Jul 2, 2008 8:32 am US/Central
In The Know: Detroit Should Hang Its Head
(WCCO)
There is shocking news out of Detroit: Sales of new cars have plummeted by double digits. Companies are closing truck and SUV factories and laying off workers. Don Shelby said Detroit should hang its head.
The truth is, I don't know anyone at the big three, but I know a lot of people who work at car dealerships in the Twin Cities.
They are why Detroit ought to apologize. The people who live and work in our community, who send their kids to the same schools with our children, the people who give to charity -- Detroit has failed these people -- our neighbors and our friends.
Forget, for a moment, that Detroit has failed, for the most part, to embrace the future. Set aside the idea that everyone but the corporate bigwigs in Detroit saw all this coming. Don't think about the fact that Detroit had been warned, by the public, by scientists, by oil researchers, by Congress.
But, think for a moment about the local folks who have no control over what they are sent to sell. Yes, I'm angry at Detroit, but think what the local car and truck sales folks are feeling right now.
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