General Motors and the U.S. economic engine

Re “Why GM matters,” Opinion, May 26

General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner restates the case that “if you owe the bank $1,000, the bank owns you, but if you owe the bank $1 million, you own the bank.” His argument seems to be that because GM has such a big effect on the U.S. economy, its failure would be disastrous for everyone. Though this may be true, he ignores the fact that GM, along with the other U.S. automakers, squandered their former market supremacy for decades. During this same period, their foreign competitors followed a farsighted strategy of quality improvement, targeted marketing and technological superiority.

American cars will only “matter” to the consumer when they demonstrate superior value that is relevant to our needs.

DANIEL KIM

Las Cruces, N.M.

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Thank you for presenting Wagoner’s point without your usual editorial (and auto section) cynicism toward anything Detroit makes.

Perhaps someday you will realize that an era of unreciprocated giveaway of American markets to foreign producers has given the nation nothing but an enormous trade deficit. The fact that foreign producers get to take their sales profits home seems to escape the notice of those in Washington who laud one-way free trade above all other economic considerations.

DANIEL ELIASON

Santa Barbara