Mac_Attack
God
Editor:
As I watch the coverage of the fate of the U.S.auto industry, one
alarming and frustrating fact hits me right between the eyes. The fate of
our nation's economic survival is in the hands of some congressmen who
are completely out of touch and act without knowledge of an industry that
affects almost every person in our nation. The same lack of knowledge is
shared with many journalists whom are irresponsible when influencing the
opinion of millions of viewers.
Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabamahas doomed the industry, calling it a
dinosaur. No Mr. Shelby, you are the dinosaur, with ideas stuck in the
'70s, '80s and '90s. You and the uninformed journalist and senators that
hold onto myths that are not relevant in today's world.
>
When you say that the Big Three build vehicles nobody wants to buy, you
must have overlooked that GM outsold Toyotaby about 1.2 million vehicles
in the U.S.and Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in
the U.S. GM was the world's No. 1 automaker beating Toyotaby 3,000 units.
When you claim inferior quality comes from the Big Three, did you realize
that Chevy makes the Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both
rated over the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on
initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated
Ford on par with good Japanese automakers.
Did you realize Big Three's gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg Malibuthat
beats the Accord. And for '09 Ford introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39
mpg is the best midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford's Focus beats the
Corolla and Chevy's Cobalt beats the Civic.
When you ask how many times are we going to bail them out you must be
referring to 1980. The only Big Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back
$1 billion, plus interest. GM and Ford have never received government
aid.
When you criticize the Big Three for b uilding so many pickups, surely
you've noticed the attempts Toyota and Nissan have made spending billions
to try to get a piece of that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31
straight years Ford's F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford
and GM have dominated this market and when you see the new '09 F-150
you'll agree this won't change soon.
Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than
Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than
$22 billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco
Boost, flex fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen
cars.
It's 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroitare once
again the best in the world.
Perhaps Sen. Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the
quality shift to American. Ma ybe it's the fact that his state of
Alabamahas given so much to land factories from Honda, Hyundai and
Mercedes Benz that he is more concerned about their continued growth than
he is about the people of our country. Sen. Shelby's disdain for
"government subsidies" is very hypocritical. In the early '90s he was the
driving force behind a $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Plus,
Alabamaagreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While the bridge
loan the Big Three is requesting will be paid back, Alabama's
$180,000-plus per job was pure incentive. Sen. Shelby, not only are you
out of touch, you are a self-serving hypocrite, who is prepared to ruin
our nation because of lack of knowledge and lack of due diligence in
making your opinions and decisions.
After 9/11, the Detroit Three and Harley Davidson gave $40 million-plus
emergency v ehicles to the recovery efforts. What was given to the 9/11
relief effort by the Asian and European Auto Manufactures? $0 Nada. Zip!
We live in a world of free trade, world economy and we have not been able
to produce products as cost efficiently. While the governments of other
auto producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government may be
ready to force its demise. While our automakers have paid union wages,
benefits and legacy debt, our Asian competitors employ cheap labor. We
are at an extreme disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW
concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it's not enough.
Some point the blame to corporate management. I would like to speak of
Ford Motor Co. The company has streamlined by reducing our workforce by 51,000 since 2005, closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and
future product is excell ent and the company is focused on one Ford. This
is a company poised for success. Ford product quality and corporate
management have improved light years since the nightmare of Jacques
Nasser. Thank you Alan Mulally and the best auto company management team
in the business.
The financial collapse caused by the secondary mortgage fiasco and the
greed of Wall Street has led to a $700 billion bailout of the industry
that created the problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company
excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations. Paulson is saying
no to $250 billion foreclosure relief and the whole thing is a mess. So
when the Big Three ask for 4 percent of that of the $700 billion, $25
billion to save the country's largest industry, there is obviously
oppositions. But does it make sense to reward the culprits of the problem
with $700 bi llion unconditionally, and ignore the victims?
As a Ford dealer, I feel our portion of the $25 billion will never be
touched and is not necessary. Ford currently has $29 billion of
liquidity. However, the effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the
suppliers we all do business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any
manufacture would cost retirees their health care and retirements.
Chances are GM would recover from Chapter 11 with a better business plan
with much less expense. So who foots the bill if GM or all three go
Chapter 11? All that extra health care, unemployment, loss of tax base
and some forgiven debt goes back to the taxpayer, us. With no chance of
repayment, this would be much worse than a loan with the intent of
repayment.
So while it is debatable whether a loan or Chapter 11 is better for the
Big Three, a $25 billion loan i s definitely better for the taxpayers and
the economy of our country.
So I'll end where I began on the quality of the products of Detroit.
Before you, Mr. or Ms. Journalist continue to misinform the American
public and turn them against one of the great industries that helped
build this nation, I must ask you one question. Before you, Mr. or Madam
Congressman vote to end health care and retirement benefits for 1 million
retirees, eliminate 2.5 million of our nation's jobs, lose the technology
that will lead us in the future and create an economic disaster including
hundreds of billions of tax dollars lost, I ask this question not in the
rhetorical sense. I ask it in the sincere, literal way. Can you tell me,
have you driven a Ford lately?
Jim Jackson, ElkinsFordland
As I watch the coverage of the fate of the U.S.auto industry, one
alarming and frustrating fact hits me right between the eyes. The fate of
our nation's economic survival is in the hands of some congressmen who
are completely out of touch and act without knowledge of an industry that
affects almost every person in our nation. The same lack of knowledge is
shared with many journalists whom are irresponsible when influencing the
opinion of millions of viewers.
Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabamahas doomed the industry, calling it a
dinosaur. No Mr. Shelby, you are the dinosaur, with ideas stuck in the
'70s, '80s and '90s. You and the uninformed journalist and senators that
hold onto myths that are not relevant in today's world.
>
When you say that the Big Three build vehicles nobody wants to buy, you
must have overlooked that GM outsold Toyotaby about 1.2 million vehicles
in the U.S.and Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in
the U.S. GM was the world's No. 1 automaker beating Toyotaby 3,000 units.
When you claim inferior quality comes from the Big Three, did you realize
that Chevy makes the Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both
rated over the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on
initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated
Ford on par with good Japanese automakers.
Did you realize Big Three's gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg Malibuthat
beats the Accord. And for '09 Ford introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39
mpg is the best midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford's Focus beats the
Corolla and Chevy's Cobalt beats the Civic.
When you ask how many times are we going to bail them out you must be
referring to 1980. The only Big Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back
$1 billion, plus interest. GM and Ford have never received government
aid.
When you criticize the Big Three for b uilding so many pickups, surely
you've noticed the attempts Toyota and Nissan have made spending billions
to try to get a piece of that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31
straight years Ford's F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford
and GM have dominated this market and when you see the new '09 F-150
you'll agree this won't change soon.
Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than
Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than
$22 billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco
Boost, flex fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen
cars.
It's 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroitare once
again the best in the world.
Perhaps Sen. Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the
quality shift to American. Ma ybe it's the fact that his state of
Alabamahas given so much to land factories from Honda, Hyundai and
Mercedes Benz that he is more concerned about their continued growth than
he is about the people of our country. Sen. Shelby's disdain for
"government subsidies" is very hypocritical. In the early '90s he was the
driving force behind a $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Plus,
Alabamaagreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While the bridge
loan the Big Three is requesting will be paid back, Alabama's
$180,000-plus per job was pure incentive. Sen. Shelby, not only are you
out of touch, you are a self-serving hypocrite, who is prepared to ruin
our nation because of lack of knowledge and lack of due diligence in
making your opinions and decisions.
After 9/11, the Detroit Three and Harley Davidson gave $40 million-plus
emergency v ehicles to the recovery efforts. What was given to the 9/11
relief effort by the Asian and European Auto Manufactures? $0 Nada. Zip!
We live in a world of free trade, world economy and we have not been able
to produce products as cost efficiently. While the governments of other
auto producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government may be
ready to force its demise. While our automakers have paid union wages,
benefits and legacy debt, our Asian competitors employ cheap labor. We
are at an extreme disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW
concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it's not enough.
Some point the blame to corporate management. I would like to speak of
Ford Motor Co. The company has streamlined by reducing our workforce by 51,000 since 2005, closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and
future product is excell ent and the company is focused on one Ford. This
is a company poised for success. Ford product quality and corporate
management have improved light years since the nightmare of Jacques
Nasser. Thank you Alan Mulally and the best auto company management team
in the business.
The financial collapse caused by the secondary mortgage fiasco and the
greed of Wall Street has led to a $700 billion bailout of the industry
that created the problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company
excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations. Paulson is saying
no to $250 billion foreclosure relief and the whole thing is a mess. So
when the Big Three ask for 4 percent of that of the $700 billion, $25
billion to save the country's largest industry, there is obviously
oppositions. But does it make sense to reward the culprits of the problem
with $700 bi llion unconditionally, and ignore the victims?
As a Ford dealer, I feel our portion of the $25 billion will never be
touched and is not necessary. Ford currently has $29 billion of
liquidity. However, the effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the
suppliers we all do business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any
manufacture would cost retirees their health care and retirements.
Chances are GM would recover from Chapter 11 with a better business plan
with much less expense. So who foots the bill if GM or all three go
Chapter 11? All that extra health care, unemployment, loss of tax base
and some forgiven debt goes back to the taxpayer, us. With no chance of
repayment, this would be much worse than a loan with the intent of
repayment.
So while it is debatable whether a loan or Chapter 11 is better for the
Big Three, a $25 billion loan i s definitely better for the taxpayers and
the economy of our country.
So I'll end where I began on the quality of the products of Detroit.
Before you, Mr. or Ms. Journalist continue to misinform the American
public and turn them against one of the great industries that helped
build this nation, I must ask you one question. Before you, Mr. or Madam
Congressman vote to end health care and retirement benefits for 1 million
retirees, eliminate 2.5 million of our nation's jobs, lose the technology
that will lead us in the future and create an economic disaster including
hundreds of billions of tax dollars lost, I ask this question not in the
rhetorical sense. I ask it in the sincere, literal way. Can you tell me,
have you driven a Ford lately?
Jim Jackson, ElkinsFordland
No one would be there to help me out if I coudn't make a payment or was close to bankruptcy. I have to work my butt off to keep up the balancing act, but I make it work and stay within my means for my family.