I have to write about cars?!

That's what went through my head when I got my assignment today- I had to write about the local repercussions of the GM bankruptcy. And it's due by deadline again TODAY!
Ugh.
I ended up being in the office until 7pm- I was the last one there! I know my supervisor probably hates me because he has to stay later because of me often. Today, he had to read it and edit from home. I'm such a pain.
It was good to write that, though, because it definitely got me out of my comfort zone. I had to do a lot of background research and it was torn apart in the editing process, and for good reason. Even after the research, I still had no idea what I was talking about!
First, I had to call a lot of car salesman, and despite the economy, apparently they're doing better than ever! Can I call bullshit?
Then, my supervisor made me go to the car dealerships and ask customers really awkward questions, like "Aren't you afraid the warranty will be void if you buy this GM product?" Uh, I'm sure the salesmen loved me after that. Despite not wanting to do it, I made myself do it and felt accomplished afterward, but I couldn't even use the quotes I got!
The people I interviewed refused to give me their last name, so we couldn't use it. Thanks a lot, Lloyd and Kay.
But mostly what I learned is that we'll learn more later. Though people know this is going to be bad, no one had yet felt how bad it will be. I talked to a representative from Roscoe Bartlett's office and she said he's protesting the government involvement in the closing of car dealerships along with the Maryland Automobile Association. Apparently, the people who are responsible for making those decisions were Obama appointed and have no automobile background, besides probably driving their porches. She said Bartlett doesn't support the government running small businesses (it's too socialist) and it's going to result in 150,000 lost jobs in the nation. PLUS, she said, it will not help GM but instead directly result in losses for them because dealerships make up 90% of GM's revenue stream so if you take away dealerships, you obviously take away profits. All of that does make sense, but what else are they supposed to do? I asked her what other solutions she had, and she went quiet. I guess we're in the age of politics where we can disagree with everyone else, but the discussion ends there. That doesn't seem very useful.
But all in all, we have to realize that in these hard economic times, things are pretty much lose lose. And, I'm afraid, it's going to get worse.

Read my story:
http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2009/06/02/12959160.txt