News surrounding American auto makers has been pretty bad for a long time, but the worst news hit the press yesterday when GM announced that it was going to let go 21,000 workers and “kill Pontiac.”

Now, it is clearly a bad thing for the workers losing their jobs, but how do you kill a chief – twice?

The journalists of our times really don’t get it and to suggest, in headlines across the country, that what is happening to a car is worse than what is happening to hard working people, is just ridiculous.  They’re laying off 21,000 workers but “killing” a car?  How does that make the workers feel?  How many of those workers feel like they dying right now?

After all, these workers have been believers in everything their management told them, believed everything their union leaders told them and believed that the new administration’s auto maker bailout plan would handle it all.

So, what did the workers do?  Did they run away and hide?  Did they work less?  Did they develop new skills; move to new states?  No, they went to work every day and assembled vehicles that no one wants to buy.  And, when that happens, you put people out of work - and kill a vehicle.

GM announced that their third “restructuring” plan would eliminate 2600 dealers throughout the country, 21,000 workers, 44 Billion Dollars in debt and four brands - including Pontiac.  This plan leaves the American government owning half of the troubled car maker.  That means that you and I own what is left of this disaster – and we have no say in what is done.

The Worried Worker suggests that we let go more of our elected officials and keep the auto workers.

Ottawa Chief Pontiac died around 1769.  He deserves not to be killed again.

We all deserve better.

(painting by John Mix Stanley)