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

Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu 

Oprah loves the earth and wants us all to start making changes to save her (guess that was before she bought the jet)

Working for Uncle Sam has never been better.  While most companies are cutting back, laying off or reducing salaries, Uncle Sam is on a hiring spree.  Average pay for a federal position now exceeds $75,000.

Yet at the same time,Obama slashes Chryslers advertising by half.  Some of those poor, overpaid advertising people are going to have to find something else to do.  Hey, I hear Uncle Sam is hiring.

Can you guess how much of the $7 billion Chrysler received in bailout money they plan on paying back…zero, zilch, nada.

Do they actually know what they’re talking about.  On Monday, President Obama singled out Rep. Charles Rangel for praise as he announced legislation to close tax loopholes for corporations tha have operations outside of the United States.  The problem is Rep. Rangel has been operating offshore tax shelters for years.  This must be one of those do as I say, not as I do moments.

How is the government planning on tracking all the stimulus money?  Create a Stimulus Czar….nope, your going to do it.

I’m guessing these teachers aren’t complaining about the pay and benefits they receive.

Oklahoma has passed a resolution trying to send a message to congress to “get back to their proper constitutional role”.

So, the governor wants his citizens to scale back consumerism…so I would assume that if less people were consuming items, Oregon will need less people to sell those items.  Since Oregon’s unemployment rate is second only to Michigan, this must be a plan to make them #1.