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Choking on auto dealers' plea for help

Re: "The auto industry matters," Nov. 20 A section ad:

The full-page infomercial by "local Chevy dealers" takes a page out of the Republican playbook: the use of fear. Actually, it's propaganda disguised as enlightenment. It may very well be true, but the manner of presentation is galling. It's duplicitous -- typical of this era of victimization. "It's not our fault."

Are they prisoners of consumers, only giving us what we demand? Who generated this letter? GM? I feel like the presumed "easy" date; I am supposed to, without question, accept this party line?

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. That should include the car companies and, by extension, dealers accepting much of the blame for their situation. I don't see that on this page. Nor do I see any promise to change direction.

The bailout should come with caveats: All CEOs, executives and management must forgo all compensation other than an hourly wage until every penny is repaid to taxpayers.

I urge everyone to comply with their request for "help" -- online or by the publicized phone number. Tell them exactly where they can stick their plea: up their exhaust.

Lots of foreign cars are American made

I wasn't going to talk about the bailout of the U.S. automakers, but a recent letter, gave me a good reason. Creed Patrick wrote that citizens caused the problem for the U.S. automakers because they bought autos that have foreign manufacturers ("U.S. consumers should buy American," Nov. 24 letter).

Would Patrick prefer that I purchase a Canadian-built Chevy, or a Mexican-assembled Ford? Perhaps I'll support my American brothers and sisters and buy a Toyota built in Indiana, or a Honda built in Ohio. Perhaps I should buy a BMW, Mercedes or Hyundai built in South Carolina.

I guess that, for Patrick, the American thing to do is to give failing companies more tax dollars.

The price of a ticket can feed a child

After reading of the millions of dollars spent for movie tickets, I started thinking. Imagine the effect if every moviegoer skipped one movie and instead donated the cost of the ticket to a charitable organization or a food bank. Think about it. Is giving up just one movie worth feeding one hungry little child?

Obama honored an Iraq war hero

Re: Nancy Griggs' Nov. 17 letter, "Obama photo should be of Bush."

To my knowledge, President Bush did not lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day. Vice President Dick Cheney laid the wreath. (After all, who is more deserving of that honor than the vice president, the recipient of at least four deferments during the Vietnam War?) I don't believe the president laid a wreath anywhere on Veterans Day.

President-elect Obama and Tammy Duckworth, a helicopter pilot and a true hero who lost both legs in Iraq, laid a wreath at a Chicago military cemetery.

Thanks to Griggs for reminding all readers that facts are important. We all remember the alleged facts related to the weapons of mass destruction not found in Iraq.

Give each party equal space

Re: "Conversation can't happen without you" (Nov. 2 Dan Radmacher column): I would like to take a moment of your time to hear my view on this point.

I certainly see where he is coming from, in that many of the letters posted seemed to be pro-Obama and not very many pro-McCain. Although you can't change people's political view, you can print equal amounts of each.

Say, for instance, you get 45 Obama letters and 24 McCain. Print 24 of each. This way, both political parties are getting their opinions voiced. Not only is it fair, more people would be happy to know that you are not advocating for one side.

I also agree with how you do not publish any allegation that is not proven to be true. The press seems to be the main reason rumors get spread around, and I'm happy to know that The Roanoke Times doesn't help.