I just re-read Rising Sun

[Camino LS6]

So my dislike for the Japanese is running higher than usual. Sad that the issues it raises are still relevant.

[NOS2006]

Wanna test drive an S2K?

[Camino LS6]

Hmmm... aim at cliff edge, jack-up rear of car,brick on gas pedal, drop jack.

Nice ride! :AH-HA_wink:

[NOS2006]

Hmm, you forgot to put it in first.

[Camino LS6]

Crap!

Guess I'll have to push

<------- fires up Duramax

[NOS2006]

That's the spirit!

Hell, at this point you'd even fire up a *gasp* Cummins!

[Camino LS6]

I would. But, I HAVE the Duramax!

[ocnblu]

Not to worry, Camino. The Duramax can push them both off that cliff.

[Camino LS6]

That could be a fun day!

[FAPTurbo]

Maybe he can have Powerstroke in tow as well, just in case he doesn't feel better.

[Camino LS6]

I'd rather push a whole flock of Camrys over it though. :AH-HA_wink:

[Cadillacfan]

I think you should focus your dislike away from the Japanese and face it toward a country and a people that seriously want to do us harm.. like...well.. pick almost any country in the middle east and there you have it.

The Japanese people love American culture. They can't get enough of us and our entertainment.

Japan's industry hasn't been as friendly to American industry, but they're using methods that were developed by American economists and the fact that their products were of high quality and business models were extremely efficient only forced US companies to do the same.. which is good for the consumer.

You should thank Japan, not hate.

[Flybrian]

If it really comes down to it, Japan as a country cannot physically feed itself. Meaning, they make more

than they do

Good for them. And also look at it this way - our typical white collar middle-middle-class work-a-day average citizens buy - not aspire to buy, but buy - Japanese cars. Japanese citizens aspire to buy classic American cars. Don't know if you've ever seen an import/export directory of cars from Japan, but getting your hands on a '59 Cadillac? Hoo-boy. You're a pimp.

[Camino LS6]

I think you should focus your dislike away from the Japanese and face it toward a country and a people that seriously want to do us harm.. like...well.. pick almost any country in the middle east and there you have it.

The Japanese people love American culture.  They can't get enough of us and our entertainment.

Japan's industry hasn't been as friendly to American industry, but they're using methods that were developed by American economists and the fact that their products were of high quality and business models were extremely efficient only forced US companies to do the same.. which is good for the consumer.

You should thank Japan, not hate.

173680[/snapback]

It all depends on what you consider to be harm. Besides, I said dislike, not hate.

Much of Japanese culture repels me. But I'm one of those people that hates crowds, small spaces, video games, and ant colony mentalities. I'm an individualist which is anathema to Japan's cultural thinking. We might as well be from two different worlds. I do resent how so many here are drooling over everything that comes out of Japan, including the culture and mentality. I simply couldn't live there and I don't want that standard to ever hold sway here.

Their business practices are abhorrent and often illegal, but I can look past that as long as they keep their influence here within reasonable limits. To each their own, but don't force it on me.

[Cadillacfan]

I'm not forcing anything on you. Though, I think you should at least go there and experience it yourself before saying the culture repels you. Also, last time I checked.. Rising Sun is a novel and like so many books of fiction, certain things are exaggerated by the author to create more drama.

The crowded places, small places, and "ant colony mentality" is not necessarily desired by the Japanese people but needed due to overpopulation. Japan is a small country and people cram into large cities like Tokyo because that's where the jobs are located. The rest of the country is very mountainous and beautiful. I hope to go there one day.

Video games? You're blaming them for video games? The US is just as responsible for making them popular.

Illegal business practices are not a Japanese exclusive. Look at Enron, the oil industry, etc.. In almost every industrialized nation, you are going to have companies that have questionable methods to making money.

Your arguments are extremely biased and unfair.

Sure, the Japanese still promote whaling (which I am very much against) and are very aggressive with their industry especially in the US... However, America is no saint. Just look through the history books. Many people in other nations view America the same way you do, but a lot of those people have never set foot in our nation. Do you think their dislike is fair? Probably not.

I know I can't change your mind but I think if you ever had a chance to visit Japan, you should. You might change your opinion if you did.

[Newbiewar]

I think you should focus your dislike away from the Japanese and face it toward a country and a people that seriously want to do us harm.. like...well.. pick almost any country in the middle east and there you have it.

The Japanese people love American culture.  They can't get enough of us and our entertainment.

Japan's industry hasn't been as friendly to American industry, but they're using methods that were developed by American economists and the fact that their products were of high quality and business models were extremely efficient only forced US companies to do the same.. which is good for the consumer.

You should thank Japan, not hate.

173680[/snapback]

Japan is in a kind of economic war against us. Their objective is for them to win and for us to lose. Through the use of cartels, price fixing, government-corporate "anti-foreigner" tactics as well as adversarial trade and predation strate gies, Japan is greatly weakening much of America's strategic industries, standard of living and national security. These actions are also destroying the jobs of ordinary American people. While America is being complacent with its industries, the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world from one country to another is happening right now, from the United States, to Japan.

Those who study these types of topics know that economic wars can be even more devastating to a country's long term future than conventional wars. Japan is organized to fight, employs a world economic strategy and has a fundamental plan. America's ec onomic strategy is in disarray and there is no plan. As a result, America is losing the economic war by default.

[Newbiewar]

So my dislike for the Japanese is running higher than usual.  Sad that the issues it raises are still relevant.

173566[/snapback]

watch the movie... very good...

[Cadillacfan]

Japan is in a kind of economic war against us. Their objective is for them to win and for us to lose. Through the use of cartels, price fixing, government-corporate "anti-foreigner" tactics as well as adversarial trade and predation strate gies, Japan is greatly weakening much of America's strategic industries, standard of living and national security. These actions are also destroying the jobs of ordinary American people. While America is being complacent with its industries, the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world from one country to another is happening right now, from the United States, to Japan.

Those who study these types of topics know that economic wars can be even more devastating to a country's long term future than conventional wars. Japan is organized to fight, employs a world economic strategy and has a fundamental plan. America's ec onomic strategy is in disarray and there is no plan. As a result, America is losing the economic war by default.

173825[/snapback]

You're ignoring South Korea and the EU. They're making it harder and harder for American and foreign products to be sold in each region. Everyone is guilty of this offense. I do agree that our government does need to wise up though.

[Flybrian]

Yes, the European Union is just as bad (if not worse) when it comes to many products.

[Camino LS6]

The economic war is real, and Japanese practices are the worst in that they don't play by any rules the rest of the world adheres to. However, we are to blame for handing our markets to them on a silver platter while theirs remain closed to us and the rest of the world. Other markets are protected with unfair barriers, that much is true, but we can own companies in those markets and can compete. In Japan, we are shut out as is the rest of the world.

I understand why Japan is such a cramped place - I just hate cramped places. Therefore, I have no desire to ever visit. And no, I don't blame them for video games. It's just that that sort of technology is part and parcel of their current culture and does not appeal to me.

As for the ant colony thing- it is a cultural tradition in Japan to put the the group above the individual. This is a philosphy I entirely reject and I hate to see it making inroads here.

[BatmanGTO]

But Camino.... ASIANS!!! :AH-HA_wink:

[Camino LS6]

But Camino.... ASIANS!!!  :AH-HA_wink:

173957[/snapback]

Yeah, I remember, I remember.

[cmattson]

Hmmm... aim at cliff edge, jack-up rear of car,brick on gas pedal, drop jack.

Nice ride! :AH-HA_wink:

173575[/snapback]

No, no, no. It's much easier than that:

1) Leave car running, in neutral

2) Put something heavy on accel. pedal, or wedge a stick between accel. pedal & front of seat cushion.

3) Roll window down.

4) Exit vehicle, shutting door behind you.

5) Reach into open window and slip vehicle into neutral.

...err, or so I've heard..