Was cleaning out my computer when I found my letter of September 12, 2003, to UAW Leader Ron Gettelfinger. Of course, the letter did not work. Posting this to say that it did not take a rocket scientist to predict Detroit's predicament. I wrote to the head of the union knowing that when bad times come, that the manufacturing workers traditionally bear the brunt of the layoffs.
Ron Gettelfinger, President
United Auto Workers
Solidarity House, 8000 East Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48214
Dear Mr. Gettelfinger:
As an American with profound concerns about the future of American, our place in the world, and the world our children will live in, I decided to write to you. I represent only myself. Nobody asked me to write to you; nobody gave me your address. I looked you up because I worry about America.
Articles say that America represents not more than 3-4% of the world's population, but consumes 25% of its energy. The rest of the world which cinches in its energy belt more tightly resents us. We should become moral leaders in conservation, not viewed as energy profligates.
Global warming is a fact. Whether it is man-made or not is still debatable. But, indeed, the earth is warming. You can see it by the thickness of the glaciers, comparing where they start now and where they started 10, 20, 50 years ago. You don't have to agree on what causes a problem to do something about it. Please help cut back on carbon dioxide emissions by increasing energy efficiency.
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Right now, the U.S. needs allies because millions of brainwashed and resentful Muslims support terrorism against the weathy and powerful Westerners. They live by the most literal interpretation of the Koran. They hate American now because we stand at the pinnacle of Western power and prop up the repressive, corrupt Arabia .... The Bin Ladens of the world would not hesitate for a moment to storm/halt the world's oil supply if it suited them and let Western economies twist in the wind. The Kingdom of Arabia plays a two-faced game of buying our favor/protection with free-flowing oil, giving us enough energy dependence rope to hang ourselves with, and financing terrorists. The whirlwind of terrorist anger has been reaped by us even moreso than by Arabia or Israeli/Palestinian extremists--at least by a count of dead or wounded Americans.
Therefore, I ask, why in the name of a few fat, short-term profits do you stand in the way of legislation to promote energy efficiency in American cars? Why do the car industries and their unions subscribe to such short-sighted, insular thinking? Do you remember the gas lines and layoffs of the 1970s?
Already, energy supply lines are stretched super thin. A broken refinery or pipeline here, a ruckus in a distant oil-producing land, whatever....and oil prices leap! Please take a moment to think about what history might someday say-what UAW and Detroit did not do and the risks America took by energy gluttony. In the past, Detroit earned a reputation as an insular town that was out of touch, could not see farther than its profits, and got caught by surprise. Please don't let history repeat.
Saying "I told you so" is not the least bit satisfying. I'm like Radar on M.A.S.H. or the canary in the coal mine.
Remembering back, what triggered my letter was an act of vandalism, where someone had carved the letter "J" into the side of my car. I carpooled at that time. Like many people, I would leave the car all day in a popular carpooling spot where many commuters used to leave their cars. There was a Campaign for Tibet bumper sticker on my car at that time, but I cannot see how anyone in America could object to that, unless they were ignorant.
There have been three acts of vandalism against my car in the last six years (kicks in the side of the car--not accidental because there were three kicks three feet apart--$1800 repair estimage, cracked windshield). I don't plan on buying a new car any time soon because it really hurts to see a pristine car damaged. At any rate, the damage remains, as I'd rather spend money on charitable and campaign donations than on cosmetic repairs. Do others folks experience vandalism as often as carpooling members of minority groups?
