Why Rench buys American (and doesn't care if you do)
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:02 pm
It came up in another thread that I like to buy American bikes (and, well, everything), and some encouraged me to elaborate. Why Grinder, you may ask? Because this isn't political to me, per se. More like religion or philosophy. I won't link statistics to back up any of my opinions, because they are just my opinions. Furthermore, don't think I look down on people who don't buy American. I have many conservative beliefs, but I'm an Anarchist, and firmly believe you can do whatever you want, I've got no right to tell you.
All disclaimer being above, I've got several reasons.
Family. I was raised by my father. None of you know him, but if you did, I could almost stop here.
I grew up around a multitude of rusting old American cars, mostly GM, and if I didn't spend winter nights laying in a parking lot holding a flashlight for my old man working on rigs sometimes considerably older than me, I wouldn't be me. He'd never buy Japanese, and frequently referred to America as being bombed with Japanese cars. I can't say I have his distaste for them, just his enthusiasm for ours.
Union. (just for you, mtne!) I am a union worker, and behind all the BS and politics, the fundamental principle is that sticking together and "keeping it in the family" will always help. I don't know if any of the many foreign vehicles made here in America are UAW built, but even if they were, wouldn't it be nice if the profits beyond the jobs stayed in the US as well? Which brings me to...
Money. I get it that many foreign vehicles are made right here in America. I understand, or at least grasp the concept of, a global economy. In the next breath though, it just seems right to me to try and keep as much of my hard earned money here rather than send it everywhere else. Hell, two of my 4 American makes are actually assembled in Canada, but that brings me to...
50 cent patriotism. For every 50 cent "remember 9-11" or "support our troops" or American flag sticker on a Toyota, Honda, etc, Ive got a molded in Dodge, Jeep, or Harley logo, and every penny of the vehicle goes to support Americans in some way. I actually don't have any patriotic stickers on most of my rigs. The make says enough for me.
As a final point, I know my Harley has many parts made around the world on her. My neighbors have heard many profanity-laced littanies echoing from my garage about why I need to dig out my metric sockets while working on my Harley. But a month after I took delivery, I took a little ride out to Kansas City, and met some of the men and women who built my very bike. They all got a piece of the MSRP I paid, and they took it home to their families. I know beating you over the head with patriotic imagery is pissing in the wind around here, but I felt good about it.
Now, you can pick this apart bit by bit if you choose, and I can tell you a lot more things I believe that would piss some of you off, but I'm not trying to convince you of shit, just answering a few questions I've been asked.
-Rench
All disclaimer being above, I've got several reasons.
Family. I was raised by my father. None of you know him, but if you did, I could almost stop here.
I grew up around a multitude of rusting old American cars, mostly GM, and if I didn't spend winter nights laying in a parking lot holding a flashlight for my old man working on rigs sometimes considerably older than me, I wouldn't be me. He'd never buy Japanese, and frequently referred to America as being bombed with Japanese cars. I can't say I have his distaste for them, just his enthusiasm for ours. Union. (just for you, mtne!) I am a union worker, and behind all the BS and politics, the fundamental principle is that sticking together and "keeping it in the family" will always help. I don't know if any of the many foreign vehicles made here in America are UAW built, but even if they were, wouldn't it be nice if the profits beyond the jobs stayed in the US as well? Which brings me to...
Money. I get it that many foreign vehicles are made right here in America. I understand, or at least grasp the concept of, a global economy. In the next breath though, it just seems right to me to try and keep as much of my hard earned money here rather than send it everywhere else. Hell, two of my 4 American makes are actually assembled in Canada, but that brings me to...
50 cent patriotism. For every 50 cent "remember 9-11" or "support our troops" or American flag sticker on a Toyota, Honda, etc, Ive got a molded in Dodge, Jeep, or Harley logo, and every penny of the vehicle goes to support Americans in some way. I actually don't have any patriotic stickers on most of my rigs. The make says enough for me.
As a final point, I know my Harley has many parts made around the world on her. My neighbors have heard many profanity-laced littanies echoing from my garage about why I need to dig out my metric sockets while working on my Harley. But a month after I took delivery, I took a little ride out to Kansas City, and met some of the men and women who built my very bike. They all got a piece of the MSRP I paid, and they took it home to their families. I know beating you over the head with patriotic imagery is pissing in the wind around here, but I felt good about it.
Now, you can pick this apart bit by bit if you choose, and I can tell you a lot more things I believe that would piss some of you off, but I'm not trying to convince you of shit, just answering a few questions I've been asked.
-Rench
