'Level playing field with Japan'

In reference to the Dec. 26 article “New No. 1?: Toyota gets in passing lane:”

In 2008, Toyota plans to sell 2.64 million vehicles in the United States and 1.6 million vehicles in Japan.

In an effort to truly make an intelligent comparison, it would have been nice if the article would have provided the same figures for General Motors. More specifically, the number of GM vehicles sold in Japan.

Japan is the second largest economy in the world. For 2007, GM will sell about 20,000 vehicles in Japan. The Japanese government, working in cooperation with the Japanese automotive industry, has successfully kept GM (and Ford) from successfully competing in the second largest economy in the world.

Honda, Toyota and other Japanese companies have set up manufacturing plants all over the United States.

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 16 of last year, Toyota produced more than one million vehicles in the United States. Opening up plants here helps the Japanese automobile industry compete in this global economic war.

Profits (dollars) generated by Japanese industries/plants here are sent back to Japan. This increases the U.S. current account deficit, weakens the American economy and makes the Japanese economy stronger.

On the other hand, there is not one General Motors or Ford plant in Japan.

Japanese vehicles produced in Japan or elsewhere and sold in the United States increases the U.S. foreign trade deficit.

For every billion dollar increase in the foreign trade deficit, 20,000 jobs are lost in America. Increases in the U.S. foreign trade deficit also results in a reduction in the standard of living for all Americans.

I’m pro-American. As a Democrat, I want to see the American military be the most powerful in the world. As an accounting and business teacher, I want to see American businesses be the most powerful in the world.

Nikola (Nick) Drobac
Aliquippa

Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times, Thursday, January 3, 2008
Published: Thursday, January 3, 2008 7:15 AM EST
http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/01/03/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/doc477bc26c8350c834901269.txt
Letters To The Editor

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For the record, I drive a 2007 Saturn Ion 3 manufactured by General Motors.

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ACTUAL LETTER I SUBMITTED TO THE EDITOR:

According to your 26 December 2007 article New No. 1?, Toyota gets in passing lane, for 2008, Toyota plans to sell 2.64 million vehicles in the United States and 1.6 million vehicles in Japan.

In an effort to truly make an intelligent comparison, it would have been nice if Yuri Kageyama, the AP business writer, would have provided the same figures for General Motors. More specifically, the number of General Motor vehicles sold in Japan.

According to the CIA.gov, World Fact Book, Japan is the second largest economy in the world. For 2007, GM will sell about 20,000 vehicles in Japan. The Japanese government working in cooperation with the Japanese automotive industry has successfully kept GM (and Ford) from successfully competing in the second largest economy in the world.

Honda, Toyota, and other Japanese companies have set up manufacturing plants all over the US. January 1 to December 16, 2007, Toyota has produced over one million vehicles in the US (Automotive News, 27 December 2007, page 49). Opening up plants in the US helps the Japanese automobile industry compete in this global economic war. Profits (dollars) generated by Japanese industries/plants in the US are sent back to Japan. This increases the US current account deficit, weakens the American economy, and makes the Japanese economy stronger.

On the other hand, there is not one General Motors or Ford plant in all of Japan.

Japanese vehicles produced in Japan or elsewhere and sold in the United States increases the US foreign trade deficit. For every billion dollar increase in the foreign trade deficit, 20,000 jobs are lost in America. Increases in the US foreign trade deficit also results in a reduction in the standard of living for all Americans.

I’m pro-American. As a Democrat, I want to see the American military be the most powerful in the world. As an accounting and business teacher, I want to see American businesses be the most powerful in the world.

Nikola (Nick) Drobac
Aliquippa, PA 15001-2036

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