American consumer must take blame for auto industry woes

SCOT LEHIGH'S column ("Why we should bail out automakers," Op-ed, Dec. 17) was well thought out and right on target. The credit crunch, the lousy economy, and the well-deserved deep pessimism of consumers have ganged up on Detroit and foreign manufacturers alike.

The Big Three have been conducting business in exactly the same manner as the foreign competition. That is, producing cars that meet the demand of the consumer, not the demands of the earth. That's what successful businesses do, provide the products that buyers want.

That puts the blame for a lack of non-green auto production in the lap of the American consumer. The SUV may not be best for Mother Nature, but motorists have demanded SUVs. You cannot put the blame on aggressive promotions by Detroit. Take a look at those omnipresent TV commercials. There are just as many sedans unrealistically plowing through bumper-high snow and speeding over ice-glazed roads with abandon as there are SUVs.

With the proposed federal reform stipulations that are sure to accompany a bailout, Detroit can compete with their overseas rivals.

Bill Snyder
Danvers