so, to get back to the original post, yes GM & Ferd have had a presence overseas for quite some time. however, for them to yank anchor and bail from US soil is probably something that would never happen. they are very crafty in that they are using the loopholes in the trade agreements with other countries to sneak their product in the back door. i just don't see them moving ALL operations overseas or in Mexico/Canada.
the unions make it more difficult for a company to make a profit. these days, all your shareholders want to know about is how much the stock is going up or how much that dividend check is for. so, the upper management is constantly harping on the bottom line, which makes it difficult for middle and lower management to get their jobs done at the profit level UM has set for them. they can't lower the bar, either, because then someone, somewhere will start to slack off and end up costing the company money instead of using the buffer to their advantage.
it's still a very depressing thought that the japs have more than 50% of the US automobile market share. this is what ambivalence and downright ignorance has cost us, not to mention those that still think that japan makes a better product than the US - it's just not true anymore.
when people found out that the japs were buying US real estate, they just shrugged their shoulders. meanwhile, the japs are renting that space back to US companies - is that a shrewd move, or what? but since it doesn't impact them on a personal level, people could care less. all of this time the economy has been eroded to the point that it may not be salvagable.
truth be told, i can't wait to get out of here. i'll go sit in a third world country and watch the US deteriorate from afar.
