Ford Motor Company remains the only automobile manufacturing conglomerate that has not received assistance from the national government in any way, and Ford deserves praise for turning down government assistance. It is laudable that the company, though in financial distress itself, decided to take the traditionally American approach and try to turn the company around by restructuring in the free market and responding to the American public in an attempt to become viable. Ford’s competitors, General Motors and Chrysler, are left to restructure at the direction of political bureaucrats and elected officials.
I believe that Ford made a financial decision when it decided to not accept government money, as well as a political one. A smart decision was made nonetheless. It is my belief that the forward looking Ford Motor Company placed its bet on the sentiments of the American people. The company must have known that a bailout would not sit well with the public. Making excuses and relying on government, instead of relying on ones self, is simply counter to the American Way.
As a result of the decision to not accept government money, Ford is not in the news receiving negative press like General Motors and Chrysler. In turn, Ford sounds like a relatively strong and viable American auto company and the auto company that stuck it out without giving in. Americans who still want to buy American automobiles are likely to turn to Ford, instead of General Motors and Chrysler, when by buy because Ford is restructuring the American way, by listening to the people and manufacturing the products that people want. In other words, Ford will allow market forces to dictate its product line, not the same bureaucrat that will likely bark out orders to General Motors and Chrysler.
True, Ford was at the table in December when the “Big Three” went to Washington begging for handouts, but their ultimate decision to remain independent and not accept taxpayer dollars was the right one. In the end, if Ford responds to market pressure and produces the types of cars and trucks Americans want; can restructure to the extent that it becomes more cost effective (help out, unions); and does not have to face unfair (subsidized) competition from its government run competitors, the company could and should become an American success story, again.
If I ever purchase an American car (today I am the proud driver of a Toyota), I will look first at Ford. It is the last truly American automaker.
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