Why the Coasts Hate Detroit

The east and west coasts were represented yesterday (3/30/09) in a discussion of the auto industry on NPR's Talk of the Nation.  Dan Neil, automotive critic from the L.A. Times was there, as was Micheline Maynard, senior business correspondent from the New York Times.  I was a little shocked when she said that "People in Detroit simply don't get why people outside Detroit hate the industry and resent them so much."  Hate is what its come to?  And is Detroit supposed to get it?  Is Detroit supposed to accept that its hated?

Is hate driving the decisions of the Obama administration?  It certainly appears that decisions made regarding GM's future are being made to please the "people outside Detroit", and not necessarily in the best interest of the corporation.  Threatening bankruptcy decreases consumer confidence in the company.  Ousting the CEO creates chaos within an organization already struggling to sort itself out.  It also reinforces the belief in eyes of  the american public that the leaders of these Detroit companies are incompetent.

So why the hatred?  Detroit represents the past.  The rust belt.  Manufacturing.  Unions.  Fat and lazy.  What's not to hate?  America wants to look forward, wants the latest greatest thing, optimism, growth, potential.   Detroit is like a big anchor left dragging behind the Goodship America.  Detroit let the american car buyer down in the 70's and 80's with poor quality, lack of innovation, and bad experiences.  And they haven't forgotten.  Well, actually they have.  A lot of car buyers don't even consider a domestic brand when shopping.  To them, the Detroit companies are irrelevant.  So they reason, why should my tax dollars go to prop up a company who's car I'll never even consider buying?  Cut the rope, anchors away!