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- Path: sparky!uunet!olivea!bu.edu!cvbnet!anyway!tjohnson
- From: tjohnson@anyway.prime.com (Tod Johnson (617) 275-1800 x2317)
- Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
- Subject: Re: Definitive HD TV/Vid Authorized Collectible
- Message-ID: <4612@cvbnetPrime.COM>
- Date: 25 Jan 93 18:14:16 GMT
- References: <1993Jan21.124611.19732@news.arc.nasa.gov>
- Sender: postnews@cvbnetPrime.COM
- Reply-To: tjohnson@anyway.UUCP (Tod Johnson (617) 275-1800 x2317)
- Organization: Computervision, Bedford MA
- Lines: 63
-
- In article <1993Jan21.124611.19732@news.arc.nasa.gov> howland@noc2.arc.nasa.gov (dnalwoH truC) writes:
- >
- >I wonder if they'll mention the "large bore" surcharge on imported
- >bikes that HD got legislated so they could raise their prices and
- >stay "competitive"????
- >
- >Curt Howland "Ace" DoD#0663 EFF#569
- >howland@nsipo.nasa.gov '82 V45 Sabre
-
- Mr. Howell;
-
- It may be a result of my own cynicism; but I felt a rather
- negative tone to your comments regarding the Harley Davidson Motor
- Company. Let me clear a few things up for you just in case.
-
- First off the "large bore" surcharge (as you termed it), is
- more commonly known as a tariff. A tariff is historically imposed on
- indusrties and businesses whose practices can be clearly determined
- as unethical. Now you are correct in that a tariff was imposed upon
- Japanese motorcycle imports during the first Regan administration.
- Here are the reasons.
-
- 1) The Japanese were dumping bikes. They had a several year supply of
- bikes in crates and wharehouses across the country. This was done
- in order to force US dealers to lower prices, hence creating an
- unprofitable business circumstance for many dealers, and an environment
- prone to easy monopolization.
-
- 2) Harley Davidson requested that the 5 year tariff be abolished after
- three years. It was.
-
- 3) Harley Davidsons manufacturing facility played a major role in this
- countries defense strategy of WWII and thereafter, They are poised
- to do so again if necesary. The survival of HD is critical to the
- overall shoving of a sindwinder missle up Sadams posteriour.
-
- 4) Jap bikes; although not in my consideration; are pieces of shit. ***
-
- 5) The average worth of a Jap bike is a $27.92; the average worth of a
- Harley is $9,925.38 (after one year of use). The federal government
- was mearly encouraging its citezens to make sound purchase choices
- by imposing a tariff.
-
- 6) Mr. Reagan personally felt that most Jap bike owners were sissies and
- need to be cuffed around a bit. Al Haig was second to concurr.
-
- In closing, let me end with some finishing comments. Yes a tariff
- was imposed. Yes it was justified. And Yes, HD is back on top and is nothing
- short of an example of Americans hard at work, and what needs to be done to
- turn this whole country around to face forward. The are a shining example
- of how to do business right, and how hard work can pay off.
-
- Thank-you;
-
- Tod J. Johnson
- DoD #883
- "Go Slow, Take Geritol"
-
- *** I want to make it clear that I do not now, nor have I ever in the past
- been predjudiced towards bike manufacturers. The fact stated above was the
- result of a major government and private study of the Jap bikes. The inclusion
- of this comment has nothing to do with my own personal opinion that Jap bikes
- are pieces of shit.
-