Dear GM, this is what happens when you don't let the gov't take over:

[Bob Dog]

I did one of my 400 level Business school papers on this subject. American car companies go for the immediate bottom line. Japanese companies favor an outlook of long term corporate sucess. Perhaps this may have something to do with cultural sentiments, but I suspect the has more to do with the fact that American auto execs make aburd salaries tied only to momentary profits, were as Japanese corporate culture has been traditonally been more one of investiture of ones self in the corporation. There fore Japanese cars are built for the long term, American cars have been built only considering right now profitability. The American companies have been getting there collective asses kicked for having this outlook, so they have been rethinking this, or at least advertising that they have.