"Be American, Buy a Harley"

[Fargo360]

Victory Motorcycles are made in the USA. I know Minnesota is almost in Canada (both geographically and politically) but it is still one of the United States. So you can buy a nice American made bike that is made by an American company. Victory bikes are a bit on the pricey side too. One the plus side, if you live in the North country, you can have a motorcycle, atv and snowmobile all made from the same company. Maybe they should give a buy three get one free deal.

[Gunslinger]

The reason our economy is in the dumper right now is because people buy their $20,000 Harleys. Harley-Davidson does not make bikes for the average American. If people lived within their means and bought a "japanese" bike, then our economy would be fine. Right now we see all these "Americans" who bought their Harley, and can't pay for them. These same people are the ones who can't pay for their houses, one thing leads to the next, and we end up in a depression. Forget the name, just ride what you can afford, and forget the name.

Dude you cannot be serious. Basically the reason we are in a depression is because people buy Harleys and can't afford them? I know you're new here but I think you are misinformed. In other words you don't know what you are talking about.

[wrecks]

Dude you cannot be serious. Basically the reason we are in a depression is because people buy Harleys and can't afford them? I know you're new here but I think you are misinformed. In other words you don't know what you are talking about.

I believe what he is talking about is living outside our means no matter whether its a bike, car, or house.

[bigmarc66]

Dude you cannot be serious. Basically the reason we are in a depression is because people buy Harleys and can't afford them? I know you're new here but I think you are misinformed. In other words you don't know what you are talking about.

Gunslinger, I appreciate you not agreeing with me, that is part of discussion. As far as my recent entrance into the forum leading to me being uninformed, I cannot agree with. The fact is, Americans love bigger and better things, cars, houses, motorcycles, boats, you name it. I have been living in Italy for the past six months, I understand this better than ever. Our recent problem is not solely consumers, specifically those who buy Harleys, I understand that. It is the banks, and specifically our laissez-faire system, who give people loans to buy their Harley's. American consumers want their big Harley, as do I, but they cannot afford them it is simple. If people bought what "they" could afford, not what the banks would allow them to afford, then we would not give bankers, and the financial system the ability to ruin our economy. I am sorry you feel that I don't know what I am talking about, but it is not just me with this understanding. I happened to specify one element of our problem, and specifically one product.

[luis_alberto]

My dear friends... I would like to say two things...

1) There is no more freedom than to do not spend the money you don't have.

It's easy. If you can not pay for it, don't buy it. Which has been a common American mistake. We have to admit it: We have everything we want... we just haven't pay for it yet.

2) I'm an economist. When I was getting my master, I took several international trade courses, and believe or not, many "japanese" manufacturers (I would like to call them "the others") have a higher assembly percentage an parts than American manufacturers in their motor vehicles (cars, motorcycles, etc). In other words... sometimes it can be "the others" who are supporting the American economy, by buying American manufactured parts, and assembling the vehicles in America, and not necessarily the American manufacturers.

America is a free economy, or at least that is what they tell us, and Jab manufacturers have survive and are thriving because they provide the consumers what they really need at more affordable prices than most American manufacturers. Everybody, including American and "the others" sell to the rest of the world what they really need an can afford, then they turn around an sell overpowered vehicles to America. Why? just because we are the only ones that buy them.

By no means I'm telling that it is bad to buy American, or to buy what you like or what you need. What I'm saying is: "Do you want to be really free...? then don't spend the money you don't have". "Do you prefer American over "Jab" or "japanese" over American...? it's completely up to you... It's a free market economy, you are free to buy whatever you like and best fits your needs.

Have a great day.

Luis.

[king robb]

Dude you cannot be serious. Basically the reason we are in a depression is because people buy Harleys and can't afford them? I know you're new here but I think you are misinformed. In other words you don't know what you are talking about.

Gunslinger, I appreciate you not agreeing with me, that is part of discussion. As far as my recent entrance into the forum leading to me being uninformed, I cannot agree with. The fact is, Americans love bigger and better things, cars, houses, motorcycles, boats, you name it. I have been living in Italy for the past six months, I understand this better than ever. Our recent problem is not solely consumers, specifically those who buy Harleys, I understand that. It is the banks, and specifically our laissez-faire system, who give people loans to buy their Harley's. American consumers want their big Harley, as do I, but they cannot afford them it is simple. If people bought what "they" could afford, not what the banks would allow them to afford, then we would not give bankers, and the financial system the ability to ruin our economy. I am sorry you feel that I don't know what I am talking about, but it is not just me with this understanding. I happened to specify one element of our problem, and specifically one product.

Thesis statement in red.

[Gummiente]

I know Minnesota is almost in Canada (both geographically and politically)

Now there's a statement I'd like to see explained in more detail.

[Big B]

I know Minnesota is almost in Canada (both geographically and politically)

Now there's a statement I'd like to see explained in more detail.

i don't know about the politically part of it, but a common sentiment in wisconsin is that canada can have minnesota if it so chooses as we don't want it. i don't necessarily agree with that sentiment, but minnesota does take it's lumps in the upper midwest (see: the onion world atlas - minnesota entry). that may be what fargo is referring to.

[HYPERR]

Welllll . . . do you realize this is a Canadian-based web site?

Owned!

[Fargo360]

I'm just teasing a little bit. Minnesota seems to be a bit more socialist then anything, and from the south looking north, Canada seems to be a bit on the bleeding heart side as well. I'm not knocking Canada. I like Canada, 1/4 of the blood running through my veins in Canadian. I have a huge TV antenna on a boom up high so I can get tv from 'Peg so I can watch Blue Bomber games in the summer (go bombers!) MN is just more of a left leaning state and I think that with some procedural changes to the way the politics is conducted, it would run more like a province than a state.

I'm not knocking Canada...lets just make that clear.

(go bombers!)