We may need to rename our blog "Dig Michigan as Dug by GROW Detroit". They tipped us off to something that most media in the state seems to be ignoring: approval by the state House labor committee to call on the U.S. Congress to create a "Marshall Plan" for the auto industry. Democrat Fred Miller of Macomb County is sponsoring the resolution and said:
"Look, I don't think anyone's under the impression that this resolution in and of itself is the key to Michigan's woes, but I think that it's an acknowledgement that we can't solve this problem ourselves. That we need help from Washington to help the U.S. automotive industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs and families that they represent."
Read State proposes post-industrial "Marshall Plan" for auto-manufacturers at GROW and State Resolution Calls For Automotive "Marshall Plan" from Michigan Radio.
There will most likely be strong opposition to helping the auto industry, but I think it should be pointed out that when our country needed them in World War II, the auto industry in Michigan and the workers in the plants worked tirelessly on the behalf of the war effort.
This excellent article and photo on Michigan's contribution to the World War II arsenal from Michigan History, Arts & Libraries that includes this passage:
The Big Three automakers all contributed and gained acclaim for their efforts. Chrysler became known for tanks, while Ford focused on airplanes and the newly designed four-wheel drive "Jeeps." Ford's Willow Run plant produced 300,317 military aircraft during the war. (A notable Willow Run product was the B-24 bomber, also known as "the Liberator.") General Motors manufactured light, medium, and heavy tanks, tank destroyers, armored cars, amphibious vehicles, aircraft engines, and propellers. Artillery shells, such as the one in the above photograph were produced by Oldsmobile, a division of General Motors. Over the course of the war, the automobile industry manufactured $29 billion worth of war goods. It provided 12.5 billion rounds of small arms ammunition , 245 million shells, and nearly six million guns. It is no wonder Detroit became known as the "arsenal of democracy."
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I think the answer to the problems for American Industry is to unite. We've been too regional. The Textile Industry has been outsourced to China and Mexico. The Auto Industry is being dismantled in favor of Asia. Who benefits? Not working Americans who have seen their wages decline and cost of goods go up as the dollar falls due to the trade deficit. Boeing is assembling part of their planes in China. What next? While we blame corporations for sending jobs out of the country, the real blame lies at the doors of Congress. Our "representatives" only look out for their little corner of the country and vote for measures that hurt industry in other areas. We need people in Congress who will put America and Americans first. Free Trade must be Fair Trade!
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