shift schedule that would drive most of you to insanity. And why do I do it? Why don't I just go find something else? Because there is nothing else. This is it where I live.
You can sit behind your computer and reflect on how fabulous your life is, but until you know what it's like to walk into a job where you could get killed just walking the floor, I don't think we could converse on the same level. Think I am being dramatic? Why don't you point your little browser to google and look up dangerous jobs and papermaking, check out the mortality rate in that field. And it's not just on the job that could kill you... Guys that retire from where I work last maybe a year or two after retirement and then they die either from some weird cancer or some odd heart disease.
I'm pissed off that as shitty as my job is, the company will find a way to move it overseas. The company has built a huge plant in Brazil to make the expensive technical grade papers we make, but they are having trouble making it from the wood they chose. So here we are, sitting in a 42 year old mill wit equipment that has been so patched together and bubblegum-ed together, it runs like nothing else, hoping that the company can't get the recipe right. Once Brazil comes online making our paper, yours truly will be sending you greeting cards from the welfare line.
It pisses me off that I have to sit here and defend myself and my lifestyle. Why should I have to do that? Am I to be looked down upon because I work a blue-collar job and did not finish college? I am to feel untouchable because i choose to use a four letter word instead of a six? Oh gosh golly gee. I work with plain-speaking people. I work with people who see in black and white. They are opinionated and don't give a shit if you like it or not. That's the way people are where I am from and I will not be apologetic about that.
as for being union, I will not apologize for that even though I do understand the point you were getting at. I don't think it's fair to paint everyone with that brush because, honestly, it's just people trying to make a living.
Do I think the UAW has handled its business with GM and the industry in general the right way? No. As soon as they saw that there was serious trouble, they should've stepped in, and in their own best interest, asked "What can we do to help?" Not hold their hand out and tap their foot.
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Ogre Battle
Location: Chicago IL
Gender: Male
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 36 on 2/27/2009 1:14 PM >
| | | | Posted by seicer
Camry (and the other four vehicles), made with 100% American-sourced parts. No unions required.
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Are you sure about that? The Camrys sitting on the lot at the Toyota dealer near me have a sticker listing their domestic content as 65%.
Posted by Samurai
My 8 Cavaliers were assembled in either Lansing, Michigan or Lordstown OH with engines manufactured in Tonawanda NY. My two Cobalts were also assembled in Lordstown OH. My 1993 and 1998 Chevrolet Luminas and 1999 Monte Carlo were all assembled in Oshawa Ontario by some crazy Canadians who knew how to build a car. My mothers' Silverado was built here in the US as was her 2007 G6 sedan (Lake Orion, Wisconsin)
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A minor quibble, but I thought all Cavaliers were made at Lordstown.... Were some early ones made at Lansing? I used to have a Beretta that was made at Linden NJ which was the "overflow" Beretta plant so having some built elsewhere wouldn't come as a surprise. I have a Cobalt now, and its quite nice; I really like it.
Lake Orion is in Michigan, by the way.
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Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
Location: northeastern New York
No matter where you go, there you are...
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 37 on 2/27/2009 3:23 PM >
| | | | Posted by Ogre Battle
Are you sure about that? The Camrys sitting on the lot at the Toyota dealer near me have a sticker listing their domestic content as 65%.
A minor quibble, but I thought all Cavaliers were made at Lordstown.... Were some early ones made at Lansing? I used to have a Beretta that was made at Linden NJ which was the "overflow" Beretta plant so having some built elsewhere wouldn't come as a surprise. I have a Cobalt now, and its quite nice; I really like it.
Lake Orion is in Michigan, by the way.
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Cavaliers had several locations over their 20+ year run... Ramos Arizipe, Mexico, Janesville, Wisconsin, Lansing, Michigan and Lordstown, Ohio.
Berettas/Corsicas were an unloved car... a J/N/A body hybrid, they didn't really have a market to sell to. But the Berettas looked awesome.
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secret
Location: St. Paul, MN
Gender: Male
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 38 on 2/28/2009 8:58 PM >
| | | | As much as I respect the fact that blue collar work/Detroit automobile industry built America, I'll continue to drive imports the rest of my life.
It's cold in Minnesota and I wouldn't want to have to wait for a tow truck in the middle of January..:]
Some girls should just be happy they were invited to the prom.. |
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Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
Location: northeastern New York
No matter where you go, there you are...
| | Re: Only in Detroit
<Reply # 39 on 3/1/2009 8:02 AM >
| | | | Posted by maxadamson
As much as I respect the fact that blue collar work/Detroit automobile industry built America, I'll continue to drive imports the rest of my life.
It's cold in Minnesota and I wouldn't want to have to wait for a tow truck in the middle of January..:]
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