Posted: May-21-2009 at 9:43pm | IP Logged	Tweet

My name is George C. Joseph. I am the sole owner of Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu, a family owned and operated business in Melbourne, Florida. My family bought and paid for this automobile franchise 35 years ago in 1974. I am the second generation to manage this business.

     We currently employ 50+ people and before the economic slowdown we employed over 70 local people. We are active in the community and the local chamber of commerce. We deal with several dozen local vendors on a day to day basis and many more during a month. All depend on our business for part of their livelihood. We are financially strong with great respect in the market place and community. We have strong local presence and stability.

     I work every day the store is open, nine to ten hours a day. I know most of our customers and all our employees. Sunshine Dodge is my life.

     On Thursday, May 14, 2009 I was notified that my Dodge franchise, that we purchased, will be taken away from my family on June 9, 2009 without compensation and given to another dealer at no cost to them. My new vehicle inventory consists of 125 vehicles with a financed balance of 3 million dollars. This inventory becomes impossible to sell with no factory incentives beyond June 9, 2009. Without the Dodge franchise we can no longer sell a new Dodge as "new," nor will we be able to do any warranty service work. Additionally, my Dodge parts inventory, (approximately $300,000.) is virtually worthless without the ability to perform warranty service. There is no offer from Chrysler to buy back the vehicles or parts inventory.

     Our facility was recently totally renovated at Chrysler's insistence, incurring a multi-million dollar debt in the form of a mortgage at Sun Trust Bank.

     HOW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN THIS HAPPEN?

     THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY

     This is beyond imagination! My business is being stolen from me through NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. We did NOTHING wrong.

     This atrocity will most likely force my family into bankruptcy. This will also cause our 50+ employees to be unemployed. How will they provide for their families? This is a total economic disaster.

     HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

     I beseech your help, and look forward to your reply. Thank you.

     Sincerely,

     George C. Joseph
     President & Owner
     Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu

Posted: May-22-2009 at 8:04am | IP Logged	Tweet

People just don't realize how big of a deal this actually is.  I never thought I'd see the day where any business in the US was nationalized, which is what is exactly getting ready to happen to General Motors.

I actually can't believe that there are supporters/voters in this country that support this much government involvement in all aspects of our lives.  I mean, the government intends, within the next 4 years, to control the domestic auto industry, the domestic healthcare industry, the domestic energy industry, and the list goes on and on.

No wonder Obama got along with Hugo Chavez so well on his recent visit.  They are one in the same, just going about their processes in a different manner.  And all we do is carry on with our day-to-day life oblivious to what is going on in our country, some even "wanting" the changes.

I don't speak lightly when I say that I am seriously considering a new country for my home if a great leader doesn't rise up and put an end to this insanity in this country.

Posted: May-22-2009 at 8:15pm | IP Logged	Tweet

C3Motorsports wrote: Welcome to socialism folks!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU KELLY..... I started saying this before the elections and eveybody acts like it's not socialism, well folks, it is, and buckle up it's gonna be a rough ride, and you can keep the change I just want my freedom, there I said it

Posted: May-23-2009 at 12:46pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Unfortunately, it's more than just a trend...it's happening before our very eyes and America had better wake up fast.

"There's no such thing as a free lunch", is a saying that has been around for years and uttered by nearly all of us at some point. It is now possible that in the years to come, this popular saying could be replaced by "There's no such thing as a free America".

You can't tell me that this is what people wanted when they voted. The really scary thing is that by 2012, this nation may be so out of kilter that I don't believe I'll see it recover before my death if the Lord lets me live that long.

This is madness. Tell me, what do you all think is going to happen with this Mopar deal? I'll tell you what's going to happen...the Sunshine Dodge/Isuzus' of the world are going to put something on their lots if they can. The Toyotas, Nissans, and Saabs of the world have been knocking down the doors of these dealers for years trying to get their business. I think they'll get it, and 80% of all Americans will be driving a foreign car before it's over, particularly if you have to drive 100 plus miles to buy a Dodge and get service. It's that simple.

Posted: May-23-2009 at 1:18pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Hey bugman

Have you ever read Atlas Srugged, pretty crazy for a book that was written in late 50's to be so appropiate for today, scary really. This stuff is really starting to worry me and there is no end in site but I suppose we collectively ask for it huh???????? We as a people, have became so government dependant, this is just the next logical step.

seriously, check out the book if you have a chance great little read and scary as h***

Posted: May-23-2009 at 2:06pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Excellent comparison!

That book was written by Ayn Rand, who came to this country from Soviet Russia. She knew first hand about the destructiveness of a Socialist agenda. The book was published in 1957.

The moral of "Atlas Shrugged" is simply that politicians invariably respond to crisis sitiuations, (which in most cases they themselves created), by creating new government programs, laws and regulations. These, in turn, generate more havoc and poverty, which inspires the politicians to create more programs... and the downward spiral repeats itself until the productive sectors of the economy collapse under the collective weight of taxes and other burdens imposed in the name of supposed fairness, equality and "do-goodism". Another way of saying "share the wealth". 

Rand's work of fiction has gone from fiction to fact in 52 years.

You are right also about the government dependency.... and our nation is being mesmerized into greater and greater dependency every day. Our government is using scare tactics to make the general populace believe that our only saving grace from all the supposed "mess" is for the government to step and and take control of every facet of our lives. It is happening and it is happening alarmingly FAST.

Posted: May-23-2009 at 9:27pm | IP Logged	Tweet

thanks lynn I thought the forum would be amused at the very least by the book good to hear from you by the way you need to get up here to ona some weekend the graphics lack a little

Posted: May-23-2009 at 9:50pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Hey Jimmy.... Shawn (84expo) and I may just make the trip up there before long.  We are planning to make it to more tracks now, like we did before last season, since we aren't "tied" to one particular track now.

Posted: May-24-2009 at 7:17am | IP Logged	Tweet

Old Ford?

Are you from WVa? I read the post about Ona. I'm from Huntington and used to attend the races there when I was knee-high to a grass-hopper. Back then as you may know it was IRP (International Raceway Park). My Dad used to drag race at the old Riverside Speedway/Dragway between Chesapeake and Proctorville, Oh.

Posted: May-24-2009 at 12:30pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Yea Im in the charleston area now.Spend several years in the norton/wise and got to know alot of these guys from lpr by making a futile attempt to race with em.Ive been up here for about 2 years but i still make the pilgrimage to lpr every chance i get.

Shawn any time you and Lynn get up this way be sure and let me know I'd be honored to buy Lynn and yourself a hotdog anytime lol