Posted on 03/29/2009 3:00:21 PM PDT by DrGop0821
Look, I've been against the auto industry bailout since the beginning.
These companies DO NOT deserve tax payer money. These bailouts are nothing but attempts at nationalization which ooze socialism.
Politicians have benefited from Unions for decades. Placating union bosses has been a windfall campaign finance tactic for a number of members of Capitol Hill. And that is the real motivation behind trying to "save" Detroit.
Indeed, the economy has seen better times but Honda, Nissan and Toyota are not panhandling on the steps of the Capitol. Somehow, they are managing to build, sell and profit from selling cars in America.
The biggest reason these automakers are in trouble is simple: It costs the Big 3 an average of $30/Labor Hour (or 60%) MORE to produce a car than competitors like Nissan, Honda and Toyota who build cars in United States plants as well. At 40 hours per week, the average UAW member makes over $150,000 annually in benefits and compensation. Does anyone else think that's a bit much to screw some tires on a car?
What about the so-called "job banks" where laid-off UAW members can collect 95% of their income by doing nothing more than watch TV and drink coffee. The Big 3 will not discuss the exact details of these job banks, citing they are not public information.
How many businesses in this country would succeed by paying 60% more than a competitor to produce a product? How many would succeed by paying people who don't produce a single asset?
Certainly, Rick Wagoner has not performed well as the head of GM, but what gives the President the right to ask a private company executive to step down?
If GM's board of directors made this decision, I would have no problem with it. The Obama Administration is yet again over-flexing its political muscle with respect to private industry.
If Congress and The White House want to put stipulations and regulations on companies receiving Federal aid, fine. But no where in the Constitution does it grant the Executive Branch this kind of control and coercion over private industry.
Tim Geithner unveiled a plan last week, designed to give Treasury Department the ability to take over financial institutions at the Secretary's choosing.
All of this continues the Obama Administration's war on Wall Street. It's a power grab to redistribute wealth, penalize the successful and establish a communistic "equality" among Americans.
Regulation = control and power.
Team "O" wants to destroy free market capitalism. There is ample proof of Obama's war on investors. Welcome to The United Socialist States of America (USSA).
POLITICO reports:
The Obama administration asked Rick Wagoner, the chairman and CEO of General Motors, to step down and he agreed, a White House official said.
The White House confirmed Wagoner was leaving at the government's behest after The Associated Press reported his immediate departure, without giving a reason.
On Monday, President Obama is to unveil his plans for the auto industry, including a response to a request for additional funds by GM and Chrysler.
That’s not what I meant, but u take it any way u like.
They don’t agree with the bailout, but Obama doesn’t want GM advertising on talk radio. This was Wagoner’s cardinal sin in Obama’s view.
What's that? Some form of Spam? LOL
Obama’s Gramp’s middle name was ARMOUR:)
I'll bet it is now that your tax money is paying the thieving parasites.
Lawyers?
I've heard that wild wymyn don't get the blues.
;-)
What can we do? Our congresscritters don’t listen to us and neither will Zero.
It started with FDR, if I recall correctly.
Should be titled, “Barack I-am-not-a-socialist Obama takes control of GM.”
Strangest thing. You appear to be correct. Coincidence?
American Leyland
the results will be similar to British Leyland
although when Baraq uses card check to unionize all the non US brand plants, their productivity will plunge also
And their family’s been spamming us ever since.
Can’t speak for Hannity, but I heard Rush on more than one occasion directly trash the bailout while addressing GM’s sponsorship. I’m sure someone with 24/7 could reference it for you.
He specifically stated that sponsors do not dictate his programming or what he says. Thank God, because we need more like him with ba -double hockey stick-s on our side!
I had an idea that's not what you meant. But, I decided to run with it anyway.
I do think you're right with respect to GM advertising with Limbaugh and Hannity. That can't please Barry (Wagoner's personal financial support of the GOP and it's candidates probably didn't help either). But, I still contend that GM bought the silence, or at least quieted the discontent of Limbaugh and Hannity, but especially Hannity.
For several days surrounding the first "bailout", Limbaugh was strangely silent. And, when he did finally speak directly about the GM bailout, he said (loosely quoted) "Folks, it's going to happen no matter what I say. Either Bush does it, or Obama will do it on Jan. 20th."
Hannity DID support the auto bailout and used some lame excuse about GM being in the position because of the "CAFE Standards". Hardly. I'm not a fan of the CAFE standards, but they have virtually nothing to do with why GM, Ford and Chrysler are in the position they're in.
Anyways, JMHO.
is that david axelrod?
See my above response.
You're right to some extent, Limbaugh eventually did come out more forcefully against the bailout and he did address his sponsorship. But, he was a day late and little more than a dollar short.
Hannity, on the other hand, supported the bailout of GM and was painful, contorted and discomforting in excuse why.
Lightning bolts and thunder from on high and GMC kneels!
As soon as GM accepted the first welfare payment, it became the government's female dog. I would be protesting up and down if the government interfered in a real private business in such a manner, but GM is not a private company anymore.
To quote Barry the Baptist in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels "When you dance with the devil, you wait for the song to stop." GM, and every other company that took welfare, knew exactly what it was getting into when it got into bed with the government.
Not any more.
I’m not putting talk radio under the same microscope as D.C. Whether or not talk radio was asked to stay quiet is another matter entirely.
Personally, I’m a capitalist through and through. I thought it was a wise idea, considering talk radio’s audience is where the last patriots in America reside. I’m critical of Chrysler for not doing the same thing.
I’m torn on this. I’m a Dodge man, you see, and while I still think the ‘Cuda, Charger, Challenger, and Ram are the greatest, classiest vehicles ever made, I also realize the unions have destroyed America. It is a bittersweet topic for me.
I won’t buy another American vehicle ever again, because I want the unions to fail. Unfortunately, I have give up on a brand new ‘10 Challenger.
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