That is not the thrust of your post.

The thrust is: Big Boss deliberately abandon Detroit and the Rust Belt to
show the rest of us who is boss.

My argument is: Detroit and the Rust belt occurred essentially because there
was a new kid on the block...the Japanese.

One can bitch that Big Boss was not sufficiently adroit in its response to the new environment. However your original charge is pure foam.

My sentiments exactly.

Datsun rolling out the 240Z caught the US mfgrs flat - footed.

Their feet were bolted down. They stayed flat-footed for 15-20 years there.

I remember hearing, "We got nothin' to worry about, we make the best damn cars in the world." Long after everyone outside the GM bubble knew better.

Dave

Ford Pinto, Chevy Vega and Chrysler Omni/Horizon. ;)

The thing is the Japanese government helped the likes of Toyota Nissan (Datsun) etc and slapped a big fat tarriff on any cars entering Japan while theirs came in here damn near free.

Sure the big three did put out some lousy cars but the playing field was anything but level.

If you knew the amount of claims trading going on with the Detroit Chapter 9 bankruptcy case, you'd be more sanguine about the future of the city.

No kidding. Their arrogance was breathtaking.

Pete

I'm sanguine about it despite my ignorance of the details and specifics. I'm sanguine because it's a case where the assumption of failure has become self perpetuating. Very few businesses will even consider Detroit and people will only move TO Detroit if they absolutely HAVE to, based on negative reputation alone.

That sort of thing is extremely difficult to overcome.

Dave