Here is a recent e-mail I received from Senator Levin of Michigan:

Dear Dear Friend:

Immediate support is needed to shore up our automotive manufacturing sector and to preserve the more than 2.5 million jobs directly and indirectly linked to the U.S. auto industry. This morning, I testified in front of the House Financial Services Committee to emphasize the need for Congress to take swift action on behalf of our nation’s automakers. Standing idly by as the financial crisis decimates our domestic manufacturing capabilities and pulls our fragile economy further into recession is unacceptable.

Throughout the world, the dire financial crisis continues to spur governments to provide assistance to their manufacturing industries, which are not able to obtain the credit they so vitally need to continue operations. Both Germany and the European Union are studying the possibility of providing support for their automotive industries. Australia has provided more than $4 billion in funding for its vehicle manufacturers. Automotive manufacturers in China are already voicing their expectation of financial assistance from their government as well. “The Chinese government will undoubtedly support us,” says She Cairong, general manager of JAC Motors, a Chinese automobile manufacturer. This quote appeared in a New York Times article this morning, highlighting China’s consideration of a plan to provide assistance to its domestic automobile companies.

The spotlight is now focused on Congress, which is considering the possibility of rescuing the industry from an economic downturn not of its own making. President-elect Obama has called the U.S. auto industry “the backbone of American manufacturing” and said that the failure of our domestic automakers would be “a disaster” for our economy. President Bush, Speaker Pelosi, and both the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate agree that bridge loans for our domestic automakers are necessary at this time. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate and the Congressional Leadership to come up with a plan that would provide auto manufacturers with the bridge loans they need to weather this financial storm.

You can read the transcript of my testimony before the House Financial Services Committee by clicking on the following link: [http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=305099]. During these difficult times, I am doing everything within my power to convince the Congress to provide the bridge loans for the domestic auto industry that the President, the President-elect and the leaders from both houses of Congress support.
Sincerely,
Carl Levin

Here was my response:

Dear Senator Levin:

While I appreciate your candor, I whole heartedly disagree with your ambition to support the U.S. auto industry.  If you could indulge me, and please notice that the other unspoken U.S. automakers (Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, etc.) are not having the same problems as GM, Chrysler and Ford.  As you may presume, this is because of sound business plans, attention to quality, and cautious investment.

On the one hand, if you’re hoping to support the whole auto industry, then I suggest that you include these automakers, as they are also a crucial part of the manufacturing sector in the United States.  Knowing how politically unpopular that is, (and rightly should be), I humbly suggest that you let the automakers go through the avenues that any other business would.  File bankruptcy, restructure, and continue on.

I prefer you not spend money I do not voluntarily give, on automakers I do not voluntarily support.

With humble admonition,

Christopher Deming
Student

While I saw at the very bottom a link to unsubscribe, it dawned upon me that in all likelihood, that’s exactly what he’d want me to do.

So I didn’t.  Being on several liberal mailing lists for this very reason, it’s sometimes discouraging to read things like this.  On the other hand, it gives prime material to use in defense of liberty.

I hope you do the same.