Chilly Start to Advent

COMFORT, COMFORT YOUR PEOPLE. Many who have had a chance to sing from Handel's Messiah recognize the line, taken from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Detroit's automakers felt none of that comfort this week, coming before the U.S. congress for a second and third times, trying to explain why they should receive billions of dollars of taxpayer money, years after many of their community leaders in working class areas surrounding their plants have lost tax base and faith in the companies that supplied (at one time) most of the vehicles on the roads of this country and fed an economic boom. Since the early 1970's, Detroit has mainly ignored reality and played a declining market card, choosing to live in the past. With blinders on, they, collectively, ignored the future and stayed with outdated methods and materials. Congress has been a partner in this charade, refusing to force fuel economy increases over the past twenty or so years, through both Republican and Democratic controlled years. Of course, now the Congress can act innocent and slap Big Auto on the wrist. After the double whammy of high gas prices & falling home values/401K's, the American public is showing skepticism of everything. Whether new blood (pun intended) in the White House and Congress can renew Hope and Comfort remains to be seen.