Steve Mnich’s letter Buy American if looking for solution to economic woes of auto industry (SN 2/10) provides a clear example why a basic economics course should be included in the requirements for university graduation, if not for high school.? With the exception of SUVs, foreign automakers have trounced the Big Three on quality, reliability and price for the past 20 years.
With fuel prices expected to rise, it doesn’t take a crystal ball to predict which class of vehicles consumers will seek in the future. ?Rather than trying to artificially support a failing industry, let us retool our work force to maintain the U.S.’s status as the world leader in technology, research and creativity.
If other countries want to maintain an unskilled labor force and sell us goods cheap, let’s buy from them. That will free up more of our workers to automate dangerous and/or boring jobs so that Americans can continue to enjoy the highest standard of living in the world. Later, if a new Henry Ford or Walter Chrysler develops a new American car that trounces foreign models, Detroit can win back its title of the Motor City.
In the meantime, I will continue driving my ’98 Honda Civic while pondering whether to replace it with a Civic Hybrid or Fit.
Ed Morrison
2008 MSU alumnus
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