| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| JessieMae |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 12:28:26 PM
There's been a lot of discussion amongst us lately about buying American versus foreign automobiles, and because I am so close to the situation I have done my best to say very little because I know I can't be objective. What I've decided to do is say what I need to say here, in my own post, and you can choose to read it or not.
My great-grandfather was one of the original sit-down strikers that lead to unionization at GM. My grandfather retired from GM. My father worked at GM for 30 years, and now he works for the UAW. Aunt Punky is married to Uncle Nels, who retired from GM. Uncle John works at GM. Aunt Sue is married to Uncle Mike, and they both work at GM. Uncle Dave works at GM. Grandma has Grandpa's GM pension. So, as you can see, I am from a GM family.
But my family is from Flint, where GM started. For us, buying GM products and encouraging our friends and neighbors to do the same is a way of preserving our livelihood. Had I grown up in a city that made Fords, I would buy a Ford. And if I grew up in a city that made Toyotas, I would buy a Toyota.
Maybe what we should be looking at, instead of foreign or domestic is LOCAL. Look at your town. Look at your state. What cars are made there? Who employs YOUR friends and neighbors?
We are more interconnected than we realize. When our neighbors lose their jobs, our whole community suffers. People with no income contribute no income taxes, which mean layoffs for police, firefighters, ambulance crews, and teachers. Unemployment explodes, and unemployed people don't shop for non-necessities, leading to closings of stores, theaters, and other service-based businesses...putting even MORE people out of work. People who lose their healthcare insurance don't go to doctors or dentists, so our professionals move somewhere where they can make a living, too. People who are evicted from their homes don't mow the lawn or paint the porch, which contributes to blighted neighborhoods.
Perhaps the solution isn't splitting hairs about what percentage of an automobile is made in America or abroad. Perhaps it isn't about what is best for "ME" in the short-term. Driving 15 minutes down the road to the local Buy More may save you 15 cents on cans of peas, but what does it do to the local shopkeeper and his employees? Perhaps the best solution is to look LOCALLY for everything we need: local food, local crafts, local professional services, local businesses, and local automobiles.
When we invest in our community, we reap the rewards. That is a simple equation.
Jessie Mae
Farmgirl Sisterhood #134 |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Jun 03 2009 : 11:02:45 AM
Thank you for writing that Jessie. My husband lost his job in Feb from the Freightliner Truck Manuf. Co. They are now making those trucks in Mexico. I wish these companies would just realize what their decisions do to THEIR country.
Let us all be more aware of buying local.
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| harmonyfarm |
Posted - Jun 03 2009 : 09:22:10 AM
L - Loving
O - Our
C - Communities
A - At
L - Last
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jun 03 2009 : 07:06:06 AM
Jessie - hope your job situation lookks brighter soon. All of these job losses are so heartbreaking!
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Jun 03 2009 : 04:51:36 AM
Thank you Jessie, you said it very well.
I haven't been here on this forum since hearing the news Monday morning that my plant is closing by June of next year, or sooner if market conditions demand. My heart is heavy and I wasn't sure what I wanted to write, if anything.
I will probably still have a job, but not in this community. The nearest possibility is an hour and a half away. Likewise, my husband, as a regional manager, will still have a job, but he will no longer be located here. The most logical place for him to go is the Detroit metropolitan area, three hours from here. Lucky for us. Not everyone will have those options, due to family constraints or job skills or other reasons.
The effect on the local community will be devastating. Not because my husband and I will be leaving, but because of the economic footprint that the plant created here. Income tax, property tax, sales tax, United Way and other charities - paid by the company and paid by the employees will all be !poof! gone, next year. Not to mention the retail businesses that the employees patronized. Michael Moore made that movie about Flint - our community is much much smaller than Flint and the percentage of the population employed by GM or dependent on someone in the family working for a local supplier or dealer is probably as big or bigger.
On the bright side, crack cocaine dealers and pawnshops businesses will probably flourish...
I am constantly amazed by the array of vehicles on the road in our area that are not made "locally". Even in the GM parking lot, sad to say. People really don't seem to realize how important their purchasing decisions are.
So once again I will find a new home in a new community - the seventh in my adult life - dig up a new garden, start a new compost pile, and plant some new fruit trees, and wait for the fruit to grow.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 7:14:56 PM
I totally agree.....loyalty to our neighbors and community should play a part in where we shop and spend our money. Kristin, I have to tell you I do buy Georgia peaches - yummy! :) And Georgia is only 20 minutes away from our Florida city.
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 6:55:19 PM
I totally agree, too. So if Chattanooga is building a VW plant there and they start making VW's is that considered a local car now? All local people will be working there and parts will be made there (maybe?) and the cars will be assembled there. I love VW's and would love to have another one.
I try to go to the small mom and pop type stores. I do not go to Walmart anymore. I grow most of our food. I buy thrift store clothes. I won't even go to the road side stands where I know they get tomatoes from Fla. now. And I would love a big ripe juicy tomato but will wait for mine to come in. I even buy plants from a local nursery that grows them theirselves.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 5:03:29 PM
I agree!
Farmgirl Sister #98
Visit my online store at:
http://www.shopthefrontier.com/VFstore/index.php?manufacturers_id=79&osCsid=6be4b25bf9555031c6e2e86bbde23dba |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 5:02:15 PM
Amen Jessie---buy local no matter what!!!! MB
http://www.smallcityscenes.blogspot.com
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 2:33:34 PM
Jessie- That's how it used to be- people bought local and the local economies were strong. I try to buy from local businesses first and then others as a last resort. Maybe if more of us did that, we would eventually see a ripple effect and an improvement.
I hope that your family will be okay through all of the upheaval at GM.
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
www.perfectlittlemiracle.blogspot.com
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 2:31:58 PM
Well said Jessie. Local buying is always the way to go.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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