It's easy to spot an American company

Regarding Kevin Martin's letter "no easy way to define American," ever since Pearl Harbor and World War II, I have had no desire to further the Japanese or German economy by buying one of their cars.

I bought my first new car in 1948 and since then have bought 21 more, all made by GM, Ford or Chrysler. They have taken me to 46 States, Mexico and Canada and got me home each time. At least I have the satisfaction that I am not sending the profits of my new car purchase to Japan or Germany. As to his statement that foreign companies have manufacturing operations in this country, you will notice these foreign production plants are in depressed areas where they can find the most plentiful cheap labor and pay accordingly. I would have preferred my Chevy being built in Janesville, Wis., as they have been since my father-in-law worked there in 1923. That plant has been closed in recent months placing 1,200 workers out of a job. Yes, there's no easy way to define American but it is very easy to define a foreign company from an American company.

Pete Petran

Mount Prospect