The new Civil War. Foreign automakers based in southern states versus American automakers based mostly in Michigan. Southern Republican members of Congress were the key bloc that succeeded in defeating the proposed $14b loan to the OBT (Once Big Three).

The theoretical underpinnings of Congress seemingly parallel those that undergird free market capitalism.

Market fundamentalists like Milton Friedman believe that from a business and economic standpoint, it is only when each of us acts in our own self-interest that society advances. Applied to Congress this means the best interests of the United States are achieved when each member of Congress pursues his or her constituents’ self-interest. 

But is that true? Is individual self interest, absent some shared concern for the public commons and  some government involvement, a magic catalyst for the greater good? What if within our home, my wife, our two children, and I each pursue our own individual interests? Will our family advance without some agreed upon values, overlapping purpose, and common vision for the future?

A Congressman or woman would say they have to put their constituents first in order to get reelected. But isn’t that how we end up with bridges to nowhere and wasteful pork that benefits a few at the expense of the many. Is it completely unrealistic for me to think that someday citizens might pressure their members of Congress to also consider “What’s in the best interest of the country and world?” 

What does this mean in the context of  automobile manufacturing? Regionalism trumps nationalism. Given that reality, are we better or worse off? This saga also illustrates the subjective nature of patriotism. Some people are inspired by the history of the labor movement and take pride in the accomplishments of the United Auto Workers. Others are ahistorical and blame the UAW for the OBT’s lack of competitiveness. 

How do we get the officials we elected to take a longer, more national, and even international view? More specifically, how do we get the people of South Carolina to think not just about what’s best for BMW, and by extension, their job security, but also the job security of the Michigan autoworker? And how do we get the people of Michigan to think not just about government loans and their job security, but global environmental issues?