It amazes me that we can be sitting here having a discussion on whether or not to bail out the U.S. auto industry. There are actually people in this country who are prepared to see them fail, and some who say it may even be good for our country. Is there no pride left in "American Made"?

Oh, forgive me. Those same experts who say that we should let these companies fail also point out that Japanese and German, and soon South Korean cars are made in America. So what? The profits from these companies head outside this country!

Over 200 years of American innovations that have transformed the entire world. Our industry did that! The wars of the 20th century; World War I, World War II, and the Cold War? It was Our industry that won them! And the auto industry had a key part in all of this.

When World War II broke out, our nation didn't have to build factories to produce the planes and tanks we needed to win the war; our auto industry was transformed almost overnight to this capacity.

When the next war comes, and if our industry is defunct, do you think the Germans and Japanese will just let us use their factories for our national emergencies? I doubt it, especially should they once again become our enemies.

We need our auto industry. It is a symbol of our pride. We have lost everything from Budweiser to Church's Chicken to other nations Let's not add Ford and GM to that list.

Bill Mauldin

Jackson