Toyota Congressional Hearing

[Hopper]

Originally Posted by Class1E

You need to read the book DGthe3 mentioned earlier. That is seriously the EXACT start of Debt of Honour. In the book, a Japanese automaker sells cars with gas tanks prone to failure. When the US gov't finds out, Congress passes an act that allows the US to mirror the trade policies of other countries, so the sales of Japanese cars in the US comes to a screeching halt for the exact reason that you mentioned. Badness ensues....read the book. As I stated above, it's one of my favorite Clancy novels, and I have all of them from the main series.

I agree...the plotline is VERY similar. Even to the extent of the Japanese company in the book blaming the gas tank failures on a supplier initially. I'm reading the sequel, Executive Decision, right now. I'm about half way through and find myself thinking about similarities with what is going on right now in the Middle East. The Islamic republic forming in the book seems to parallel Iran's current ambitions. These books were written some time ago and it's amazing to me how closely Clancy channels current events. Eerie....

[GrnMchin]

Trade laws become a very slipper slop when most of US's National debt is owned by foreign interest... And the fact that most of the foreign car companies are manufacturing here in the US now for that reason.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by a_Username

It's funny that DG mentioned having import laws, because isn't that is what is keeping GM/Ford from being competitive in Japan? It'd make it a level playing field IMO.

That is why I would do it

Originally Posted by Class1E

You need to read the book DGthe3 mentioned earlier. That is seriously the EXACT start of Debt of Honour. In the book, a Japanese automaker sells cars with gas tanks prone to failure. When the US gov't finds out, Congress passes an act that allows the US to mirror the trade policies of other countries, so the sales of Japanese cars in the US comes to a screeching halt for the exact reason that you mentioned. Badness ensues....read the book. As I stated above, it's one of my favorite Clancy novels, and I have all of them from the main series.

Thats where I got the idea ~10 years ago when I read the book. Seemed like a fair and reasonable thing to do then. I'm surprised it (Debt of Honor) isn't getting as much attention as it did after 9/11. The current similarity is much more striking. Wasn't a police officer one of the ones killed in the books accident?

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by GrnMchin

Trade laws become a very slipper slop when most of US's National debt is owned by foreign interest... And the fact that most of the foreign car companies are manufacturing here in the US now for that reason.

Most of them create plants here to bypass certain import laws. Not to mention it is tax free when they do this. :/

[Hopper]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Wasn't a police officer one of the ones killed in the books accident?

Yes, it was. An off-duty police officer with his family.

[a_Username]

Maybe Toyoda liked the book so much, he tried to replicate with his company!

[GrnMchin]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Most of them create plants here to bypass certain import laws. Not to mention it is tax free when they do this. :/

That in a nut shell is what I was referring to.
Trade laws encompass the Tariffs taxes your referring to about imports to the US from outside North America.

Don't forget the US owes large sums of money to several countries that can bargain better deals or ask for US to pay down it's debt instead (fish in a barrel effect) and at the moment the US in our economic state we are the fish.

[speedster]

Like anything else, there is a lot more to this than meets the eye. Starting in the 70's Japan wanted to do two major things: put the U.S. out of the electronics market and automotive market. They succeeded in the former and almost did with the latter.

I do not feel bad for them at this time. They have been doing this on their soil to the U.S. for decades. Just look at the balance of trade for automotive units sold. But for a real shocker, look at the ratio of the balance of trade of replacement parts. Go back 10 years and look at the myriad of articles. A repetitive quote over the last generation "U.S. market access concerns continue." It has never been a level playing field.

Many politicians have made their personal fortunes directly from Toyota. It is a matter of public record. I bet they are not the ones pushing this. Is the Gov ownership of GM / Chrysler pushing the present hearings? Probably so, but do not think that it is unfounded. It's payback time, because in the long run the U.S. consumer will be the ultimate beneficiary. Without balance of power events like this, you may never have had a new Camaro to buy. Just a few thoughts.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by 5thGenOwner

but I really do work in an environment where ethics are huge. (I don't think it's a bad thing)

I agree. I wish there were more ethics displayed in the financial sector, specifically...money makes people do stupid, dishonest things...:(

Originally Posted by 5thGenOwner

Second, I ranted about all the hearings congress holds (we pay for)... the other day I read that they want to step in (have hearings) and "fix" the NCAA football championship. And the MLB hearings were a circus.

Bah...I look at every single one of those people as money flushed down the toilet. I could go on...and on, and on, and on....but our rules discourage it.

[Class1E]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Maybe Toyoda liked the book so much, he tried to replicate with his company!

I think now would be a good time to make the Debt of Honor movie; it's been a while since a Clancy novel last played on the big screen. They could call out Toyota in the closing credits kinda like Fun with Dick and Jane called out the execs from Enron, Arthur Anderson, etc.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Class1E

I think now would be a good time to make the Debt of Honour movie; it's been a while since a Clancy novel last played on the big screen. They could call out Toyota in the closing credits kinda like Fun with Dick and Jane called out the execs from Enron, Arthur Anderson, etc.

If they did it, it would have to be as part of a trilogy with Executive Orders and Bear and the Dragon. But to stay true to the books, Japan, China, and India would have to become the enemy which just won't happen. Its one thing to do it in a thousand page novel, but in a movie you might have 30 minutes to explain why they're the bad guy before you have to tell the rest of the story. Thats why stereotypes and motifs are used so much. Nobody needs to explain why terrorists are the antagonist in a movie, but why would Japan try and cripple America?


However, Without Remorse would make a very good movie.

[Class1E]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

If they did it, it would have to be as part of a trilogy with Executive Orders and Bear and the Dragon. But to stay true to the books, Japan, China, and India would have to become the enemy which just won't happen. Its one thing to do it in a thousand page novel, but in a movie you might have 30 minutes to explain why they're the bad guy before you have to tell the rest of the story. Thats why stereotypes and motifs are used so much. Nobody needs to explain why terrorists are the antagonist in a movie, but why would Japan try and cripple America?


However, Without Remorse would make a very good movie.

Agreed! Actually, you know what, they should just make all the books from the Ryan/Clark series into movies. Then throw in Red Storm Rising just for good measure. I would buy every one of them.

[DGthe3]

I could keep talking about this, but we're going off topic here

[Russo]

one of the reasons, i suspect, Toyota is in the news and being poked at through Congress is because of the deaths behind the defective parts... if there were no deaths, it would be like Honda's auto tranny failures in everything from the CL, Accord, Legend, TL, etc...