tell me something ...

vivatifosi

We may yet see increased protectionism, but it will be from the EU, not the UK. It is also possible that as the recession increases, consumers make choices to buy products that are made in the UK (whether or not the companies are owned overseas) in order to keep people here in jobs, while boycotting companies that are seen as not giving Brits a fair crack of the whip. If the latter happens, I don't see it being a big, co-ordinated buy British campaign (as in the 70s), rather a matter of personal choice.

I don't like protectionism or a buy British (or whatever country) agenda, it may help in the short term but in the long term it is detrimental to the development of good, competitive products and services. The American car industry is one example of that - poor quality cars have been allowed to be produced for too long. It also never ceases to amaze me that I can often buy orange juice cheaper in the UK than Florida - in Florida all the juice I see on sale is Floridian, here the juice can be imported from wherever, but as a result you get the juice at market price plus supermarket/distributor mark up.

Michael Binyon's 'Life in Russia', written in the 1980s is a good account of what happens if you only allow your country to produce for your country and don't let the rest of the world in, only with the central plan thrown in for good measure - you get poor quality products and towns only selling buckets, because buckets are what that town produces. Plus Russia is a country that produced truly terrible cars that nobody outside of the communist bloc would really want.

FWIW I don't think capitalism without protectionism has all of the answers either, it is just the least worst option.

space_rider

Sorry can`t do the British car thing. Got a mercedes car and the customer service is brilliant. They pick the car up and always wash it outside and vacuum the inside. They even leave a sorry we`ve moved your seat car inside. It`s due a mot next week and they even do a free valet.

Mary_Hartnell

..........and I wonder how much they charge for these little niceties?

JonnyBravo

bubblesmoney wrote: »

making all police forces use british built cars. i guess you mean british owned and british built, so lets see what choices we have
1. morgan cars
2. caterham cars
3. ariel atom cars

although they all look cool, they are not practical cars for anyone, far less practical for the police. if the police used these cars every criminal carjacking a subaru or landrover would run over the police everytime there is a police chase. plus none of the above cars can fit an extra helmet forget locking up a criminal in the back seat.

although i admit if i win the lottery i might buy an ariel atom just for kicks after seeing the topgear video about the ariel atom

but getting the police to buy british cars will go no where except under the wheels of a 18 wheeler truck next time there is a police chase using these cars

ps: the ariel atom has a super charged 'honda' engine so guess that now leaves the other two as choices. dont know what parts they source outside the uk though. lets make a steam engine and power it with coal dug from uk coal mines instead and chug along londons roads in peak time traffic. the people wouldnt notice as traffic is so slow there that we might have to stop even with a steam engine running the car

Do all check out the top gear video.... very good.

The atom used to use a Rover engine but hasn't for a long time you're right..... do get one though.... they are a blast. I used to own the 160hp version, the tame one. Best fun you can have with your clothes on all the same.

:beer:


My Atom.... well it was a couple of years ago

mardatha

ty vivatifosi - that's very helpful !

zarazara

Its because it means that the country in question --lets call it A--will only buy its own goods and not other countries. This means if country B relies on exports to country A their economy crashes and their own, home market is flooded with these goods driving down prices. Country B cannot buy whatever country A wants to export to it as it now has no money, so its bad all round.