Everyone is aware that the endgame for Detroit nears. Desperate cash-raising measures are being made by automakers to at least try and make it to the purportedly more automaker-friendly Obama administration. That, of course, is no guaranteed thing. GM is selling its stake in Suzuki, while Ford its stake in Mazda. Although I remain firmly opposed to all forms of government bailout, there is a good point many are making that automakers are not so insignificant compared to banks in America's economic fortunes. Why them, not Detroit?So Detroit's lobbying presence and representation of former industrialists in government may be lacking compared to Wall Street's clout in these respects [1, 2]. In addition to continued Republican opposition to using the $700B to bail out automakers, public opinion is firmly against a Detroit bailout. What is a dying industry to do? It occurred to me that since Detroit is clamoring for federal aid, it had better make its case more strongly and creatively. When it comes to soliciting aid for Africa, there are few better examples of using marketing than Bob "Just Give Us the Fockin' Money" Geldof. Sir Bob, of course, was the driving force behind the Live Aid effort, whose hit song topped charts around the world. Can the Big Three come up with a similar effort to win friends and influence people? Certainly it's worth a try. From Boomtown Rats to Doomtown Brats or something like that:
It's Christmastime
There's a need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we buy imports and spurn homemade
And in our town of little we can spread a sound of jeer
Throw your arms around Detroit at Christmastime
But say a prayer
Pray for the UAW
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you ain't having fun
There's no Fords outside your window
It's a world of Honda and Toyota
Where the only cars running around are steenkin' transplants
And the death knell that rings there are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank Bush it's them instead of you
And there won't be cars made in Detroit this Christmastime
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life support
(Oooh) Where nothing ever's made
No government aid flows
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
(Here's to you) raise some cash for Michigan
(Here's to them) underneath that burning P&L
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
Feed Detroit
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
