Auto Bailout VS the Alternative

Toronto - We can all debate the merits of aefforts in New York and Washington during the 9/11
government bailout for the Big Three Automakers untilcrisis. The findings were as follows.....
we are blue in the face, but what we sometimes fail1. Ford- $10 million to American Red Cross matching
to see are the facts that surround that debate.employee contributions of the same number plus 10
Whether we like it or not, our opinions are largelyExcursions to NY Fire Dept. The company also
based on water cooler banter and conflicting newsoffered ER response team services and office space
reports from multiple news agencies pushing theirto displaced government employees.
agendas and leading us to ignore some of the deeper,2. GM- $10 million to American Red Cross matching
true meanings behind the debate. I will ask you to pushemployee contributions of the same number and a
aside any bias you may have against American madefleet of vans, SUVs', and trucks.
new & used cars and take a look at those facts3. Daimler Chrysler- $10 million to support of the
and try and come to a conclusion based reason andchildren and victims of the Sept. 11 attack.
fact.4. Harley Davidson motorcycles- $1 million and 30 new
Fact: We are no longer driving our fathers used cars.omotorcycles to the New York Police Dept.
The big three have made great strides towards5. Volkswagen- Employees and management created
producing cleaner, greener and more fuel efficienta Sept 11 Foundation, funded initial with $2 million, for the
vehicles in the last 15 years and are continuing toassistance of the children and victims of the WTC.
invest in environmental technologies for our new and6. Hyundai- $300,000 to the American Red Cross.
used cars.o Used cars that are made in America and7. Audi- Nothing.
Canada, provide hundreds of thousands jobs in the8. BMW- Nothing.
auto trader market today.9. Daewoo- Nothing.
Fact: The U.S. congress has the greatest deficit in10. Fiat- Nothing.
history.o They continue to hold the auto maker's feet11. Honda- Nothing Despite boasting of second best
over the fire while they bailout companies such as AIGsales month ever in August 2001.
to the tune of 150 billion.o These are the same12. Isuzu- Nothing.
companies that are responsible for the worldwide13. Mitsubishi- Nothing.
economic crisis and the automakers can't get 25 billion14. Nissan- Nothing.
"Loan".o The new and used cars from an auto trader15. Porsche- Nothing Press release with condolences
are responsible for millions of dollars being pumped intovia the Porsche website.
our economy. Can AIG or any of the others say the16. Subaru- Nothing.
same?17. Suzuki- Nothing.
Fact: The job tree starts with manufacturing and the18. Toyota-Nothing despite claims of high sales in July
Auto Industryo Every 1 job in the auto industryand August 2001. Condolences posted on the website
supports 7.5 more jobs in supporting industriesSo, next time you're around the water cooler debating
Fact: The auto industry should be found guilty.o Guiltythe merits of American and Canadian new and used
of paying decent wages and benefits to its membersocars to buy or the Big Three bailout program with your
Guilty of employing millions of Canadians andcolleagues, please try and remember that home grown
Americans while other companies are outsourcing allbusiness has multiple benefits that aren't always easy
their jobs overseaso Guilty of pumping money into theto see from the exterior. The Big Three auto makers
economyo Guilty of being the last great patrioticare the backbone of our countries fiber and economy
companies left in North Americaand assisting them during these turbulent times will
CNN Headline News did a short news listing regardinghave benefits that will last long after AIG has paid out
Ford and GM's contributions to the relief and recoveryall its executive bonuses.