Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 2, 1992 TAG: 9202030164
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
`FAIR TRADE' ACCORD WITH JAPAN IS JOKE, LIE
I AM A 49-year-old American male. I have worked every damn day of my life since I was 12 years old. My wife works 16 hours or more every damn day, taking care of our home. We have raised three sons who work every damn day.I remember reading about our servicemen who got shot in the back and shot in their beds at Pearl Harbor, and I do not drive Japanese junk vehicles. We are the proud owners of three Fords, one of which was assembled in Virginia, by American workers, and that's the way I like it.
If the time ever comes when a Japanese vehicle will be all I can buy, I will walk where I need to go, or ride an American-made bicycle.
No doubt there are some Japanese parts on our Fords, but they have Henry Ford's name on them, and no tags that say they were made in "The Land of the Rising Sun."
The "fair trade" agreement with Japan is a joke and a lie. They are sending millions of dollars worth of goods to the United States, while buying little or nothing from us. That's not fair trade in my book.
I am concerned about the future of my sons and their families, and our government doesn't give a damn. George Bush and his "Den of Thieves" are killing the American work force, and it's got to stop, now. American people and American workers (those of us who are still working) have got to wake up and end this nonsense.
Last, but not least, I challenge Mr. Sakurauchi and any Japanese individual(s) who share his philosophy to a one-on-one. I will make a wager, any size, large or small, that none of them will stand face to face with this American worker and tell me that I or any member of my family is lazy.
Any takers?
(As for being illiterate, one of our sons recently received his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the Virginia Military Institute. All of us have enough education that we don't work for a bowl of rice and fish heads for wages.) JERRY A. JEFFRIES CLIFTON FORGE