In these times of an economic recession and high unemployment in the United States, and increasing foreign trade deficits, I must commend the Richland Police Department for choosing the new Chevrolet Caprice as the new Richland police cruisers! The acquisition of these new police cars, designed and made in Australia, will certainly provide a small economic stimulus to Australia.

At the same time, this decision will further add to the overall United States trade deficit and will not contribute new jobs in the faltering U.S. auto industry. Of course, this is nothing new, since most of the Crown Victoria police cars were assembled in the St. Thomas, Ontario, plant in Canada! However, the economies of the United States and Canada are more closely interrelated than economies of the United States and Australia. (Note: Since discontinuing the Crown Victoria, Ford has closed the St. Thomas, Ontario facility and eliminated over 1,000 jobs as well as significant job losses at suppliers in the United States!)

Here is another thought on how Richland (and the Tri-Cities) could, at the expense of local jobs, help the world economy while reducing costs -- outsource the 911 call center to India!

Bill Clarkson, Richland