Greg Seibert
12-12-2008, 03:39 PM
This is a little long, but a must read.
> 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 di nosaur, 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.
> Plus, Alabama agreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While
> the bridge loan the B ig 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 hea lth 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
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> 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 di nosaur, 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.
> Plus, Alabama agreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While
> the bridge loan the B ig 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 hea lth 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com