So Cold in the D: Motown student pleads for auto aid in documentary
Nicole Pentis is a high school junior in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan who has been making videos for five years. When C-SPAN sent out a call for students to make a video address to President Obama and tell him what they thought were the most pressing issues facing the U.S., Pentis grabbed her camera. Her subject: the turmoil in her own home – the imploding auto industry.
In her eight-minute vid entitled "Auto Industry for America's Past, Present, and Future," Pentis lists the numbers and makes her case for what the auto industry means for America, and uses a history lesson and interviews with several industry workers to back it up. Admittedly, the numbers she uses are debatable, but it can't be argued that the vid is heartfelt. Click the link to have a watch.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Swede 8:04AM (3/25/2009)
Hey it's the Chryslus building from F3!
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notYou 8:28AM (3/25/2009)
What she fails to understand (unfortunately) is that asking the government for financial assistance is akin to putting yet another noose around their collective necks.
Can't wait to see Obama, Frank, and Dodd demanding lists of employee names from the car companies who made more than they approve of and sicking the IRS on them at a 90% - or higher - tax rate.
Ford's looking better and better solely because they were able to stay out of the Faustian bargain. Too bad GM and Chrysler are going to be _destroyed_ by the same government they pleaded with for their financial crack. But, that's what drug dealers do, right? Get you hooked and then bleed you dry.
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pixis 9:55AM (4/01/2009)
and girl- you is so ugly - you scare my money away
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Steve 8:19AM (3/25/2009)
As much as I appreciate her standing up for what she thinks is right, and being as noble as she can be... I did not enjoy the video.
That being said however, it was well put together, and if I was the President of the USA, I would not hesitate to give my time to watch it, and send her a gratuitous letter.
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Auari 8:31AM (3/25/2009)
Same I couldn't even watch half of it without turning it off, It's funny how she thinks GM and Chrysler are more important than War on terror and health care LOL
Frylock350 9:05AM (3/25/2009)
@Auari,
The war on terror is a black hole of money that has yielded no results. If we simply quit meddling over there we would never have become the "Great Satan" to begin with.
Noidor 9:23AM (3/25/2009)
She's probably from same HS that I went to - Andover or Lasher...both sister schools within 5 mins of each other. Bloomfield Hills is generally a conservative to moderate community occupied by very wealthy individuals, so this stance is a bit surprising.
On topic of auto bailouts...as long as government is giving auto industry something, people will look the other way while they give x5 more to banks who in turn will spend it all on bonuses. That's why my stance is no bailouts to anyone...otherwise unavoidable moral hazard.
tekd 9:24AM (3/25/2009)
Honestly for Detroit's own sake it's probably better to request that the government invest in helping Detroit develop new industries, preferably ones that don't require huge capital investments on factories that'll bleed money if demand drops.
At the very least it'd be a good idea to diversify so that Detroit's fortunes don't only rise and fall with that of the Big 3.
Frylock350 9:41AM (3/25/2009)
@Tekd,
Its far more than just Detroit. Most of the Midwest is reliant on the big 3 for economic stability. The towns I go to to fish, ATV etc are often supported by a big 3 plant or a big 3 supplier plant.
The Luigiian 10:18AM (3/25/2009)
"if I was the President of the USA, I would not hesitate to give my time to watch it, and send her a gratuitous letter."
I think you mean gracious. It would be an unnecessary letter, sure, perhaps unearned, and perhaps free, true, but if you are sent a well-meaning video your response should be tactful and kind more than anything else.
AntBee 8:30AM (3/25/2009)
I have to applaud her efforts, not many young people would step up to the plate like this.
It does look so cold in the D. How the f*ck we s'pose ta keep peace? LOL!!
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JZeke 8:56AM (3/25/2009)
+1 for the reference. lolz and such.
mapoftazifosho 9:19AM (3/25/2009)
Lovin these references on Autoblog! Amazing!
G_Money21 8:32AM (3/25/2009)
I didnt enjoy this video either. So the girl does a video on how much the auto industry means to the economy and health of this country, then she goes and gets "unbiased" opinions from workers DIRECTLY related to the auto industry? Of course they will spew the gloom and doom scenario there livelyhood depends on it.
We gave them 5 billion and it did nothing, they want 5 billion more, let them crumble, someone else will pick up the pieces. Capitalism at its finest.
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Mr.Oak 8:52AM (3/25/2009)
We gave the financial industry 1 TRILLION + dollars, economy still in the crapper.
Bottom line is, until the economy recovers, we're all in for a rough ride.
ANYONE who thinks that the mere pittance (crumbs) that congress threw at the auto industry would fix it, while no one is buying cars is an IDIOT.
For you folks who think that letting the domestic auto-industry die off is they way to go, next time your kid catches a cold don't waste money on getting him/her better, just drop them off at the undertakers, PROBLEMS solved.
Frylock350 9:07AM (3/25/2009)
Capitalism at its finest is Abu Dubai. Social Darwinism is a terrible way to treat others.
BigWill 9:01AM (3/25/2009)
I'll save you the 7 minutes and 59 seconds ...
Health Care ... NO!
Illegal Immigration ... I DON'T CARE!
Iraq War ... WHO CARES? WE'RE PULLING OUT ANYWAYS!
Dodge Caliber ... MUST BE SAVED AT ANY COST MR. PRESIDENT!!!!
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superman211 11:06AM (3/25/2009)
War on terror is the biggest sham ever.
S2K 5:13PM (3/25/2009)
Really, superman? The crater in lower Manhattan begs to differ.
Dan 9:23AM (3/25/2009)
I guess they start brain washing them early to like cars made in Mexico with parts from Canada.........yanno those so called "american" cars
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