An American Heartbreak

Tom Brokaw famously called my generation the greatest. I'll accept the title for those of us still around, but only for the years preceding 1945. I'm not so sure we weren't too content with ourselves post-World War II. We began to believe our press as it were -- something to the effect that we were God's gift to the planet, other nations and all its peoples. The gratitude for the civil rights and liberties so hard won gave way and and "More!" became our need and, over time, our obsession.

I don't mean to do a treatise here. I'd just put down the morning papers and can't stop thinking about what's going on with our car companies, and it just about breaks the heart of this member of Brokaw's Greatest Generation. I would have no way of overstating how deep and profound was our love for the American motor car and what a significant part it played in the now tossed around phrase, "The American Dream," then an all but holy right of passage. American families were told in hushed tones by banks and mortgage and insurance companies, that this was "The second most important check you will ever write," the first being for a home, of course. And that is what American families felt as they waxed and polished and hosed down their vehicles on the weekends of their long romance with the American Motor Car.

I spoke of this to President George H.W. Bush in 1989 when I was asked if I had anything to suggest to him as he assumed the presidency. When I say today's news just about breaks the heart of this member of my generation, this video might help the understanding of that:

Comments

[Don Goldberg]

And that's why GHW Bush was a short term president.

[phylliscooper1]

But I'm thinking, given all the challenges facing this country, eight years may not be enough,if Obama continues to succeed in helping put everything back together again. We must have continuity with our next elected President,. Our country can work again, and there will be smarter, leaner business models with technology that has yet to be implemented. All enterprises will eventually be in the hands of the capitalists and the workers who will rediscover the "can do spirit" that existed in the 1940,s. .

[goldcoastsailor]

You can always tell the difference between a ford and a chevy man. You sir are a chevy man. Ford is going to come out of this as the only US car maker. But then I drive the real american original, a harley.

[Hiphopcrates]

When American manufacturers foisted "planned obsolescence" on consumers in the 1950's the die was cast. They simply couldn't fathom how they could continue to prosper if their products lasted and could be repaired.

[hypnotoad72]

And to think products back then were built with much higher quality than products made today. :-S

[SammyD]

I don't think it was necessarily about the cars. Your generation had pride and respect. Pride and respect for one's self. others and country. You describe washing and caring for the automobile. People were proud and cared for themselves and their posessions during that time. Today I see an America who is obese, uneducated and "owns" a $500,000.00 home with a yard full of weeds. We've become a disposable society which includes disposable human beings.

[ciabrat]

I'm with you up to that last sentence - we absolutely must fight the thinking that ultimately even human beings are disposable, don't you think?

[zakwouldhave]

My first cars were American-made and bought with paper route income. Then as I was bombarded with cheap looking American cars and "Like a Rock" commercials telling me bigger is better I got smart and bought Honda. Like bayside, my Honda started in winters (in my case Minnesota) everyday and now my Honda's a/c works great in the Austin, TX heat. Its time for the car makers of the United States to win back any loyalty by building smart and not big.
It pains me sometimes to think that we can beat the Germans and Japanese in WWII but can't beat them making automobiles for almost 50 years now. I say buy United States products....unless the alternative is superior...after all this is your second most important purchase....right behind the huge house you can't really afford.

[Mollabaji]

zak,

One problem with your comment: WE did not beat the Germans and Japanese in WWII. The Soviet army did defeat Germany and we dropped NUCLEAR BOMB over Japan forcing them to surrender. That is no victory in war.

[Bongborg]

Norman, you peer right into America's soul as only the creator of Archie Bunker could.

[ponderman]

After the energy crisis of the 70's, one would think that the car companies and the car buying public could see the handwriting on the wall. Instead of producing reliable, fuel efficient vehicles, the car makers produced SUV's and over-sized pick-up trucks...and car buyers said, "Oh boy, a new toy! Gotta have one of those."

I have absolutely no sympathy for America's car makers, or the people who got suckered into buying these monstrosities. It is, however, sad to see America dying of self-inflicted wounds.

[hypnotoad72]

With G W Bush giving out big tax breaks to (fools) who bought them because they had SPS or something to that effect...

I have more sympathy to those who bought, however.

And our country is dying of self-inflicted wounds. Hey, you wouldn't know where the medical kit is, by any chance? Then would you use it? Having wounds hurts, but whining about them hurts more.

[bayside]

I too loved to sit on porch and marvel at the beautiful american cars going by. Somewhere along the way those distinctive americans cars muddled into all cars looking the same, but my turning point was my first honda..I was estactic when it started in the winter so from then on it was honda for me. Honda treats their employees well ,produces a great car, in america, affordable and dependable.. Somewhere along the line the big gas guzzler american cars and bad management did them in. It a shame..

[hypnotoad72]

I agree, re: management. They tell the workers what to do, claim their decisions can make or break a company hence the reason for their having very high wages (100~800x that their average worker)...

[whoopingcrone]

Same generation as you, Mr. Lear.
I started in a standard shift clunker from Kaiser.
Since then, gone through Austin, Chevy, VW van, citroen 2CV, beetle, Pugeot, Nissan, and, currentlly,
1994 Ford Escort.
Managed to miss an Edsel.
Still dislike driving.

[Bongborg]

If that's what you have been driving I see why. You should have bought an AC Cobra.

[brit prof]

GM arrogance: "if we get broken up then the top-selling cars in the US will be from Honda, Toyota, Nissan. YES! You know why, Mr. 7-figure-salary-courtesy-of-the-taxpayer? They make good, reliable cars at affordable prices which are fairly cheap to run and don't do as much harm to the environment.
Sneaky, huh?

[sonofsamphm1c]

If all of us drove Honda Civics, we would still be crashing into a human-caused warming.

[brit prof]

Yes, so let's get there quicker in gas-guzzling, inefficient, over-priced, poorly made American bangers.

[MarkBoston]

Detroit never made the cars people wanted .. they were deaf, dumb & blind .. even when 2/3 of all car sales were Toyota, Nissan , Mits, and so forth... These ego maniacs who ran GM need to be put out to pasture !

[ponderingmuch]

I am of the Woodstock generation, so my first many cars were VWs.

Regardless, I am such a fan of Norman Lear, i want to hear everything he ever has to say.

I enjoyed this piece, enormously, and not for a second did I think he was promoting inefficient gas guzzlers.

If that is what you thought, read it again with a more open mind.

Feed your head.

[dotsthefunist]

I think this has to do with our age because I love American cars and trucks and the days when products could be serviced and repaired.I watched that end during the malling of the country when the big box store and malls started boarding up towns .It was progress and evolution without a soul ,it wasn't conservative or progressive because look what has happened.
We have become a nation of empty misused words ,gated communities and homeless vets .
The good old days were far from America's amazing potential but today i feel humanity deserves better than a pink slip sent by email.
Smithline

[MarkBoston]

nicely put dot ..

[LMPE]

Maybe it's better that this happens. Cars pollute.

[robbor]

A hundred years ago I'm sure many lamented the passing of some of the most important corporations in America, companies that made horse drawn carriages. Today, with over 170 car manufacturers world wide you can't be fat, lazy and lacking imagination. What's happened in Detroit is sad but things change and only the ones who are light on their feet and flexible shall inherit the earth