Chrysler's on the move. It's scheduled a series of "town hall meetings" that will target seven states in three days, urging people to understand the importance of the U.S. domestic auto industry and how its possible collapse could be a disaster.
Chrysler president and vice-chairman Tom LaSorda was in Toledo today, where he said, "Chrysler has deep roots in Toledo, the birthplace of Jeep. The Jeep brand's military heritage is a reminder of why America needs a strong manufacturing base if it is going to continue to be a world leader. A strong U.S.-based automotive industry is also the backbone of the nation's economy."
I won't argue with him on that; we can't get by strictly on an economy based on sales and service. We need factories to act as the roots to build us up again. We need the work. We need the money.
But I live in an auto factory town, and I can tell you this: the busiest parking lot in the city belongs to Wal-Mart. Take a look sometime at the manufacturer's tags on items at Wal-Mart. I'll bet that in many cases, you couldn't even find the country of origin on a map.
And that brings me to my point: according to the union, if we're working with our hands, if we're building things in a factory, we're all brothers and sisters. So why aren't the auto workers demanding goods made in the country where they live? Sure, they'll cost a bit more than the same product from China or Indonesia or Cambodia. But doesn't one hand wash the other? If you're going to expect your neighbors to buy the cars you build so you'll still have a job, shouldn't you be buying the products they make, so they'll still have a pay stub next Friday as well?
