Now, I guess I sort of have an American car mentality. I have always driven a Dodge, Chevy, or Ford product, and have had much success with all American brands with proper maintenance. Of course, I have never owned a brand new car.
When I hear the arguments offered as to why American car companies should fail, the main talking points offered by both sides seems to be to me, that American car companies and their unions have been irresponsible for God forbid paying their employees to much compensation in wages and benefits thus driving their price per car higher. Yes, many people have tried to convince us that the problem is the American worker makes too much.
I don't think the problem is that American workers make too much. Our markets have fairly recently allowed the entrance of products from countries with wages equivilant to slave level to compete with those made by American workers. How are we to match the wages of modern-day slaves???
The problem in my eyes is that in the world as a whole wages are TOO LOW, they are not too high in America. America, as the first country on earth founded on the liberal ideals of the Enlightenment SHOULD stand as an example to the world. Our workers SHOULD be paid more and SHOULD be given benefits and compensation in line with building an enlightened middle class.
Now, I grew up just after the age of the Muscle Cars, but I remember well the old Camaros, Dodge Chargers, and Mustangs. I would hate to think of a time when we don't have fine American cars to buy. I think our Car Companies have made great strides in the last fifteen years and make cars that are just as quality as a Kia or a Toyota.
Are we as Americans going to say that we are paid too much, we are too fat and sassy, and we should de-value ourselves?? I am against bailouts, but I say that with so many hundreds of billions of our money going to bail-out everything in site regardless of whether they employ Americans or not, then the drop in the bucket that American car companies, who STILL employ AMERICAN UNION workers making middle-class wages should be paid.
While I am against the bailouts for American Corporations of any kind, I will stand with my fellow American workers and call for our government to save their jobs as well as all the bankers. The car companies deserve as much for employing union workers.
Comments are closed on this story.