"Detroit will never be the same"

[Lex1775]

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Daniel Howes
Commentary: Detroit will never be the same

It's over, folks.

No matter what comes of the increasingly frantic Detroit bailout talks in Washington, or General Motors Corp.'s desperate bid to keep its critical cash hoard from disappearing, or Chrysler LLC's next move to avoid bankruptcy, or Ford Motor Co.'s flimsy insistence that its predicament is not as bad, the credit crisis of '08 has ensured that Detroit as we know it will never be the same again.

Why is that so hard to understand?

<snip>

If Detroit as we know it is to be over -- and I think it may be, even with federal help -- its automakers and the UAW will need to change even more radically than they already have: fewer brands, plants and dealers, more flexible work rules, smarter marketing, better products. Otherwise, the feds only would be delaying the inevitable -- with taxpayer money."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081111/OPINION03/811110357/&imw=Y


I just got off the phone with my parents who are still living in Michigan. Another factory near their home has closed down. A city that once boasted eight auto plants is now down to 1... and that one is technically outside of the city limits so one of the Big 3 could save money on paying city taxes. I keep trying to talk them into leaving but my old man has a stubborn streak a mile wide... "Born in Michigan, raised in Michigan, die in Michigan" is his mantra. :eyes:

[BootinUp]

1. He was there through some heady times

I'm sure its hard for him to see the end of it or believe its coming.

[okieinpain]

2. said that we've been sold down the river by greed. n/t.

[blue_onyx]

3. What's wrong with wanting to live in Michigan?

I know it's a common perception that the people living in this state hate being here but it's not true. I, personally, am perfectly happy here. There are people who don't want to live in California or in the middle of the desert. Michigan has more potential than many states. We have the largest concentration of fresh water in the world. This will be a valuable asset in the future. Renewal energy will dominate the job growth in the coming years and because of Michigan's resources, I believe we will be able to capitalize on this shift toward green energy. Also, all it would take is one really, really bad drought to change much of the population growth trends in our country. Yes, Michigan/Detroit may never be the same but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

[angstlessk]

4. ya know, I was born and raised in Norfolk VA..it was 'finished' by the time I was born

and I always was glad I was not from Virginia Beach, because there was no 'nostalgia'..it was built up so fast, I even recall my dad trying to convince my mom to purchase some oceanfront property when it was cheap (she would have none of it)..I CANNOT imagine the place where someone was born and raised not change because of bulding, but because of blight...I now live in Detroit, we just moved here a few months ago, so it is not a changed city to me, but I read posts of others who are or were from here and it just about breaks my heart!

on edit: their/there..gotta keep them vocab nazi's at bay!

[Esra Star]

5. The entire industry has been on life support for

thirty years or so. I don't think it will ever be able to operate independantly again.
The only question is when to turn the machine off. As every year goes by, it gets harder.