When I was 11, I got to stand on a picket line with my dad, for the PATCO strike. I don't quite remember what the event was, but I think we were trying to get some visibility in Youngstown, to garner some public support.
What I do remember about that event is this: the local Ford union let us use their headquarters to stage out of, and on the blackboard they (the air traffic controllers) had written the words "Your next vehicle SHALL be a Ford." (My dad explained that this was an Air Traffic Control turn of phrase, that "SHALL" was a word with some specific meaning when you were on the radio.)
In any case, I don't think we actually obeyed that directive, but it's all right. Years later, my parents eventually did happen to get a Ford minivan... but for no particular reason beyond "it was the right car at the right time."
This morning, Ford announced its worst year ever, with a $14.6B loss. In the same breath, though, they reiterated that they would not need federal aid (unless blah blah). At a time when GM and Chrysler are clamoring over each other for taxpayer handouts, this is actually impressing me enough to think that my next car may, in fact, SHALL be a Ford.
Too bad I don't expect to have a next car until 2017.
What I do remember about that event is this: the local Ford union let us use their headquarters to stage out of, and on the blackboard they (the air traffic controllers) had written the words "Your next vehicle SHALL be a Ford." (My dad explained that this was an Air Traffic Control turn of phrase, that "SHALL" was a word with some specific meaning when you were on the radio.)
In any case, I don't think we actually obeyed that directive, but it's all right. Years later, my parents eventually did happen to get a Ford minivan... but for no particular reason beyond "it was the right car at the right time."
This morning, Ford announced its worst year ever, with a $14.6B loss. In the same breath, though, they reiterated that they would not need federal aid (unless blah blah). At a time when GM and Chrysler are clamoring over each other for taxpayer handouts, this is actually impressing me enough to think that my next car may, in fact, SHALL be a Ford.
Too bad I don't expect to have a next car until 2017.
Comments
Edited at 2009-01-29 05:42 pm (UTC)
These days, foreign automakers employ many people in Alabama. My favorite uncle has a near-VP-level position at the Honda plant in Lincoln. The main reason I chose Toyota over Honda for my current car was the dealership experience.
I tend to view the whole Detroit debacle as attempting to keep the old-style domestic auto industry supported beyond its natural lifespan. Its importance to the American economy seems more sentimental than practical, in contrast to the big financial meltdowns of 2008. Birmingham survived the loss of its steel industry by becoming a premier center for medical research. I see no reason to think Detroit can't reinvent itself in similar circumstances.
GM and Chrysler both suck hard. It's sort of a shame all 3 tend to get lumped together in many peoples' minds.
That said, it doesn't have anything even remotely reasonable on the hybrid market (the Escape is a 32mpg SUV hybrid) at the moment, though it does have a Camry-type coming out next year.
I think I just caught my first eggcorn. I'll be sending it in to Language Log!
So we have people clamoring over each other to clamber for attention :)