Wow, talk about running with the ball in a variety of directions.
First of all, I was referencing Maher's comments concerning the use of those little flags. This was not my particular sentiment, although I do appreciate the irony. Also, I personally have nothing against you folks who drive big gas guzzlers no matter where they were assembled. Part of what I see as being a significant part of being an American is that you are free to do whatever you want within the boundaries of the law and your pocketbook.
That being said, don't get too patriotic about buying Chevy, Ford or Chryseler. 50 years ago, that dog would hunt, but not today. While the companies are largely American, many of their products are not. To have an American name, the product need not have more that 30% American parts according to my mechanic, hence how you can end up with a Mitsubishi engine in one of the old Chevy Luv pickups. Basically, globalization of the business community makes it impractical for companies to be competitive without heavy reliance on foreign parts OR being heavy subsidies by our own government. Heck, there are some foreign titled cars made here in the US that are likely more American than some of their American-named counterparts.
Suffice it to say that very few if anyone these days who lives and operates in America does so in a 100% American fashion. Hell, our own military even buys a lot of foreign products. Yes, there is a Beretta America, but Beretta is an Italian company. All those computers being used are not full of American chips, bus lines, connectors, etc. Sure, there are American parts, but a lot of foreign parts as well.
Maher's point was simple and apparently I didn't convey it very well. Putting a little sticker on your car is a nice sentiment, but really doesn't do squat to help anything but keep the sticker company in business, especially when you learn some of the manufacturers of such items are in Mexico, Korea, and the Philipines, at least based on the ones I looked at in the local Target store.
Knock yourself out doing what makes you feel good. It is America, after all. But please don't fool yourself in believing that because you have purchased a large $ item such as a car from an American-based company that you are somehow more American for doing that. Those American companies are not nearly as American as you give them credit for being.