U.S. grassroots stimulus tip: Be really patriotic—buy a Ford

Ford Motor Co. announced a $14.6 billion loss for 2008, but the company is resisting federal aid, planning to cut jobs in the credit sector and use a line of credit. Ford told The Detriot News it will “draw down its $14.1 billion credit revolver.” The paper says Ford decided to put that money on its own books now because of the "uncertainty" in the financial markets.

Remember when Vice-President Joe Biden (D-Del.) said paying taxes is patriotic? That was quite possibly one of the most shameful statements I’ve ever heard a politician utter. What Biden should’ve said—or at the least should be saying now: buy a Ford.

The 2010 Mustang Shelby GT500 is a sweetheart of a car. [Photo from Ford website; click photo to visit site.]

Here’s a company that doesn’t waddle up to the federal trough like others in the auto industry. Here’s a company I have a somewhat personal history with. One of my best friends in high school drove a Mustang—a gold colored muscle car that made us look very cool as we drove around our small town. I didn’t have a car, so riding in hers was the next best thing. At the time my brother, working as a D.J. for a local radio station while attending high school, bought himself a used Mustang, a 1966 model with the gear shift in the floor. I still remember my brother driving that car, shifting gears like a NASCAR driver, taking us home to see our parents on the weekend once we were both in college.

By the time our older daughter finished her master’s degree, she was ready to select and (hooray!) pay for her own car. She picked a Mustang—crimson red—the 2004 Anniversary Edition. Our younger daughter graduated from high school, earning the scholarship I insisted both our children work hard for. So we bought her a 2005 silver Mustang convertible, the one that has the retro body style. Thus far the cars have been very reliable. Somewhere in between all this my husband purchased a Ford truck, though I don’t remember the model or much else except we worked that truck mercilessly. We tend to nurture and hang onto our cars, so that truck lasted a long time.

There’s nothing more American than a Ford. I don’t drive one—I drive a Nissan—but over the years Ford cars and trucks have certainly been part of my life. I’d like to see this company prosper, because for one thing, the company isn’t playing politics with my tax money.

So disregard Biden’s silly remark. You want to be patriotic and you want to help the economy? Buy a Ford. Our younger daughter’s already got her eye on the 2010 Mustang Shelby GT500. She’s looking forward to the day when she graduates from college and can buy her own car.

She saw the photo of the GT500 and the first words out of her mouth were, “Can I have one?”

It strikes me that we consumers can implement our own grassroots stimulus package. I don’t think the government porker package will do much more than return favors to select Democratic voter constituencies. So if you or your buddy is looking for a car, pay the patriotism forward. Buy a Ford.

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