Auto Bailout, Michigan, and my family.
Edit: Jill updated the post with some clarifications, and admitted questions.
This post from Feministe kind of pissed me off.
Being told that the major industry that drives my state (or should), my city (or should), my family (or should), should be allowed to fall completely to pieces makes me angry. Really fucking angry.
Yes, I understand that the system is fucking up; the Big 3 made mistakes, ran things badly, let everything spiral out of control. That's one reason Michigan's been in recession. But even I know that that if Ford, GM, Chrysler were to fail completely, Michigan would go down, as would other states in the region.
But Michigan, as much as I bitch about the weather and long to leave for a time, is my home. My history. My life. I won't let it go that easily.
If I remember correctly, my mom's company is pretty fucking reliant on the continuation of the auto industry. It provides parts and supplies to Ford (at the very least), and is only one part of the manufacturing chain that culminates in the creation of automobiles. If the auto industry were to go down, my mom would likely lose her job.
And you know what? We would be fucked. And I include myself in that equation, because I rely on her job for my health insurance, part of my college expenses, and for keeping my parents afloat right now.
And that's just my parents. Want to hear how much the rest of my family relies on the Big 3, or at least Ford? I can think of at least five or six members who work for or get pensions/retirement from Ford. And on top of that, most of my family lives in the Metro Detroit area.
While the post really got me angry, the comments were a great read. It was about 50/50 in response to the poster, and there was a strong response from Michigan readers. I really think the discussion will be productive, even if it doesn't change anyone's minds.
And, I will give Jill credit - she admitted that she came off wrong in her initial post. In a comment further down, she clarified that she was against the current bailout plan, not against a plan entirely. And there, she brought up some good points.
It's been argued that the Big 3 are failing because they've been making bad decisions and choices about auto designs and manufacturing. Instead of building fuel efficient or cars running on alternative energies (i.e., the fuel cell. Dude, companies were forced to put research and plans on the shelf. How fucking ridiculous is that?), and other greener options, they've been building SUVs and gas hogs. Hmm, yeah, that's a pretty good reason for a bit of a failure there. Suggestions for a better bailout plan have been to loan or bailout the companies with massive stipulations and requirements, such as more focus on green technologies and efficiencies. And I agree - that's a much better plan than simply giving or loaning the money (which is really the taxpayers' money, by the way!), and letting them keep doing what they've been doing.
At least, it's a hell of a lot better action than doing nothing.
This response from BrownFemiPower is fantastic. And she really hits on the issues and privileges inherent in the debate that others haven't. Read that too.
Now, as my "clarification," I'm still thinking and learning about all this as well. I hope that a good plan of action really comes out of this, and that we don't simply give the Big 3 a blank check...or worse, do nothing at all.
This post from Feministe kind of pissed me off.
Being told that the major industry that drives my state (or should), my city (or should), my family (or should), should be allowed to fall completely to pieces makes me angry. Really fucking angry.
Yes, I understand that the system is fucking up; the Big 3 made mistakes, ran things badly, let everything spiral out of control. That's one reason Michigan's been in recession. But even I know that that if Ford, GM, Chrysler were to fail completely, Michigan would go down, as would other states in the region.
But Michigan, as much as I bitch about the weather and long to leave for a time, is my home. My history. My life. I won't let it go that easily.
If I remember correctly, my mom's company is pretty fucking reliant on the continuation of the auto industry. It provides parts and supplies to Ford (at the very least), and is only one part of the manufacturing chain that culminates in the creation of automobiles. If the auto industry were to go down, my mom would likely lose her job.
And you know what? We would be fucked. And I include myself in that equation, because I rely on her job for my health insurance, part of my college expenses, and for keeping my parents afloat right now.
And that's just my parents. Want to hear how much the rest of my family relies on the Big 3, or at least Ford? I can think of at least five or six members who work for or get pensions/retirement from Ford. And on top of that, most of my family lives in the Metro Detroit area.
While the post really got me angry, the comments were a great read. It was about 50/50 in response to the poster, and there was a strong response from Michigan readers. I really think the discussion will be productive, even if it doesn't change anyone's minds.
And, I will give Jill credit - she admitted that she came off wrong in her initial post. In a comment further down, she clarified that she was against the current bailout plan, not against a plan entirely. And there, she brought up some good points.
It's been argued that the Big 3 are failing because they've been making bad decisions and choices about auto designs and manufacturing. Instead of building fuel efficient or cars running on alternative energies (i.e., the fuel cell. Dude, companies were forced to put research and plans on the shelf. How fucking ridiculous is that?), and other greener options, they've been building SUVs and gas hogs. Hmm, yeah, that's a pretty good reason for a bit of a failure there. Suggestions for a better bailout plan have been to loan or bailout the companies with massive stipulations and requirements, such as more focus on green technologies and efficiencies. And I agree - that's a much better plan than simply giving or loaning the money (which is really the taxpayers' money, by the way!), and letting them keep doing what they've been doing.
At least, it's a hell of a lot better action than doing nothing.
This response from BrownFemiPower is fantastic. And she really hits on the issues and privileges inherent in the debate that others haven't. Read that too.
Now, as my "clarification," I'm still thinking and learning about all this as well. I hope that a good plan of action really comes out of this, and that we don't simply give the Big 3 a blank check...or worse, do nothing at all.