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What's funny to me is these people grumbling about overpaid auto workers have never worked in a factory, let me tell you these guys on the assembly line earn every dime they make, those jobs are repetitive and monotonous, and tear your body up. I work at the Wayne Assembly Plant in Wayne MI. we make the Ford Focus ( another product proudly made in the U.S.A.) they build about 75 of these cars an hour, that means you have about 45 seconds to do your job and it's on to the next one, trust me they earn it.
P.S. I know our beloved T was made in the U.S. so I hope most of you know how important it is to buy American made products, the estimates are that if G.M. goes under 2.5 million jobs will be lost almost immediately and another million within six months from the ripple effect, I know that part of the big 3's problem is self induced, but that being said I would encourage everyone to by American at every opportunity you may have. We thank you for your support.(o.k. stepping down off my soapbox now

darrel,
since you had a stand on the "soap box" i just can't keep my mouth shut on this subject. no disrespect meant for what you do, as you've gone to school and learned a trade, but i have to disagree wholeheartedly about the line workers. i have worked a line,(for about four days!)and you're right, it is repetive and downright boring. i couldn't take it, because i've always been an outdoor, active type person who likes to be on the move...BUT, to me this is like a waitress job...if you don't like it, go get another job. let's face it, most all are there for the money and they chose to be there! i could have stayed and made big money, had a great retirement, etc., but i chose instead to do something that i enjoyed and the money was secondary to me. no, at 64, i don't have a great retirement, or a new expensive house, or a new car/boat, but i have enjoyed what i do and wouldn't change it if i could. i'm not a big tipper at a restaurant. my opinion those people(many men now)chose that line of work knowing they'd be making minimum wage or less and then depend on customers to make up the difference. they're working for the restaurant, why don't they pay them a decent wage?
anyway, back to the auto industry. i do drive fords, but they are old ones and if i was buying new, it would be a nissan or toyota. i had one new ford in my life and it was a piece of crap and the dealership didn't want to do anything to help. wore out a set of front tires in less than 10k miles and they couldn't tell me why. as far as the lines, i personally know that the plant here in kansas city has many alcoholics and drug users working it! and one friend of mine will sit and tell horror stories about what's done to trucks there and then laugh about it. and the auto unions want us to feel sorry for these people. sorry, not me!
we're living in a world economy now and we have to accept very few things are 100% american made anymore. i would place a bet many of those machines you work on come from a foreign country, or have foreign made parts in them.
if it seems like this is a sore subject for me, it is. i had a big job taken away from me years ago simple because i wasn't union. was doing some work for a bank and a union guy saw me there and made a complaint and threatened the bank that all union members would close their accounts if they didn't hire union. it wasn't a fact of who could do a better job or who could offer a better price, it was just a matter of "union or not"!! now, in my opinion, the auto makers are doing the same thing to this country....give us some money, or we'll break the country!! the sad part is, it's probably going to happen, but i do hope the government puts some restrictions on both the executives and the union!

well, now you all know how i feel....steppin' off my soapbox now!

have a great day,
bud

jazmo,
first, thanks for your service. i'm also a veteran and have respect for all those who served. but, i too have gotten this story via the internet email and it's not completely true. check it out on snopes.com. if you're not familar with that site, it searches for the truth in "urban legends".
having said that, one store i do recommend this year is sears. i've tried to do all my christmas shopping i can there, as they are treating our brothers who are employed there very well while they are serving their country. if you haven't heard, you can check that out on snopes also.
bud

no apology needed jack, i'm a little anal about checking some of the things i get in emails and that just happen to be one of them.
damn, that was one heck of a fall. you probably set off all the alarms when you go through an airport. glad you made it through all that and are able to ride and enjoy life still.
we never know when we get up in the morning if we're going to be back in bed that night in the same condition, huh?
bud