Mister Liberty Girl told me of this as we were walking into the local IHOP after a long evening of stimulating the goddamned economy, and I swear I nearly threw up a meal I hadn’t even eaten yet.
Bartow Ford alone, Robles said, employs more than 180. There are 149 Ford dealerships in the state, employing nearly 12,000. Additionally, Ford, which also owns Lincoln and Mercury, does business with 78 different suppliers in the state, Robles said.
“Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers have a significant economic impact in this community. Polk County depends on the sales tax revenue generated every year,” Robles said.
Beyond sales tax and the employment of thousands, communities also rely on the philanthropic donations of Ford, Robles said.
“The decision on the bridge loan affects each and every one of us in some way,” Robles said.
Yes, my 39 readers, that’s the owners of local car dealerships holding press conferences to point out to all us rubes how horrible the honest death of their untenable business would be. I wonder what kind of a “stimulus package” they’ve been promised by corporate for these party tricks.
Son, I KNOW how the shuttering of Ford would affect me…I’d just keep buying Hondas, kthx.
Here’s the thing no one mentions. If the Big 3 go out of business, people won’t stop buying cars. People will still need cars.
So, the plants for Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes, Hyundai, KIA, Mazda, etc. will have to increase production. The Big 3 manufacturing workers (who in my opinion forced most of this problem on themselves with their greedy Union bullshit) can move to wherever those plants are and get jobs there. For the reasonable wage that those companies are paying.
The dealerships for the above mentioned companies will have to expand to fill the void left by Big 3. The employees of Big 3 dealerships can sell a different kind of car.
And, last but not least, there is the option that they go into bankruptcy and restructure their destructive labor contracts and become competitive again. Just like Chrysler did 30 years ago (even though they are back in trouble again, so maybe they should just be allowed to go under), and just like the airlines have done on numerous occasions.
jana
December 8th, 2008
Jana, I tend to agree with the survival of the fittest approach to business in general. My only concern is a bunch of damn yankees moving down south where the NOT big 3 car makers have their plants and fucking things up for us down here. Well, that and who is gonna build tanks when we need them.
As for Chrysler, they are owned by a private equity company. If they can’t compete, they can sell off to Ford. As for GM, fuck ‘em. I used to drive a GM car and will NEVER drive another they thing build unless it is via sponsorship deal.
MLG
December 8th, 2008
MLG: I do see your point about having an influx of yankees. But, now that I think of it, the workers can stay where they are and the successful manufacturers can just take over the Northern plants. And the tank thing is a problem. I’ll have to drink more wine to come up with the solution to that quandry.
And, if the government gets involved in ownership of automakers in ANY way, I will never purchase another vehicle made by Big 3. Never. I will not support the nationalization of the auto industry.
jana
December 8th, 2008
I agree with Jana; if the government becomes an auto manufacturer, I will definitely never buy another car from those companies. Granted, I probably won’t anyway because I prefer my Hyundais, but Hyundai hasn’t started making pickups…yet.
BTW…Fuck the UAW.
D.W.
December 9th, 2008