The general conservative posture on outsourcing being good for the economy is defended by the balance of insourcing. It is true that many foreign automakers have been compelled to assemble their automobiles in union-free zones of the US. Seldom, however, are they actually manufactured here — essential parts for assembly are imported. There is no question that the automobile industry has improved because of Japan, Korea and Germany stressing quality. Conservatives like to blame the old time auto workers of Detroit because of their slipshod work. In reality, it was management that continually pushed the envelope in the ‘70s for bigger cars in face of the energy crunch and allowing Japan to make inroads with their economy cars.
Had management met this foreign challenge head on by going back to the drawing boards of the past during which 60 to 95 hp engines were the norm and upgraded them for the era, foreign imports would have been stifled. By then, however, the handwriting was on the wall that foreign competition would diminish the power of the unions, which would fearfully go along producing gas-guzzling American cars while yielding to layoffs.
In the ‘30s-‘60s seldom were heard the cries of slipshod American products; on the contrary, the American worker was the very best and actually during WW II saved the world. The only cries heard were which was better the Lincoln or the Cadillac, or the Chevy in relation to the Ford. In other areas, consumer decisions boiled down to General Electric or Westinghouse, Philco or RCA; and in retail, Woolworth, A&S or Macy’s, all of which carried American products.
Many seem to think that imports have actually raised the level of consumption; it is argued, as an example, that without cloning overseas, PCs would still be untouchable for the average consumer. That’s what was said in the ‘30s: that the masses would be stuck with their iceboxes as prices on refrigerators would never come down by the ‘40s the ice man never cometh.
It is tragic that we have lost faith in American ingenuity and labor.
Copyright © 2004 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: September 12, 2004.
http://stevendedalus.joeuser.com