Mark's parable also concerned the "old way" of conducting American corporate business, with its top heavy, complacent, slow-to-change or to react , upper managerial bureaucratic inertia (whew). The domestic product quality was poor, because it didn't "need" to be improved, because the domestic market was covered, by the Big 3 (the parable didn't address THAT real issue). So, yeah, we're all driving better cars, now (those of us who can afford to buy them. Back in the 50's/60's, the American REAL-wage was such that people could afford to buy new cars every 2-4 years. A $3,000.00 new car, in 1965 now costs about $30,000.00. Can you imagine dropping 30K on a new car, every three years? Now, if the average-guy buys a new car, he'd better plan on maintaining and owning it for 10 years, and yeah, that new car probably has a reasonable service life of 15 years. Back on subject: a slow-moving (or, immobile) target is the easist to attack. and, another reason for the successful invasion was to establish a "native" identity (like "American Honda", or the Toy-boat company, with its seemingly- plastering its offensive logo everywhere, on TV., or its even being admitted to NASCAR competition, or having "real" Americans advertise their products, here). Neil Vedder ************************************************************* To unsubscribe or set your subscription options, please go to http://lists.psu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=l-forwardlook&A=1
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