Do Me a Favor and Buy American, Will Ya?
I’m no expert on much of anything, so what I’m about to write is nothing but opinion.
Am I the only one who thinks there are way too many people expressing hatred towards our country? I’m not talking about the rest of the world… I’m referring to our own citizens. Don’t those who complain realize that they are bad mouthing THEMSELVES? WE are the country. You. Me. My family. My friends. If something is wrong, fingers shouldn’t be pointed anywhere other than back at ourselves.
Many examples could be used to illustrate the issue at hand, but I’ll write a few brief sentences about one in particular: domestic auto manufacturers.
When I hear people saying that the auto dealers deserve to go down in flames of bankruptcy it turns my stomach. WE made this happen. You and me.
Here’s how I contributed: the last time I bought a car for myself, it was a brand new Honda Accord. The last car Belinda and I bought together before we split up was a new Honda as well.
Buying foreign vehicles wasn’t always my modus operandi, as my prior vehicle purchases included two Ford Explorers, a Mustang Cobra, a brand new Ford Powerstroke Diesel Crew Cab 4×4, a Ford F150 Supercab 4×4, and a 3/4 ton Chevy Duramax Diesel. As I witness our domestic automakers on the verge of going down in flames, I’m ashamed to have changed my pattern of buying American. I really am.
I’ve seen people bitch and moan about the quality of domestic automobiles, but I can honestly tell you that I have never had major mechanical problems with any those vehicles I owned.
A bailout of the auto industry… I hate the idea, but I think it’s necessary to loan them the money they’re asking for. If they go belly up, millions of people lose their jobs. Not just the employees of the manufacturers and suppliers, but also those employed by auto dealers across the country, those employed by the shops patronized by those who lose their jobs, those patronized by those patronized by… you get the picture.
Here’s one narrow example to better paint the picture for you:
One of my clients is Corning Ford/Mercury/Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep. As you can see, their line consists entirely of domestic vehicles. If General Motors and Ford fail, not only do factory employees go out of business, but so do the more than 100 people employed by Corning Ford. And since Corning is a very small town, I’d bet the local Starbucks would suffer. Local realtors would suffer. The local Taco Bell might be threatened as well. The list goes on and on just in this tiny little town. Can you see a little bigger picture as to why a loan (aka “bailout”) is important?
For the sake of disclosure let me state this: I’d also be affected. Most of my clients are domestic automobile dealerships. I’m confident in my ability to figure out another source of income, but I sure don’t want to have to test myself, know-what-I-mean?
Do me a favor… if you’re in the market for a car, please buy American. And please encourage your friends/family to do the same.
