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

DATE: MONDAY, March 30, 1992                   TAG: 9203300213
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

THE PROBLEM WITH `BUY AMERICA'

IT'S UPSETTING to me that "Buy America" is becoming another patriotic slogan that separates people and breeds prejudice.

I started buying Toyotas or Datsuns years ago after researching automobile economy and performance in "Consumer Reports," which are available at any public library. Most of the foreign cars rated average or above average in every category, while American cars generally were rated average or below average.

While the American auto industry continued making big, inefficient, gas-guzzling cars that contributed to the pollution and ozone depletion we are dealing with today, many Americans switched to foreign cars because they tended to last longer, get better gas mileage and often cost less. The American auto industry has made big bucks, but is paying the price today for lacking foresight and competitive innovation then.

Whether talking about the military or the automobile industry, "America, Right or Wrong" is a self-righteous attitude that inhibits change and improvement. If we don't acknowledge what's wrong, how can we hope to right it? CHRIS FARRELL FLOYD

by CNB