| As a lifelong resident of Michigan, I was raised with | | | | don't have insurance and can't afford an office visit. |
| the belief that we must purchase only those | | | | - A close friend has taken a 10% pay cut in order to |
| automobiles produced by an American car company | | | | keep his job. As a result, his home has been in a |
| (yes, even if some parts were made in foreign | | | | near-foreclosure status twice within the past year. |
| countries). To this day, I still hold that belief due to | | | | - My sister, a medical biller, lost two jobs in the last |
| the fact that I find it incomprehensible to allow my | | | | five years due to our economy. She now works two |
| own selfish desires to affect the employment | | | | part-time jobs, just trying to make the mortgage |
| outlook of my family members, friends, neighbors, | | | | payment. |
| acquaintances and my community as a whole. | | | | - My close friend, a vice-president of the mortgage |
| Yes, Detroit built its share of lemons in the 70's, 80's | | | | department for a local bank, lost her job when the |
| and 90's, but quality has much improved since then. | | | | bank was absorbed by a larger national bank. |
| Here's an example; I am a self-described car nut, and | | | | - Beautiful neighborhoods are left with abandoned |
| my enthusiasm happens to get the best of me when | | | | homes because people have had to move just to |
| that awesome, latest and greatest "wow" car design | | | | find work. Of course, there are few people who can |
| is introduced. As a result, I don't wait for rebates or | | | | afford to buy homes, so these homes sit unoccupied. |
| incentives; I just go for it as soon as my dream car | | | | - Municipalities are eliminating police and fireman jobs |
| hits the showroom. The first time I could afford to | | | | because they're not collecting the taxes required to |
| do so was over ten years ago, when the '97 Ford | | | | pay the employees' salaries. |
| F150 was introduced. I loved it, leased it and never | | | | - School systems are eliminating teachers, resulting in |
| had a single problem with it. Then came the '99 | | | | higher class sizes. |
| Chrysler 300M. Again, I leased this beauty and loved | | | | - My nephew, a packaging engineer, moved to |
| driving it. Unfortunately, it was not as trouble-free as | | | | Pennsylvania because there are no such jobs here in |
| my Ford, but it was okay. I figured it still looked | | | | Michigan. The affect of our economy is also starting |
| good, was fun to drive and the lease would be up | | | | to hit Pennsylvania, and he's not sure if he'll have a |
| soon. So, the next best thing came out, and again it | | | | job in six months. |
| was a Chrysler product, albeit the Dodge line - the | | | | The list goes on and on, and the loss of another 2.5 |
| 2004 Dodge Durango. I leased this vehicle for four | | | | million jobs in this country will be absolutely |
| years and didn't want to chance a potential lemon, so | | | | devastating; entire cities will go bankrupt and |
| I purchased the extended bumper-to-bumper | | | | recovery will take years. The government didn't |
| warranty. Of course, I never had to use it; this | | | | waste a moment deciding the fate of AIG, who |
| vehicle was abused by my family, pushing the towing | | | | employs 100,000 people worldwide. Why are they so |
| capability to the limits, and during our four-year lease | | | | hesitant to save 2.5 million jobs here in the United |
| we never once required service. Even at its lease | | | | States? Probably because they believe auto workers |
| end, this vehicle drove beautifully. So, it is my opinion | | | | are overpaid - and they are. The UAW needs to |
| that Detroit's automakers made a 100% | | | | voluntarily take a 20% pay cut, and the company |
| improvement in quality in the short span of just five | | | | executives need to do the same. Perks need to be |
| years, from the late '90's to the year 2004. | | | | eliminated, and survival has to be priority number one. |
| Some might wonder why I would have chosen an | | | | Each car company should be required to produce |
| American car, after recently experiencing problems | | | | small, fuel efficient vehicles within 18 months of |
| with a previously leased American car. Well, the | | | | obtaining government assistance, and do everything |
| answer is simple, my friend. If more people had my | | | | in their power to develop alternative energy for their |
| attitude, Michigan would not be where it is today. | | | | vehicles - even if it means joint ventures. Executive |
| You see, Michigan has been in a recession for five | | | | greed needs to be a thing of the past; the auto |
| years, and it hurts to know that my decision, | | | | company leaders could learn a thing or two from |
| combined with all of the others who might choose | | | | talking with Lee Iacocca, who generously offered to |
| foreign cars, will deeply affect others. | | | | bring Chrysler back from the brink of bankruptcy for |
| While I agree that the business model of U.S. auto | | | | a yearly salary of just $1.00 back in early 1980's. |
| companies needs drastic change, I also have a clear | | | | Now, that's a true leader, and a man dedicated to |
| understanding of what's ahead for the entire country | | | | seeing results. Perhaps Steven Feinberg, owner of |
| if the government does not lend these | | | | Cerberus, which purchased Chrysler in 2007, should |
| manufacturers the necessary funds to see them | | | | do a little something to help with the U.S. |
| through this very difficult period; we're living it already | | | | manufacturing sector, rather than just looking to |
| here in Michigan, and the rest of the country will | | | | make a quick profit. |
| experience what we've gone through for several | | | | If the auto industry in this country is going to |
| years. Michigan lost 330,000 factory jobs since 1999, | | | | survive, and ultimately keep the United States from |
| and as a result many others have been affected: | | | | entering a depression, everybody needs to give. |
| - My husband is an energy center operator for a | | | | Consumers need to take a second look at American |
| manufacturer directly tied to the auto industry. He's | | | | cars, the UAW members need to take a 20% wage |
| been laid off at least five times in as many years, | | | | cut, as well as start paying for a portion of their |
| and the threat is always lurking. | | | | health insurance, and CEOs and executives need to |
| - My dentist has lost 27% of his business due to the | | | | put an end to their greed. And most importantly - |
| fact that people who don't have insurance simply do | | | | the key to the auto companies' survival - the United |
| not go to the dentist. | | | | States government needs to lend the money these |
| - My OB/GYN found it necessary to eliminate 20% of | | | | companies need so that manufacturing and its jobs |
| her staff - again, because women's "female | | | | remain a vital and stable factor of this nation's |
| problems" are placed on the back burner when they | | | | economy. |