Both my Grandfathers, my Father, (and his brother), my Mother all worked in the auto industry, like many many of us from Michigan, the auto industry is as the air and water, its so much a part of us.

I imagine its much like Steel in Pittsburgh, and Oil from Cleveland.

Someday maybe a lengthy essay on the subject. For now, the Auto Industry is ingrained in nearly every facet of life in Michigan. The advancement of State Government (in many ways we led the nation in environmental and work place safety law), to big medium and small cities growth and development, rail highway and secondary road development, Northern Michigan mining and timber development, Great Lakes region petro-chemical industry development, WWI / WWII war materials engineering manufacturing, early NASA Appollo project enginering and manufacturing, Great Lakes shipping, to the colleges and other philanthropic history, to folks earning a living. And to our current economic Depression (its a secret don't let it out), car manufacturing has always been our life blood, until the US manufacturing era ended (another secret, dont let it out).

NAFTA sucks if it isn't a two way street, same thing with trade to China (folks need to realize the growth in manufacturing in Mexico is from world wide multi-nationals setting shop).

(Thanks for help cleaning up the format)