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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 20, 1992                   TAG: 9201200229
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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ECONOMIC FAILURE LAID TO U.S. BUSINESS

I CANNOT understand why the failure of the American economy is the fault of the Japanese or any other foreign country. It seems to me it is more the fault of mismanagement of business and chief executive officers.

Forty-six years ago, Japan was a destroyed and defeated country - no businesses, factories or any kind of income. It is true the United States helped Japan get back on its feet, but let's face it, America: The Japanese businesses and CEOs are concerned about their people, employees and country.

On the other hand, the greedy and corrupt businesses and CEOs of American industry are thinking only of themselves and how much money they can put in their pockets for their own use.

The way the economy is now, anyone investing in a car or anything else is going to look for price and quality - what you can't find in American products. Maybe with a little luck, the Japanese will buy all American businesses, and then we can go back to quality products at a reasonable price. Then the American worker would be treated like a human being instead of a pawn.

Stockholders have got to be stupid for allowing such incompetency in the American work place. Something is drastically wrong when a 5-cent candy bar costs 45 cents and you only get half as much! CARL R. PADGETT SALEM

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