Harley Davidson took its tax cut, closed a factory, and rewarded shareholders

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,136
30,086
146
Alcohol is a matter of fermentation. Making motorcycles and other investment heavy industries cannot survive. They will go belly up in a week.

Yet 90%+ of the alcohol industry also went belly-up soon after Prohibition, if not immediately because well, their business was suddenly illegal. ...and it isn't just fermentation, this industry also depends on a supply chain: grains, hops, yeast, water production. Certainly not to the level of the auto industry that has a massive chain of individual parts coming from all over the place, but they are still dependent on outside suppliers.

Anyway, the point being that those that survived were able to ramp down/eliminate primary production and survive on other tech or machinery, licensing that they owned. Not everyone would be able to do this, of course, but there is a strategy of playing the long game where, if you can, is it not better to limit production and scoot by with a minimum of cost and wait out the end of the current fascism, or just soldier on as you are and simply guarantee the death of your business? This seems part of HD's plan, but I don't think moving much of production offshore is going to maintain their brand image in their primary customer base.
 

Commodus

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2004
9,215
6,818
136
Harley sells motorcycles overseas.
To avoid nonsense when shipping bikes overseas, they are going to build bikes in the region where they sell the bikes.

Trump created a whole lot of nonsense and is now on social media threatening Harley.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/25/tru...-harley-davidson-moving-some-production-.html

It's a summary of Trump in one article: he creates problems through his gross incompetence, then attacks people for reacting appropriately to that incompetence.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DarthKyrie

Bitek

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
10,676
5,238
136
President Best Deals™ is up tweeting and losing his shit this morning.

Of course all the Temple Trumpos are attacking Hog on social media for their blasphemy.

Meanwhile as a govt official he's threatening to heavily interfere with the decision making of public company. I'm glad to see the the GOP has given up all pretense of being in favor of free enterprise.
It was always been about crony capitalism.

Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump

A Harley-Davidson should never be built in another country-never! Their employees and customers are already very angry at them. If they move, watch, it will be the beginning of the end - they surrendered, they quit! The Aura will be gone and they will be taxed like never before!

6:17 AM - Jun 26, 2018
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ivwshane

Mai72

Lifer
Sep 12, 2012
11,562
1,741
126
It's a summary of Trump in one article: he creates problems through his gross incompetence, then attacks people for reacting appropriately to that incompetence.

Trump acts like a spoiled teen who doesn't get his way. He attacks anyone who disagrees with his POV. Zero EQ and IQ as well. Harley Davidson is fighting for their lives thanks to Trump. Those tarriffs are going to take millions out of Harley and could possibly damage their reputation in Europe and possibly the world. That could take decades to repair. And, it may never be repaired. That's the issue at hand.

Reminds me of the time Trump went after an old lady back in the early 90s. It was in AC and he was purchasing property at a discounted rate. Totally unfair to the people selliing, but Trump. Well this old lady wouldn't sell and held her ground. Trump attacked her and tried to force her to sell. In the end he built Trump casinos around her home. That's the type of person we are dealing with.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Coking

vera-coking-house-940px.jpg
 

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,859
4,976
126
So it seems companies need to just take the hit or face the Emperors' wrath.
As soon as the Emperor take a hit on his (and his daughter's) company profits as well.
Out of ALL the things, I just find this one the most hypocritical and the supporters seem OK with it too.
 

pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
9,142
5,089
136
Harley decided to build the new Thailand factory to supply markets in Southeast Asia when it was clear that the U.S. would abandon the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the free-trade agreement Trump withdrew from in January 2017, Chief Executive Matt Levatich told Bloomberg News in April. In a separate move linked to shrinking U.S. sales and having too much production capacity for its domestic market, Harley announced in January a plan to shut its plant in Kansas City, eliminating 260 jobs.
Trump attacks Harley-Davidson, but his facts are wrong
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-harley-davidson-tariffs-20180626-story.html

Lol
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
38,202
18,671
146
President Best Deals™ is up tweeting and losing his shit this morning.

Of course all the Temple Trumpos are attacking Hog on social media for their blasphemy.

Meanwhile as a govt official he's threatening to heavily interfere with the decision making of public company. I'm glad to see the the GOP has given up all pretense of being in favor of free enterprise.
It was always been about crony capitalism.

Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump

A Harley-Davidson should never be built in another country-never! Their employees and customers are already very angry at them. If they move, watch, it will be the beginning of the end - they surrendered, they quit! The Aura will be gone and they will be taxed like never before!

6:17 AM - Jun 26, 2018

Lol, they're leaving to capitalize on an expanding market, like they give a shit.

People dont have the surplus fun money like 50 years ago, but let's just ignore the top down money grab for the last few decades
 
  • Like
Reactions: DarthKyrie

esquared

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 8, 2000
23,985
5,128
146
Since when can a president threaten company that he will specifically tax them and they will eventually
be out of business?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...and-eventual-collapse/?utm_term=.f0ad7364a313

"President Trump on Tuesday threatened the iconic motorcycle company Harley-Davidson with severe taxes and predicted a public revolt that he said would eventually put the 115-year-old firm out of business"
"In his Tuesday morning Twitter posts, Trump wrote that “Harley must know that they won’t be able to sell back into the U.S. without paying a big tax!”"

Isn't there a law similar to the one when a public official cannot use his/her account/position to influence the public about purchases from a company?
i.e. influencing purchasing, all the way to to other side, discouraging patronage/purchasing.

From an earlier post about SHS and the Red Hen restaurant.
"This is a reference to the law that stipulates government employees cannot use public office for private gain.
He added: “It’s the same as if an ATF agent pulled out his badge when a restaurant tried to throw him/her out."
Mr Shaub also said the tweet violated the endorsements ban – arguing it was “an obvious corollary for discouraging patronage”.
He said: “Sanders used her official govt account to condemn a private business for personal reasons. Seeks to coerce business by using her office to get public to pressure it. Violates endorsements ban too, which has an obvious corollary for discouraging patronage. Misuse reg covers both.
"

Can Congress censure him for this?
 
  • Like
Reactions: DarthKyrie
Nov 25, 2013
32,083
11,718
136
Since when can a president threaten company that he will specifically tax them and they will eventually
be out of business?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...and-eventual-collapse/?utm_term=.f0ad7364a313

"President Trump on Tuesday threatened the iconic motorcycle company Harley-Davidson with severe taxes and predicted a public revolt that he said would eventually put the 115-year-old firm out of business"
"In his Tuesday morning Twitter posts, Trump wrote that “Harley must know that they won’t be able to sell back into the U.S. without paying a big tax!”"

Isn't there a law similar to the one when a public official cannot use his/her account/position to influence the public about purchases from a company?
i.e. influencing purchasing, all the way to to other side, discouraging patronage/purchasing.

From an earlier post about SHS and the Red Hen restaurant.
"This is a reference to the law that stipulates government employees cannot use public office for private gain.
He added: “It’s the same as if an ATF agent pulled out his badge when a restaurant tried to throw him/her out."
Mr Shaub also said the tweet violated the endorsements ban – arguing it was “an obvious corollary for discouraging patronage”.
He said: “Sanders used her official govt account to condemn a private business for personal reasons. Seeks to coerce business by using her office to get public to pressure it. Violates endorsements ban too, which has an obvious corollary for discouraging patronage. Misuse reg covers both.
"

Can Congress censure him for this?

Why would they? Are you under the impression that they give a damn what he does?
 
Nov 25, 2013
32,083
11,718
136

But when push comes to shove, they always cave. It's the new Republican-Fascist Party of the United States and Donald Trump is apparently it's undisputed leader (and his over all popularity rate is at 42-43%). At this point he's been pretty much normalized and there really isn't any organized opposition (the Democrats at this point in time don't see to have a clue as to what they're doing). I suspect that he's a 2 term president and that the Republicans will probably be able to maintain their control of both the Senate and House. And the country and the world at large will continue to be fucked. And I'm being optimistic. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: DarthKyrie

esquared

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 8, 2000
23,985
5,128
146
But when push comes to shove, they always cave. It's the new Republican-Fascist Party of the United States and Donald Trump is apparently it's undisputed leader (and his over all popularity rate is at 42-43%). At this point he's been pretty much normalized and there really isn't any organized opposition (the Democrats at this point in time don't see to have a clue as to what they're doing). I suspect that he's a 2 term president and that the Republicans will probably be able to maintain their control of both the Senate and House. And the country and the world at large will continue to be fucked. And I'm being optimistic. :)
It is wishful thinking, on my part.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
136
But when push comes to shove, they always cave. It's the new Republican-Fascist Party of the United States and Donald Trump is apparently it's undisputed leader (and his over all popularity rate is at 42-43%). At this point he's been pretty much normalized and there really isn't any organized opposition (the Democrats at this point in time don't see to have a clue as to what they're doing). I suspect that he's a 2 term president and that the Republicans will probably be able to maintain their control of both the Senate and House. And the country and the world at large will continue to be fucked. And I'm being optimistic. :)

If you want Dems to win, why are you tearing them down?
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,079
136
If enough people think that way it becomes a self fulfilling prophesy. We don't have to destroy the system to make it better serve the People.

Nevermind the fact Donald is actively destroying it.
Nope, its all the fault of the people complaining about the Destroyer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DarthKyrie

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
136
Nevermind the fact Donald is actively destroying it.
Nope, its all the fault of the people complaining about the Destroyer.

Please. Dank is of the burn the village to save it persuasion. You know, burn it all down & start over. I'm not.