Un-American

There I said it. Maybe some others are thinking it but I'll say it. Those United States Senators who voted down the US Auto Bailout bill are simply un-American.

It is unconscionable that these lawmakers can not see past petty politics and grudges to do what's best for this country and support our manufacturing base. People ask, "What is wrong with America?" I say this is what is wrong with America. I never thought I'd see the day that a majority of the Republican Senators would simply turn their backs on the citizens of their country. These same Republican Senators have wrapped themselves in the flag issue after issue but when it comes to rescuing a fundamental industry for our country - they turn their backs. America has lost industry battles on many fronts (find a piece of major electronic equipment manufactured in the US). How many industries can we loose and still maintain our leadership on the world stage? And of course, other countries around the world subsidize their major industries and provide financial support when they are in crisis.

Here's some additional food for thought:

* Sweden just secured 3.4 billion in loans for the Swedish auto group.

* Germany has a controlling stake in Volkswagon AG.

* Auto makers in Europe are requesting 54 billion in loans to meet new emission requirements.

* It's projected that the first quarter of 2009 will see the highest rate of home foreclosure in the US. How many additional homes will be lost if one or two car companies go out of business? Can you say gasoline on a fire?

* How many pensioners rely on their Chrysler or GM pension checks to have a viable retirement? If they don't have these pension checks, how will they survive? Who will support these elderly?

* The bad credit market continues to negatively affect all areas of business including the car companies. Is that their fault? When gasoline spiked to an unheard of (and criminal) $4+ a gallon, was that the car companies fault? It was almost an act of economic terrorism perpetrated on the US market.

* How will states that currently have our nation's largest unemployment figures like Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana remain solvent and pay for millions of additional unemployment checks? And consider the loss of the sales tax revenue as people without jobs have no money to fuel their state's economy? And the Colleges and Universities in these states will not receive the money expected from their State Legislatures which means that tuition may have to rise to a point where enrollment is impacted.

* In World War Two, it was this country's manufacturing base that helped turn the tide against Germany and Japan. Instead of building cars, Ford, GM, and Chrysler built jeeps, tanks, fighters, and bombers. We had the manufacturing infrastructure to do this. If heaven forbid, we found ourselves in another large scale conflict, how would we able to match output with countries like China that has a huge manufacturing capacity?

This issue should not be clouded by past mistakes. It should not be about grudges of union vs. non-union states. We need to ask ourselves if we want America to survive the 21st century. Do we want America to remain an important economic force for good in the world? This is as important as bailing out Wall street as the collapse of two of these companies would be devastating to Main street America and to our friends, families, and neighbors. Is it morning in America or are we seeing the sunset of a once great nation?