Letter from a Dodge DealerCourtesy of American Thinker, via Doug Ross
My name is George C. Joseph. I am the sole owner of Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu, a family owned and operated business in Melbourne, Florida. My family bought and paid for this automobile franchise 35 years ago in 1974. I am the second generation to manage this business.We currently employ 50+ people and before the economic slowdown we employed over 70 local people. We are active in the community and the local chamber of commerce. We deal with several dozen local vendors on a day to day basis and many more during a month. All depend on our business for part of their livelihood. We are financially strong with great respect in the market place and community. We have strong local presence and stability.I work every day the store is open, nine to ten hours a day. I know most of our customers and all our employees. Sunshine Dodge is my life.On Thursday, May 14, 2009 I was notified that my Dodge franchise, that we purchased, will be taken away from my family on June 9, 2009 without compensation and given to another dealer at no cost to them. My new vehicle inventory consists of 125 vehicles with a financed balance of 3 million dollars. This inventory becomes impossible to sell with no factory incentives beyond June 9, 2009. Without the Dodge franchise we can no longer sell a new Dodge as "new," nor will we be able to do any warranty service work. Additionally, my Dodge parts inventory, (approximately $300,000.) is virtually worthless without the ability to perform warranty service. There is no offer from Chrysler to buy back the vehicles or parts inventory.Our facility was recently totally renovated at Chrysler's insistence, incurring a multi-million dollar debt in the form of a mortgage at Sun Trust Bank.HOW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN THIS HAPPEN?THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITYThis is beyond imagination! My business is being stolen from me through NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. We did NOTHING wrong.This atrocity will most likely force my family into bankruptcy. This will also cause our 50+ employees to be unemployed. How will they provide for their families? This is a total economic disaster.HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?I beseech your help, and look forward to your reply. Thank you.Sincerely,George C. JosephPresident & OwnerSunshine Dodge-Isuzu
Sunday, May 24, 2009
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3 comments:
Well, he can still sell Isuzu, right? Isuzu, they still make those cars? His situation sucks, but that's business. Why should my taxpayer money continue to bail Chrysler and therefor his franchise? When his franchise did well, was he giving money to his customers or to the taxpayers? NOT.
It doesn't say whether or not he accepted taxpayer money, only that he sold the product. If he's making a profit, I see no reason (or right) to close his dealership and bankrupt him.
Face it, this plan by Obama - the man who was suppose to create millions of new jobs - is a failure. And the way it's being done is immoral and quite possibly illegal. Even if it's legal (by the letter of the law), what does this say about America.
Coming from a man who is sooo concerned that every American have affordable (read: free) health care, he certainly shows how little he really cares.
The sad thing is I bet most of his employees voted for the Messiah. THAT serves them right.
It was only taxpayer money that was keeping Chrysler afloat before their bankruptcy, therefor it was taxpayer money keeping his dealership afloat.
Also, Bush had 8 years to do something about the US auto industry, don't even try to blame that on Obama. Obama did everything he could to keep them afloat, so you were mad at Obama when he was loaning them money to keep afloat and you now you are mad at him for not giving Chyrsler more money? You can't have it both ways. An organized bankruptcy is the only way out, that includes closing dealerships.
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