Ornamental no more
West Palm Beach, FL, December 2007
About this photo: Thematic Photographic explores round photos all week long. Head over here to get started. You'll be glad you did. So will I!The drumbeats heralding the possible impending end of the North American auto industry as we know it are beating more loudly with each passing day. Tonight's headlines spoke rather breathlessly about what a Chrysler bankruptcy would look like. Ugly only begins to describe it. (Sadly, GM doesn't seem to be far behind.)
I'm not judging, folks. Simply relating reality. I live within easy driving distance of Chrysler's Brampton (LX ) and Windsor (minivan) plants, so it's almost part of the landscape to see one of those massive car carriers on the 401. Our region, so deeply rooted in Ontario's manufacturing belt, has already taken it on the chin, and the auto sector's worsening condition promises to ripple out even more misery in the months to come. It's difficult to watch, especially when you realize that no one is left untouched by chaotic change on this scale.
I'll save my coulda, shoulda, woulda speech for another day. Right now, I simply want to reflect on a scene I captured in a much happier, warmer place. We were at the zoo, and our youngest climbed into an old Dodge pickup truck parked outside one of the exhibits. While he happily pretended to drive the thing, I found myself quietly taking in something that had been built long before I was born. If only the lore of this still-redeeming old machine could reach forward and help the company now.
They really don't make 'em like they used to. Soon, they likely won't be making them at all.
Your turn: I think the world needs some good news. Got any?
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9 comments:
My good news is that even though our economy has gone to pot, I still live in a great country.
To coin a phrase, "I love my country, it's the government I'm afraid of."
I still have round things over at my place.
My husband's family has a long history of buying Chrysler, in fact we have a 1961 Chrysler in the garage under reconstruction. Sad to think it might be one of the only Chryslers being built in a short while.
I'm really saddened by how they've run these companies into the ground. And how come Ford is ok? What did they do differently? There is certainly a lesson to be learned there.
Breeze
Good news? It's Friday, my family is alive and healthy, and not one crisis has passed my desk this morning :)
My dad gave 25 years of his life to Chrysler as a sales manager. He started out in the 50's. I sometimes resented the company for taking my dad away from me, as when he got home from a long day at the office, all he wanted to do was sit in the living room with a martini reading his paper. "Kids, leave your dad alone," my mom would often say. And just like that song, "Cat's in the Cradle," I have left him alone ever since.
Lives will change that is certain...including mine as my husband's company relies heavily on the automotive industry. But we will manage as there is always hope!
I have posted a response to your 'deer problem' stop over when you have a chance.
hmmmm....good news?
we live in a country where we have freedom of choice, freedom of speech and all the tea you can drink. :)
ps. the only Chrysler i owned was a piece of crap that left me on the side of the 401 more than once!
My first reaction when I read the title of this post was "what, again??" Chrysler's been on the brink before back in the late 70's/early 80's and was rescued by the K-Car. The butt-ugly, not-enough-power-to-get-out-of-its-own-way, but fuel efficient and affordable K-Car.
Not that I would ever suggest a return to the Reliant, but did it escape notice at Chrysler Corp. that building a car that was fairly reliable and that people could actually buy brought them back from the edge and maybe they should've kept a little of that going rather than building Mercedes?
I guess if they do go under, it affects me too since I drive a 2002 Dodge Dakota (which I dearly love if for no other reason than it has front leg room measured in acres).
Something tells me Lee Iaccoca won't be there to right the ship this time around.
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