Reply #63: Thank you for saying that

[booksenkatz]

I didn't mean to get bitchy, but man, not all companies are blue. Some people are in situations that require them to hitch their wagons to impure stars. Y'all want to see changes made, well, there are plenty of good Dems working for these companies, trying to make real changes for the future, instead of just sitting and complaining about them.

The auto biz is guilty of responding to market desires for big vehicles and not providing more innovative leadership the way it should, no question. I happen to believe that American tastes will change as gas prices skyrocket -- we're already seeing this. But telling any auto company to stop producing the stuff that makes the big money and to produce only compact vehicles, is like telling Hostess to stop making cupcakes and to make only bran muffins. Companies seldom make the first move; American tastes have just got to change (in cars AND snack foods).

I agree that we desperately lack corporate leadership in so many companies in this country. Changes need to be made, but do we all have to go under and get wiped out in order for those changes to be made? God, I hope not.

I personally feel that when it comes to transportation policy, leadership at the White House level would make a tremendous difference. A Gore presidency would have been a huge favor in this respect. We're going to have to teach the country how to change over to an entirely new form of transportation (and new forms of energy), just as folks had to make the switch from horses to cars 100 years ago. But that sort of major cultural switch takes leadership at the presidential level, in my opinion.

It's sad how Republican administrations force us all to fight for crumbs, it brings out the worst in most of us. I hate finding myself defending anything corporate, but the financial fate of many good people here in S.E. Michigan requires healthy American auto companies. I'm sorry if it makes me sound like an apologist for the fatcats. In our capitalist society, it's difficult for workers to effectively induce change at the leadership level; we can only do our best from wherever we are. But while I'm mulling that over, there are household bills to be paid and only one way to obtain cash to pay those bills. Some of us are not quite ready to eat fried dough for dinner every night.

Here's a nod to any DUers out there who are looking at the Dow today with growing fear for your immediate financial circumstance. For those of you who are working for companies that are 100% blue, or are self-employed, that's great! But that doesn't work for everyone.