Apr. 18, 2006 - 18:36 MDT

SECOND LOOK

An article in the business section of this morning's Rocky Mountain News by Dan Sewell of the Associated Press is a bit interesting. In full (no italics or bolds of mine):

TOYOTA TOUTS ITS POSITIVE EFFECT ON U.S. ECONOMY

CINCINNATI -- "For years the saying went, what's good for General Motors is good for America."

"Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. has a new promotional campaign that says it's good for America too."

"Billboards along highways in areas of the country such as the Cincinnati-northern Kentucky region, where Toyota empoloys some 8,800 people, tout the U.S. economic impacts of the company, which is on its way to passing GM as the world's largest automaker."

"The messages highlight numbers, such as 13 -- "Donuts in a baker's dozen: Toyota's investment, in billions," and 386,000 -- "Kilometers to the moon; U.S. jobs created by Toyota."

"The billboards are in some two dozen U.S. markets where Toyota has factories or supplier operations, from Fremont, Calif., where Toyota partners with GM at an automaking plant, to Huntsville, Ala., where Toyota makes engines."

"Our intent is to raise awareness of our growing U.S. presence," said Patricia Pineda, group vice president for corporate communications of Toyota Motor North America. "Our research tells us that consumers want to learn more about Toyota's U.S. presence."

"She said Toyota highlights its U.S. investments and "level of commitment" to the country in a campaign that began last month and also includes local radio spots and airport advertising."

"Toyota now has about 13 percentof U.S. vehicle sales. While GM and Ford Motor Co. are facing major restructuring with plant closings and job cuts, Toyota says it wants to expand car production in the United States."

"Toyota's message is generally warmly received in Kentucky, where it's provided a major economic boost to the state and employs 7,000 workers at its Georgetown plant."

"I think most people, particularly in this area, like Toyota a lot," said Kenneth Troske, who heads the University of Kenturky's Center for Business and Economic Research."

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This article is under one about GM by Brett Clanton of the Detroit News which deals with GM being stuck with bill for $17 million a year for impotence drugs. I'll quote a line or two but not the whole thing.

"While the so-called "lifestyle drugs' make up a small fraction of GM's health care costs -- now hovering at $5.6 billion each, year, or about $1,500 for every vehicle it builds -- company executives often use the example to illustrate how out-of-control health care costs have become in America."

And further along is another little item of interest --

"GM has more than two retirees for every active worker on its rolls."

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Tongue-in-cheek perhaps it would be a good idea for Toyota to take over the benefits of half of the GM retirees including health care, that way making somewhat of an even playing field for both companies.

Seems as if some mistakes have been made all the way around. Letting foreign buisnesses have infrastructure in our country is one, letting foreign business partner with U.S. businesses another. Our unions demanding increases in benefits such as health care AND big raises along with it - - - companies and corporations giving in and letting it happen without forethought of the future.

I have just as strong union feelings as I always have but it seems to me that other than an actual cost-of-living increase in wages based on acutalities every year (providing that equity is already reached with the same trades in other companies) the main focus on the unions should be on matters of safety, decent working conditions and fair treatment of employees, "policing the contracts" in other words. Now we are are all in a bind it would seem.

Problems I can see, solutions are impossible for me to come up with, but I'm sure that fallout will be severe for us all further along the line. Might be of some help for the biggies and us little folk to concentrate on a big SECOND LOOK . . . . . . . . . .

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