I have received several phone calls from people who are questioning GM’s creating 29,000 jobs in South America, as reported in a recent news story.

The readers, basically, argue that American tax dollars helped GM survive and now the company is thanking the general public by creating jobs in other countries when jobs are needed here.

It’s a valid argument and I’m not going to defend GM, I don’t have enough information. Presumably, however, GM made the decision based on business considerations and what’s best for the company.
But such action does lead many people to question the wisdom of last year’s auto bailout loans.

And it’s understandable that GM’s actions in dealing with foreign firms for any company service would not sit well with Americans. The argument that we’re living in a global economy may be true but it doesn’t help ease the concerns and pains of problems here in the United States.

One thing is fairly certain, if GM had gone under, Michigan would have been devastated. Would we have survived? Possibly but not without great economic pain and suffering.

However, GM, in a much more stripped down form, is still producing cars and providing jobs in Michigan.

I guess we just have to hope that when business is sent elsewhere, it’s in the best interest of the company and helps keep it operating here in Michigan.