Detroit crap city (Rod)

While I don't disagree with you about the value of the bailout, the reasoning behind this poster seems dated. It was vogue in the 80's to bag on the quality of the American-made cars, but they got over it. The Saturn brand, the Taurus, the Chrysler Minivan, the F150, SUVs pulled them out of that slump and they now make many good cars (in the sense that they run like they are suppose to) that have sold wonderfully and worked well. Additionally, US automakers diversified by buying significant shares in foreign companies. My first car was a Ford Festiva, made by Mazda in S. Korea. Even in its final days, with well over 100,000 miles clocked, with no oil changes, it got 35 mpg in the city (my wife made me give it up when the first child was born). I currently drive an Eagle Summit, made by Mitsubishi. All US automakers do good business in small, fuel efficient cars designed in Asia and branded in the US. Many foreign cars are assembled in the US and there is not a single car on the road made entirely from US manufactured parts. Some $US are earned on pretty much every car sold whether it is made by the Big Three or a "foreign" auto maker. I am not clear what the problem is now but I am leaning towards O'Reilly's belief that we don't hold foreign auto makers to the same environmental quality and labor standards, creating unfair global competition. However, with a large % of our manufacturing going on in those very same countries, I think he cannot be entirely correct.

Suffice to say it is not a problem of us not buying their shitty cars. They have been making or investing in sound cars and we have been buying them. The problem lies elsewhere.

What's priceless is the idea of Cousin Randy and his Winnebago crowd showing up! That's My absolute favorite part of Chevy chase's Christmas Vacation!

Welcome home Rod....isn't life a joy! It's all the little things that leave no room for neutrality! Your always either totally grossed out, absolutely swept away by their overwhelming cuteness, completely deaf from the noisiness, full to overflowing with love. Your never bored and sometimes wish you could be! Enjoy!

PEACE!

Re: My feelings about this event, no doubt amplified by the fact that I work in a dying industry that can't compete with the Internet

The uato industry is not "dying" though it is contracting. And how in the world should the auto industry be competing with the internet? That's apples to oranges if I ever heard it. Can you drive to grandmother's for Christmas on the Information Superhighway?

Sorry to hear Matt isn't feeling well.

That ad is priceless!

My late Husband was a pilot for ABX Air, Inc. AFter an interesting business deal in 2004, which included a government pencil-whip re: foreign nationals owning American airline companies, they worked, almost exclusively, for DHL.

Now DHL has decided to take their business elsewhere...after basically stripping ABX of it's assets (including airplanes and it's airpark). By January of next year, ABX Air, Inc, will be no more. Over 7000 people out of work (and no...they are not all "high-paid" pilots).

How 'bout a bail-out?

ABX has been the employer in this part of Ohio since 1980. Unemployment in Clinton County has been near zero for years. No more. This is a good company to work for (they were profitable before DHL came along; what happened???)...as I learnt whilst my Husband was dying and on disability and which I experienced as they helped me through the benefit/insurance maze after he died. They've done nothing wrong; they simply lost their Number One, pert-ne'er exclusive client: the German Bundepost. (http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/nov2008/gb20081110_975682.htm)

I watch the car-bailout and I wonder why no one is talking about Airborne Express. If there is money for "shitty cars" and their clueless management, why not here... Or, perhaps, in the corporate greed that has driven, and still drives business and their management, someone should have protected Airborne from this "take-over". I remember that my late Husband was very much against it...

I am just glad he is not here to see this and what will amount to the death of an entire County here in Ohio. He is in a better place...

Worst yuletide ever ... two adults and two small children, all four with violent, debilitating tummy shame virus. Couldn't keep anything down. Couldn't keep anything in. Adding to my stress: even though I was a weekend part-timer, my Scrooge-like city editor scheduled me to work nite cops on Christmas day. I had to call in sick, certain that I would be perceived as sand-bagging.

Hang in there, Rod. Christmas isn't over. This could be the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny Bleeping Kaye!

My hometown in Ohio had two industries-steel and GM. The people there in Ohio were the hardest working and pious people I have ever known-I have lived in 5 other areas in the last 25 years. The steel industry left in the late 70's, and now GM and Delphi may desert them, too. My Mom worked as a literal "Rosie the riveter" during WW2 when her shop was retooled to make parts for airplanes to fight the evil of those days. My Mom and other GM workes took their money and bought war bonds and saved money for her dowry. After marrying, she saved money and bought a house with her war hero husband(stalag 17 survivor POW)bought American products and cars, took their daughter on lovely vacations to see this fgreat country, paid for college without help for that daughter, and saved a small fortune to beswtow upon their beloved granddaughters. They lived the most patriotic and pious life-tithing to their church and giving to charities,ETC. The GM money earned went to fuel the economy. It did not disappar into a foreign bank account or into some off country business, etc. GM workers deserve some help for the help they have given to our country. Wall street stilkl stands after the meltdown, but if the big 3 go away, so will the rust belt states . I challenge any of you who have never lived in the Midwest to take a tour of Detroit, Cle.veland, Youngstown,etc We helped after Katrina, now we have a crisis in the Midwest-these people need a helping hand just to keep working and doing the right things.

My heartfelt sympathy to Rod, La Dolce Vita, and anyone else who is spending the holidays taking care of other people. You know, Rod, it says somewhere in the Book of Revelation that the blessed are clothed in fine linen, which is the righteous deeds of the saints. Remember that when your righteous deeds seem to be making you unutterably grubby! This is the time of year when Jesus was born as a helpless child, vulnerable in every way, able to feel pain and fear, and needing care from ordinary human beings. You said a little while ago that you wanted to draw closer to God. What could bring you closer than the privilege of caring for a little boy who needs you? If Jesus had come to stay with you, and had stomach flu, you'd probably be overwhelmed with joy nonetheless. Your children are Jesus, as surely as the beggar was Jesus for Martin of Tours. Someday you'll look back and know that this was a time of blessing, when your love for each other grew stronger. I don't know if that makes any sense to you, but such thoughts used to cheer me up when I was in the middle of washing out lots of stinky diapers and changing all the sheets after unfortunate incidents. So I offer it for your consideration. And take a nap if you can. I hear the angels are in favor of naps. ; )

If there's one site that truly represents Detroit it's Detroitiscrap.com