An Open Letter to Senator Richard Shelby
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An Open Letter to Senator Richard Shelby
I never get tired of reading the words of people who feel strongly about the situation...
The following editorial appeared, in part, December 15 in The Detroit News.
An Open Letter to Senator Richard Shelby
Dear Senator Shelby:
You must be quite proud of your success in spearheading the collapse of government loans to help the American Automobile Industry get through this period of extraordinary financial chaos and uncertainty. As the head of a major science museum that exists to inspire young people to pursue careers in technology, I have an important question to ask you: What do I say to America's future engineers?
How do I inspire children to pursue a career if they see the best educated most accomplished engineers in America standing in an unemployment line?
What do I say to the 486 students who will begin attending the Science and Math Middle School at the Detroit Science Center next September when they watch America's largest employers of engineers disappear?
Asking for your support of the American automobile companies was not about nostalgia for their past glories. True, they created the American middle class, revolutionized personal mobility worldwide and enabled us to be the "Arsenal of Democracy" that powered the Allied victory in World War II. Engineers like Walter Chrysler and Charles Kettering shaped an industry that shaped the modern world. But Henry Ford himself said "History is bunk" so let's focus on today's accomplishments.
Engineers from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are leading the world in the development of battery technology, fuel cells, vehicle safety technology and sophisticated on- board microprocessing that puts NASA and Boeing to shame.
American automotive process engineers have enhanced basic Japanese production techniques and quality systems to create the country's most integrated high volume production network of assembly plants and multi-tiered suppliers.
American automotive engineers continue to pioneer the use of sophisticated design software to enable the rapid prototyping of parts and the virtual designing of new models.
The Department of Defense aggressively adapts breakthrough American automotive technology to battlefield communications, logistics and warfare.
Yesterday's "Arsenal of Democracy" is truly today's "Arsenal of technology. Isn't that worth saving, Senator Shelby?
While the great engineering minds of Silicon Valley fret over packing more songs into an Ipod or downloading television shows faster, the engineers and scientists of the automotive industry are searching for the technology to reduce America's reliance on foreign oil and the world's consumption of fossil fuels.
Senator Shelby, please help me explain to my museum's young visitors why your home State of Alabama spent billions of dollars to entice foreign companies while encouraging the demise of three companies that account for 12% of all the corporate research and development in America.
Help me understand why a State consistently ranked lowest in education quality and number of engineering degrees awarded feels compelled to eliminate the nation's largest concentration of professional engineers.
I know you don't believe Michigan's most important industry deserves help. Perhaps you still believe that Michigan's most important assets, our children, deserve some answers to the questions that will determine their future.
Kevin F. Prihod
President and CEO
Detroit Science Center
An Open Letter to Senator Richard Shelby
Dear Senator Shelby:
You must be quite proud of your success in spearheading the collapse of government loans to help the American Automobile Industry get through this period of extraordinary financial chaos and uncertainty. As the head of a major science museum that exists to inspire young people to pursue careers in technology, I have an important question to ask you: What do I say to America's future engineers?
How do I inspire children to pursue a career if they see the best educated most accomplished engineers in America standing in an unemployment line?
What do I say to the 486 students who will begin attending the Science and Math Middle School at the Detroit Science Center next September when they watch America's largest employers of engineers disappear?
Asking for your support of the American automobile companies was not about nostalgia for their past glories. True, they created the American middle class, revolutionized personal mobility worldwide and enabled us to be the "Arsenal of Democracy" that powered the Allied victory in World War II. Engineers like Walter Chrysler and Charles Kettering shaped an industry that shaped the modern world. But Henry Ford himself said "History is bunk" so let's focus on today's accomplishments.
Engineers from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are leading the world in the development of battery technology, fuel cells, vehicle safety technology and sophisticated on- board microprocessing that puts NASA and Boeing to shame.
American automotive process engineers have enhanced basic Japanese production techniques and quality systems to create the country's most integrated high volume production network of assembly plants and multi-tiered suppliers.
American automotive engineers continue to pioneer the use of sophisticated design software to enable the rapid prototyping of parts and the virtual designing of new models.
The Department of Defense aggressively adapts breakthrough American automotive technology to battlefield communications, logistics and warfare.
Yesterday's "Arsenal of Democracy" is truly today's "Arsenal of technology. Isn't that worth saving, Senator Shelby?
While the great engineering minds of Silicon Valley fret over packing more songs into an Ipod or downloading television shows faster, the engineers and scientists of the automotive industry are searching for the technology to reduce America's reliance on foreign oil and the world's consumption of fossil fuels.
Senator Shelby, please help me explain to my museum's young visitors why your home State of Alabama spent billions of dollars to entice foreign companies while encouraging the demise of three companies that account for 12% of all the corporate research and development in America.
Help me understand why a State consistently ranked lowest in education quality and number of engineering degrees awarded feels compelled to eliminate the nation's largest concentration of professional engineers.
I know you don't believe Michigan's most important industry deserves help. Perhaps you still believe that Michigan's most important assets, our children, deserve some answers to the questions that will determine their future.
Kevin F. Prihod
President and CEO
Detroit Science Center
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From: Sandy VJJville
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From: Lansing, MI
I think people forget that there are more Americans that do not support the bailout than those that do. These Senators were getting inundated with calls from their constituents demanding that this bill die. People know that the automotive industry is very important, but they are sick of paying for the bailouts. Heck, most people I talked to were freaking out about the $700 billion TARP funds when it was being voted on.
For the people that say 'No auto industy= No America', give me a break. If all that we are as a nation hinged on one industry then it was a matter of time for us to fail. I don't believe that. We are a world leader in industries like aviation, computer tech and software (Apple/Microsoft), Medical technology and Military technology just to name a few. We will get through this. Unfortunately GM might not survive this downturn. At least not in it's present form.
For the people that say 'No auto industy= No America', give me a break. If all that we are as a nation hinged on one industry then it was a matter of time for us to fail. I don't believe that. We are a world leader in industries like aviation, computer tech and software (Apple/Microsoft), Medical technology and Military technology just to name a few. We will get through this. Unfortunately GM might not survive this downturn. At least not in it's present form.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,400
From: Michigan's left coast
This gentleman makes some excellent points.
Soon, we will need to decide if this country will be a producer of technology, or just a consumer of the work of other countries. Frankly, it doesn't take much to notice that we no longer provide anything resembling true innovation in several fields where we used to lead.
I work with some college engineering undergrads during my employer's sponsorship of year-long senior projects, and I occasionally speak at local schools during career fairs and the like. I'd love to be able to tell kids that they should go into engineering and create all the wonderful technology that this country is in love with, but it's getting tougher to do that when technology workers are treated with such disdain (in the form of low compensation and non-existent job security) by industry and government.
Soon, we will need to decide if this country will be a producer of technology, or just a consumer of the work of other countries. Frankly, it doesn't take much to notice that we no longer provide anything resembling true innovation in several fields where we used to lead.
I work with some college engineering undergrads during my employer's sponsorship of year-long senior projects, and I occasionally speak at local schools during career fairs and the like. I'd love to be able to tell kids that they should go into engineering and create all the wonderful technology that this country is in love with, but it's getting tougher to do that when technology workers are treated with such disdain (in the form of low compensation and non-existent job security) by industry and government.
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From: Middle of Kansas
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Posts: 142
From: Lansing, MI
I think you are right. I believe though that they voted against the popular opinion (no to TARP) and passed it fearing financial Armageddon in the US.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 954
From: Shelton, WA
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,123
From: Melbourne, Australia
This gentleman makes some excellent points.
Soon, we will need to decide if this country will be a producer of technology, or just a consumer of the work of other countries. Frankly, it doesn't take much to notice that we no longer provide anything resembling true innovation in several fields where we used to lead.
I work with some college engineering undergrads during my employer's sponsorship of year-long senior projects, and I occasionally speak at local schools during career fairs and the like. I'd love to be able to tell kids that they should go into engineering and create all the wonderful technology that this country is in love with, but it's getting tougher to do that when technology workers are treated with such disdain (in the form of low compensation and non-existent job security) by industry and government.
Soon, we will need to decide if this country will be a producer of technology, or just a consumer of the work of other countries. Frankly, it doesn't take much to notice that we no longer provide anything resembling true innovation in several fields where we used to lead.
I work with some college engineering undergrads during my employer's sponsorship of year-long senior projects, and I occasionally speak at local schools during career fairs and the like. I'd love to be able to tell kids that they should go into engineering and create all the wonderful technology that this country is in love with, but it's getting tougher to do that when technology workers are treated with such disdain (in the form of low compensation and non-existent job security) by industry and government.
You are effectively positioning yourself against person of your ilk from emerging countries... somebody who will do the same work for considerably less and yet live very comfortably in their own country... yet this is the trend we are increasingly accustomed to seeing.
Isn't there something wrong with society when we are giving up that knowledge and skill... that was harnessed to stand us apart from the rest?
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: SeVa
The auto industry has a value outside of just producing cars, none of these industries we are "world leaders" in rely on a single source for technological innovation. Each time we let something like an industrial sector slide away we increasingly marginalize ourselves as a country.
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Posts: 505
From: Jax,FL
And When has mainstream america ever had an intelligent opinion? Mainstream america gets fed whatever they see on TV whatever their friends say - whatever they read somewhere on some blog/website/.
The mainstream population is brain dead -
The way they conduct ads for the presidental campaign is a very clear sign of how brain dead and ignorant the american mainstream is, so go ahead take a seat right next to those sheep.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,123
From: Melbourne, Australia
And When has mainstream america ever had an intelligent opinion? Mainstream america gets fed whatever they see on TV whatever their friends say - whatever they read somewhere on some blog/website/.
The mainstream population is brain dead -
The way they conduct ads for the presidental campaign is a very clear sign of how brain dead and ignorant the american mainstream is, so go ahead take a seat right next to those sheep.
The mainstream population is brain dead -
The way they conduct ads for the presidental campaign is a very clear sign of how brain dead and ignorant the american mainstream is, so go ahead take a seat right next to those sheep.
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Posts: 3,577
From: Sandy VJJville
The same arguments [of armageddon] are being brought up to support the auto-industry package, yet they're all of a sudden against this one.