Auto Bailout V.s the Alternative

Toronto – We can all debate the merits of aregarding Ford and GM's contributions to the relief
government bailout for the Big Threeand recovery efforts in New York and
Automakers until we are blue in the face, butWashington during the 9/11 crisis. The findings
what we sometimes fail to see are the facts thatwere as follows.....
surround that debate. Whether we like it or not,1. Ford- $10 million to American Red Cross
our opinions are largely based on water coolermatching employee contributions of the same
banter and conflicting news reports from multiplenumber plus 10 Excursions to NY Fire Dept. The
news agencies pushing their agendas and leadingcompany also offered ER response team services
us to ignore some of the deeper, true meaningsand office space to displaced government
behind the debate. I will ask you to push asideemployees.
any bias you may have against American made2. GM- $10 million to American Red Cross
new & used cars and take a look at thosematching employee contributions of the same
facts and try and come to a conclusion basednumber and a fleet of vans, SUVs’, and
reason and fact.trucks.
Fact: We are no longer driving our fathers used3. Daimler Chrysler- $10 million to support of the
cars.children and victims of the Sept. 11 attack.
· The big three have made great strides4. Harley Davidson motorcycles- $1 million and 30
towards producing cleaner, greener and more fuelnew motorcycles to the New York Police Dept.
efficient vehicles in the last 15 years and are5. Volkswagen- Employees and management
continuing to invest in environmental technologiescreated a Sept 11 Foundation, funded initial with
for our new and used cars.$2 million, for the assistance of the children and
· Used cars that are made in America andvictims of the WTC.
Canada, provide hundreds of thousands jobs in6. Hyundai- $300,000 to the American Red Cross.
the auto trader market today.7. Audi- Nothing.
Fact: The U.S. congress has the greatest deficit in8. BMW- Nothing.
history.9. Daewoo- Nothing.
· They continue to hold the auto maker’s10. Fiat- Nothing.
feet over the fire while they bailout companies11. Honda- Nothing Despite boasting of second
such as AIG to the tune of 150 billion.best sales month ever in August 2001.
· These are the same companies that are12. Isuzu- Nothing.
responsible for the worldwide economic crisis and13. Mitsubishi- Nothing.
the automakers can’t get 25 billion14. Nissan- Nothing.
“Loan”.15. Porsche- Nothing Press release with
· The new and used cars from an auto tradercondolences via the Porsche website.
are responsible for millions of dollars being pumped16. Subaru- Nothing.
into our economy. Can AIG or any of the others17. Suzuki- Nothing.
say the same?18. Toyota-Nothing despite claims of high sales in
Fact: The job tree starts with manufacturing andJuly and August 2001. Condolences posted on the
the Auto Industrywebsite
· Every 1 job in the auto industry supports 7.5So, next time you’re around the water cooler
more jobs in supporting industriesdebating the merits of American and Canadian
Fact: The auto industry should be found guilty.new and used cars to buy or the Big Three
· Guilty of paying decent wages and benefits tobailout program with your colleagues, please try
its membersand remember that home grown business has
· Guilty of employing millions of Canadians andmultiple benefits that aren’t always easy to
Americans while other companies are outsourcingsee from the exterior. The Big Three auto
all their jobs overseasmakers are the backbone of our countries fiber
· Guilty of pumping money into the economyand economy and assisting them during these
· Guilty of being the last great patrioticturbulent times will have benefits that will last long
companies left in North Americaafter AIG has paid out all its executive bonuses.
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