That hits it on the head, George!

When I was VERY young I worked at a hamburger joint. For $.49, that's 49 cents, you could get an absolutely delicious 1/4 pound cheeseburger with all the trimmings. Thick sesame seed egg bun, premium all beef patty, slice of real cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, barbeque sauce free if you wanted it. Huge order of home fries was I think $.30 extra, malts were maybe $.40-$.50?

Then a new company opened up in Oregon. They sold puke burgers for 6 for a $1, up to 8 for a $1. Fries were $.15. They were gawdawful nothing burgers, partially meat, similar to cardboard soaked in bullion, on an air 'bun', dollop of sauce, skimpy slice of almost cheese, enough grease to launch a destroyer down the ways. $.10 sodas, free refills. College towns & college kids made these burgers famous, 'cause it was all the kids could afford and still have enough to get hammered Friday & Saturday nights. These were educated kids of course.

Place I had worked at closed the doors a couple of years later, as the new company expanded down into California. Just couldn't compete. Then folks ate what they were given, mystery meat, prices rose to far above those $.49 burgers, still no food value. Similar burger joints opened, also offering non-food with delicious advertising. Folks ate what they were given, hey, everybody else does it. Habits learned in school, by educated kids...

McDonalds, the market interloper, also pushed their product to very young children, with the happy clown, 'free' toys, just about the same as the college kid's 'free' beer. Children came for toys & free soda refills, lamebrained parents followed along, afterall, the kiddies want it...

When the impact of GM's marketing of Chinese cars hits we can see the end of American automobile manufacturing. Even Chrysler's FIAT's can't compete. Average Chinese mfg. worker's wage is $.40 hourly, Italy is far above that & America 150 X's that!

[www.manufacturingnews.com]

If GM offers free Chinese toys, a Chinese clown and a few cases of Chinese beer with each car? "Hey, everybody else is buying one, and afterall, I'm edgeukatied! Plus I get enough Chinese beer to get slammed for a month!"

Duhhyuk.....