Years ago when a social event ended and someone said to the parking lot attendant, “Mine is the silver Cadillac,” he knew exactly which car was referenced and went straight to it and retrieved if for the owner. Let’s not let the current economic difficulties cause us to forget our history as Americans. With inspired, determined leadership we can design the best, engineer the best, and produce the best motor vehicles on the face of the earth. But is the current crop of Big 4 (Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and the United Auto Workers) leaders, in partnership with the Obama Administration, capable of achieving America’s full manufacturing potential?

Many years ago through a collusion of UAW greed and corporate Detroit arrogance, the Big 4 entered into a bargain with the devil which put at risk the future of America’s auto industry, including the investments of stock holders and the welfare of auto workers and their families. Since there was little foreign competition, the captive American public had to pay whatever price the automakers demanded for their cars. And like pirates on the high seas, the Big 4 gleefully divided the spoils.

During WWII the steel industries of Europe and Japan were bombed into oblivion. After 1945 they were rebuilt using the latest technology. America’s steel plants had been built in the early 1900s and were out dated as soon as the first foreign steel mill came on line. Without so much as a whimper Big Steel laid down their skimming ladles, banked their blast furnaces for the last time, and died a premature, unnecessary death.

The shame of Big Steel’s collapse was that no leader in management, labor, or the U.S. Congress stood up and shook their fist in the face of America’s foreign competitors. No CEO led a rush to the barricades shouting, “Someone will always make and sell steel at a profit in this world, and it may as well be the United States of America!”

Today the U.S. auto industry is teetering on the edge of the abyss where Big Steel staggered in the 1960s. So how does the Big 4 and the Obama Administration plan to meet Detroit’s awesome challenges? They are shamelessly closing assembly plants and auto dealerships. As more sales are lost, which undoubtedly will result, the plan is to close even more. Who is taking responsibility for the displaced auto workers – white and blue collar – and the dealerships’ employees? Who is leading the Big 4 in its fight to man the barricades?

Does the U.S. Congress and President Obama really understand what will happen if 4% of the nation’s GNP vanishes overnight and takes with it auto dealerships, parts suppliers, transportation companies, financial institutions, and all the other auto industry and sub-related companies? Who is focusing on preventing this catastrophe by leading the industry out of the present mire and onto solid financial ground? It is certainly not the Obama Administration nor the U.S. Congress as evidenced by their tactics of shutting down plants and dealerships.

The Congress and the President need to come to the realization that this is Detroit’s round 15 of the world heavyweight championship. There is no sacrifice so great that it should not be made, no stone too heavy that it should not be overturned. Neither can there be any effort so exhausting that it should not be attempted. Looking out for the future of Detroit’s corporations, its stock holders, its workers and their families must become an all consuming focus for Obama, the auto industry and the UAW.

Finally, never -- never forget that we are Americans. We shrink neither from hard work, stiff competition, nor from conflict. And when we fight – and when we compete – we win. Now is the time for Detroit to fight!