Why after helping win WWII, building the middle class, and supporting generations of workers. Are the Big 3 now an Axis of Evil (borrowed from a commentator #7 on the CS monitor blog)
Now i'm right at the center of this when i wake up i look to the West and see The Glass Palace or Ford World HQ, look to the East I see the Renaissance Center or GM World HQ, I drive to school i pass Ford, i drive to work and i'm 2 blocks from GM. I look to the South and listen and there is the River Rouge where my Grandfather went to trade school and later worked from 1933 till 1986.
After Reading that monitor blog post i realized something, and that is after the Jump.
This reminds me exactly of the Bush International policy, no talking just shooting. This lack of willingness to work to create good American jobs, and to beyond have American produced Goods, think about that for a moment, 50 years ago we produced the advanced goods for the world, and things rocked, now China does and we're in the pit.
Then every day the Venom, from west coasters who have been brain washed into seeing the import cars as this perfect creation, from the southern right wingers who want us to crash to dismantle our Unions. Not only that but while we have to complete with import builders who get support from their nations any them we ask for support it is turned away as protectionism. But what is really wrong with protecting one's own ability to produce?
During the Second World War it wasn't just brave men who won the war but it was the American ability to simply out produce our foes, to build more boats than they could hope to sink. That is how real wars are won, on production.
There is this problem with Americans, unlike other counties we don't support our domestic industry like we should. We also don't respect labor, not everyone can go to college, but does that mean all thous people should only ever work at Mc Donalds? or X-Mart? Why shouldn't they beable to get good jobs building good products. My father could have never afforded college, yet he became a skilled metal worker in the auto industry, building prototypes from drawing to object, example he had a hand in the Volt demo model first seen at the auto show. My grandfather was a tool and die maker at the River Rouge.
To be honest i don't think most people know what it is like to grow up in a town like Detroit, I went to a high school named after Ford, My college is on Ford's old Estate, every dollar i make in my computer repair and lawn mowing, some how comes from one of the big 3. Being in a domestic auto family, being a Ford driver are as much a part of my personal identity as my Catholic Religion, my American citizenship, my Polish heritage, the very fact that i am male.
I would comment on why Toyota is worse in many ways than any of the Big 3, starting with their own work against EPA standards, to the state of their labor force But i'll let this link do the talking.
Summary
The Auto Makers have made mistakes, but not with the Dow under 8k, isn't the time to punish them it is time to work with them, one of the Bush administration's biggest failures was it's refusal to work with people they disagreed with.
Right now all the auto companies are trying to get help from their governments, odds are they will get it, we should grant ours that same chance since the current failure is not because of them it is because of the crash of the markets.
But what we need most of all is a progressive plan, not an invasion or war on the industry but a project.
A Plan, Detroit 2015
As i have said in comments a few times it takes 6 years to deploy a new project in the auto industry from plan to full production. So lets look at what we can have by 2015 and do in the mean time. Starting on Jan 20th we all know there will be a change in the upper management of this country, this will not cause everything to just fix itself, we need to work together to ensure the short sightedness of the past is learned from and that we avoid new short sightedness in our zeal to improve things.
First before anything else approve the 25 billion loan to the industry to help them bridge into the next administration. The Big 3 Chrysler directly has gotten loans like this before and paid them off in respectable time.
Second fasttrack the 25 billion in loans for improvements to manufacturing methods as earmarked in the 700 billion. This helps in getting to thous cool high mpg cars you all keep clamoring for them to make.
These two things could be done even before the end of the year, and would at least prevent Chap 11, which would be bad for you fellow liberal progressives involved in the field of labor.
Third Sit down, have a meeting between what ever wiz kids Obama gets in the White House, Rep Dingell, Rep Waxamn, and whoever else, then have them talk with the top engineers from each of the Big 3, and the major suppliers no CEOs no Bean counters just the engineers, have them draw up a plan, a project. For years i've felt that to break the chains of oil we need an Apollo grade push to reach that point. We finally have a president(elect) who has the Kennedy grade attitude to push for such a "Project Auto 2015".
Fourth While this is happening use the 25 billion earmarked from the 700 to quickly get all US domestic plants up to producing flex fuel set ups, while they won't replace oil they will lower the demand, even with the MPG drop. Also invest in using sources other than food stocks for E85 fuels.
Now within the plans we should ensure a few things
-Creation of New US jobs, around the country, and at least stabilize Detroit/Michigan/the Rust Belt.
-Invest on Battery tech, not talking about a million here or there i'm talking about a Billions each month, with the promise that each of the big 3 will be using the tech circa 2015(or at least 2016 Model Year).
-Invest in new production methods, we should be exporting cars to China and India not the other way around, lets create new factories that build more cheaper and with that will bring about increased demand and the need for more workers.
-The Set up of a Plan, yes a Plan you know that thing that we have lacked for ages? A central agenda for Domestic Automotive Development, one that looks ahead for all of us and creates an industry that works.
Fifth In 2015 look back and feel proud that we saved an American Institution.
Reasoning and final comments
It is far easier to fix a problem before the problem causes a total break, the amount of money that would be lost if any of the Big 3 die, will be far greater than the 25 billion loan. I know this from experience
a 30$ fix would have saved me over 1000$+ in repairs.
Do you really think it is right to treat an American Industry as if they where as the CS Monitor commenter replier an Axis of Evil? Why do something so Bush-like and avoid working with them just because you think your ideas are that much better?
If you really want to bring progressive change, then extend a hand, you would be surprised how people react if you treat them as friend or potential ally rather than as a foe.
I and my fellow Detroiters have the right to dream of growing up to work in companies that are based in our home town, ours just happens to be the Big 3. For almost 100 years my family has worked for them and odds are i will too, in some manner depending where i end up after law school.
I would like to thank that commenter on the CS monitor for their inspiring line that lead me to write this blog, i will also mirror this entry on my personal blog.
-Gabe, a Detroiter who dares to hope.