Got A Question for the Obama Team?

This is a great letter to the editor from a Ford dealership………Mr. Obama and the transition team should read.

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 Alabama has 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 Toyota by 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 Toyota by 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 Malibu that 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 building 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 Detroit are once again the best in the world!
Perhaps Sen. Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the quality shift to American. Maybe it's the fact that his state of Alabama has 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. Also, Alabama agreed 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 vehicles 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 excellent 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 billion 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 is 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
Elkins

As a retired auto worker, the fate of the US auto industry is a main concern to myself and millions of other Americans. My health insurance, pension and mortgage are all dependent on the auto industry success. Please don't let us down.
Thank you.

So here's what I don't understand. Would it not help a greater number of people if instead of bailing out banks and loan institutions, the government pay off loans that have defaulted by giving the bank that money and rea justing the payment the defaulting individual has to make – so that it is based on the families current income. This way the bank gets the money it needs, but the mortgage which would in this senario not be in default would be re negotiated to an amount that is doable for the family. Is this not a more of a win win situation? The bank gets it's money and the family gets to keep their home

There are several, if not many, unindicted criminals in the past and present occupants of the Presidential and Vice Presidential offices. Will you do anything to bring these miscreants to justice, such as appointment of a special prosecutor?

Will you ask the Congress to take action to loosen or terminate the ties of Congress to special interest monies? A couple of options might be to finance elections with federal money. Another is to require TV stations to grant free air time to federal office candidates since the air wave are public property?

The choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at the Inauguration is disgraceful. Obama would not have chosen an anti-semite or a racist but a condescending homophobe is just fine. I regret voting for Obama and you can be sure I won't make the same mistake twice. Shame on him!

58 Year old Gay American Male. Sorry I voted for Obama. Let him get his future contributions from Rev Warren supporters. Before I would have crawled to his Jan 20 th affair. Now i won't even watch it on TV. He the same as all other politicians. Trying to capture all sectors. Obama you made a huge mistake. This is it for me, no more voting the rest of my life. I no longer want to hear their bullshitt. Also where is the seperation between church and state. Warren does not belong at this affair or any other religious leaders. Tell the Obama team to remove my email address from any begging for monies I am no longer interested.

Jim Jackson, I can't agree with your statement. and question more.I hope we have someone who will open the ears and eyes as what is happening out here. I do believe that the Obama people will do what ever it takes to help the Big three out. If they did it for AIG and they made fools out of us then they can help you and make it right.
I also would like to know why we can't make AIG accountable for what they plan to do about paying back that silver lining they got at our expence.

Jim Jackson, I can't agree with your statement. and question more.I hope we have someone who will open the ears and eyes as what is happening out here. I do believe that the Obama people will do what ever it takes to help the Big three out. If they did it for AIG and they made fools out of us then they can help you and make it right.
I also would like to know why we can't make AIG accountable for what they plan to do about paying back that silver lining they got at our expence.

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