Building Character Over Industry

Having lived for many years with limited means, financial hardship is something I wish on no person. As a concerned citizen of the Kingdom of God I have for years felt a need to help those who either can not help themselves, or need help to help themselves. I believe in giving sacrificially, which is a character trait I have tried to pass along to my children. I also believe in personal responsibility, and believe that if a man does not work, he should no be paid, which is why I am not an advocate of a Federal bailout for the United States automotive industry.

A few years ago, when employed as an over-the-road truck driver, I delivered parts to a General Motors plant. The delivery was my first at a GM facility and I was unfamiliar with union shop procedures. For this reason I became confused when one dock worker finished unloading a truck, and then parked his forklift and took a nap.

In my part of the US, the South, people with jobs work for a living. When a dockworker finishes unloading a truck, he will either start on another load, or help his co-worker unload his truck. No one sleeps on the job.

As it turned out, the reason why the dockworker at the GM plant did not start unloading my truck is because I was not on his dock. Until a truck was parked on his dock, he was under no obligation to do anything except sleep, while at the same time earning his full salary plus benefits.

I have no sympathy for the plight of GM or Chrysler, or any member of the United Auto Workers who possesses an entitlement mentality. I can not begin to imagine how many thousands, if not not hundreds of thousands of dollars are added to the price of cars each year because employees at a GM or Chrysler plant are paid not to work.

Not long after my delivery to GM I retired from trucking and took a job selling used cars at a local GM franchise. Because the dealership represented General Motors the majority of the used cars on the lot were GM products. I did not take this into account when I took the job, and in the four and a half months I was with the company, my family and I nearly starved.

While many of our customers were GM loyalists, the vast majority came to the dealership looking for Japanese imports. Cars manufactured by Ford, GM, and Chrysler that cost thousands of dollars less, and supposedly comparable Japanese models, were always passed up in favor of a more reliable and more durable product.

It saddens me to think of how many people could lose their jobs should the US automotive industry collapse. It saddens me even more to think that the United States automotive industry has been allowed to thrive for so long with an entitlement mentality while producing inferior vehicles. Much will have to be done by the Church to help those in need should the US auto industry collapse. Until it does, my prayer will be that GM and the rest of the US automakers wake up to the reality that when you build your house according to self-righteous and self-serving principles, you sow death to all who stand under your roof.