At the 2008 Republican National convention, what was the chant heard round the world? No, not the “Drill baby drill”, it was when the GOP party-faithful chanted, “U.S.A., U.S.A.” over and over in a thunderous cacophony. As usual the GOP words do not match their actions when several key Republicans such as Shelby and Sessions will dig their heels into the wet cement waiting for it to harden should they choose not to vote for the automotive bridge loan to General Motors and Chrysler which are American companies.
Let it be said and be known as history is written of this year, it will be the year that the Republicans let our automotive industry die. Along with the death of this American industry that came about through the blood, sweat and tears of Americans past and present, they would rather support foreign automotive industries. While these foreign automotive industries do employ Americans, let us not forget that the profits go to foreign countries such as Japan, China, South Korea and Germany.
I would like to know whatever happened to America first which has been a rallying cry to support our country throughout these past eight years. I guess those are just meaningless words to these GOP cronies who would rather blame the workers and make them the scape-goats for this systemic problem that can be solved with great American determination.
In this montage of photos showing our country’s history set to the music of Neil Diamond’s, America, a picture of a Chevy caught my eye. That car was built with great American know-how and by the calloused-hands of those who came before us and still work in our automotive factories today. These workers do not ask for much but a living wage and to keep on working. Yet these Republicans think of them as the enemy where they only cry out for a little respect.
Soldiers past and present have worked and still work in our great American automotive industry and having given so much to this country, these Republicans will rip their livelihoods away from them and their families. They have been in many a fox-hole in battle and now they wait again in a perilous financial fox-hole just waiting for the first salvo that will end their jobs. As they ate rations in war-time, should those factory doors close, they will be rationing any food that will come to them. Is allowing for the death of our American automotive industry the end of the American dream?
In seeing Republican senators like Sessions and Shelby ridicule our great American auto-industry, they should be voting to help them survive. Is that too much to ask? Would they rather see an entire region die off or come to the aid of their fellow Americans in these desperate times? If they would rather see these companies die off along with the region where they are located, they must not believe in America first.
As immigrants of yester-year came to these United States of America, they came seeking work along with the American dream. As they did, they gazed with awe at a magnificent lady known to us as Lady Liberty whose words still inspire us today. “Give me your tired, your poor...Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...The wretched refuse of your teeming shore....Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me...I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
In not voting for this automotive bridge-loan, will these GOP members of the senate extinguish Lady Liberty’s lamp? Will Lady Liberty cry as those automotive factory doors close for good thereby ending the American dream for so many? By voting no, these GOP senators will turn so many lives into the great American nightmare.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
