Buying Big Three vehicles helps drive the economy

Joe Caracci has spent 34 years working for Ford Motor Co. at its Brook Park engine complex. He runs Ford's training program at the Cleveland Casting Plant, and he believes Americans should buy domestic vehicles. His plant is set to close in 2010 as Ford plans to start importing cast engine blocks from Brazil.

At one point, Ford, [General Motors] and Chrysler were all considered domestic, and Honda and Toyota and Hyundai and all of the rest of the car companies were considered foreign. I still believe they are foreign companies because their headquarters aren't here in the United States.

Even if you buy a Ford built in Mexico or a Chevrolet built in South Korea, the money goes back to the corporation and helps support the company here.

Quality suffers when you don't have direct control [over key parts]. . . . If you outsource the key, critical parts, you're putting yourself in a real position of weakness.

The Big Three still employ more people and support more suppliers than Asian and European brands, especially in Northeast Ohio.

You buy cars from a dealership in your community, you go to restaurants there, you go to the movies, you go to the grocery store, you help support functions at the local schools.

Ford, GM and Chrysler are better than people think. Every day, we're making improvements. We're striving. We're making a far better product. We're getting back to where people believe in Ford Motor Co. again.