Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 22, 1992 TAG: 9202240187
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES A. HANCOCK JR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WAKE UP, AMERICA!
THE TIME has come to debunk some popular myths:\ Myth No. 1: Americans can't build quality automobiles.
Since World War II, I have purchased five automobiles, a van and two pickup trucks, all new, all American-made. My family and I have driven these vehicles an average of 131,600 miles each, and are still driving one car and a pickup. Except for one car totaled in an accident, all of the vehicles were in good running order when traded, sold or given to an adult child.
\ Myth No. 2: There is fair trade between the United States and Japan.
Taking advantage of unequal trade agreements, Japan has sold at least $450 billion more in goods in this country than we have sold in Japan. While the Japanese automobile manufacturers have been free to open thousands of dealerships in this country, we pitifully boast of a second toy store that an American firm has opened in Japan. Kroger, Food Lion, Safeway and Winn-Dixie cannot open supermarkets there.
\ Myth No. 3: Our government leaders will fix things.
It is our government leaders whose previous agreements with Japan have paved the way for the rape of American industry. Witness that when the last velveteen mill in this country was forced to close because of unfair competition, Japan raised the cost of velveteen by one-third. The most recent "negotiation" by President Bush was a joke.
The American consumer has been mesmerized by lower prices of foreign goods produced by cheap labor in an environment of government protection. It is not only automobiles. Such mundane items as stainless-steel tableware have displaced American-made products. The workers who produce these items don't pay taxes to another country, nor do they buy food, shoes or insurance from American firms.
There is too little reciprocity. We are providing military protection for these unfair trading partners and for the safe delivery of oil to them.
It seems unlikely the federal government will take steps to rectify the trade imbalance with any country, especially Japan. It is up to the American consumer to look at labels and refuse to buy products made in Japan, so freely sold in this country, until apples, beef and rice grown in America, and products manufactured here, have an equal chance in the Japanese market.
\ Myth No.\ 4: A consumer boycott of Japanese products would boomerang by causing Japan to put restrictions on the import of American products.
These restrictions already exist!
Certainly, wiping our $40 billion annual trade deficit will result in many more jobs in this country. Even with a more-even trading balance, American consumers will still be an important factor in the Japanese economy.
What is not a myth is that Japan is engaged in economic war with this country. The Japanese, with the protection of their financial position and the consent of our government, have gained such a superior financial position that they are achieving, without firing a shot, the same goal they had in mind when they attacked Pearl Harbor.
Furthermore, we need to be aware of those who say we should be content to move to a "service economy." One can be "served" by a person earning minimum wages in a fast-food place.
To survive as a vibrant, energetic and free society that has developed from the efforts of our forebears, we must shake the doldrums of passiveness and the contentment with mediocrity. We must recapture the pride of craftsmanship, the value of true learning, the drive to achieve and the support of research.
We must also insist on fairness in wages and integrity in leaders, both corporate and governmental. We must demand our products have reciprocal market fairness with any country wishing to sell their products in our markets. In all this, we must not lose our compassion and caring for those in need, nor our concern for the environment and the welfare of posterity.
To fail in this initiative will doom this country to economic slavery.
James A. Hancock Jr. is a retired teacher who lives in Botetourt County. The most recent "negotiation" by President Bush was a joke.