[phil_will1]

"Ok, the PRC buys 250,000 cars from us in 2004. How many did they buy from us in 2000? 1000? 2000? That's phenomenal growth.

By 2010, they'll buy millions of cars from us. See the big picture, the long term view."

Ok, lets look a little closer at the long term view. Say the chinese are buying millions of cars in a few years that have Ford or GM logos on them. Its pretty unlikely that those cars will be manufactured in the US and shipped around the world, isn't it? Isn't it far more likely that Ford and GM will open up manufacturing operations in China, or at least somewhere a lot closer to them than we are?

How does this help the US economy, other than by adding to GM's and Ford's corporate profits? I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm just trying to understand your point.

[Cronos]

Isn't it far more likely that Ford and GM will open up manufacturing operations in China, or at least somewhere a lot closer to them than we are?

Nope, for the same reason BMW doesn't manufacture all of it's cars over here. It's shipped across cheaper cars like their SUVs to be made here, but the higher quality, "German precision engineering" stuff is still made in Germany. Ditto for the Chinese stuff. Which Chinaman would buy a Chinese made car, knowing it may blow up in his face? He'd buy quality -- American.

[adam_az]

"How does this help the US economy, other than by adding to GM's and Ford's corporate profits?"

And their shareholders....
And their market position....
And the extra $ which can be used to expand...

Other than that, nothing.

[ninenot]

Ol' Crony doesn't want to explain too much.

He's a bit evasive about exactly for whom he's trolling here--see a few posts above.

It's either India or PRC--or maybe the Republican National Committee.