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Okay, here's my amendment: On bailout oped and one bailout news story per day. One down, one to go!
No way. Detroit has been the one sucking Michigan tax money by the shovel full. With their corrupt mayors wrecking everything.
The UAW killed Detroit. It was an mugging that went bad.
However, in the end they will get the bail out money and will limp along. If they succeed in getting the right to unionize without a secret ballot they will immediately try to do to the other auto makers what they've done to the detroit 3.
It’s the labor union that thinks they are high and mighty and acting on behalf of the public. When actually all they were acting on was the pocket fattening of CEO’s pockets. The union is what killed Detroit. High wage demands that were out of context for jobs that could and were being done cheaper by other countries. There is a reason Jimmy Hoffa disappeared and now it is becoming more clear with each unemployment claim.
He also still lives in the past..
That's the part that the Left always forgets or ignores. Passing laws that restrict Americans is one thing, but it hurts us in the global competition and we aren't the only show in town anymore.
While UAW slugs were getting paid NOT to work, Asian car makers like Hyundai and KIA were offering 10 year, 100,000 mile Warranties.
I agree with Patrick and with Duncan Hunter that national security demands that we have our own heavy truck/auto, heavy shipbuilding, heavy aircraft, and heavy military industries.
It’s insanity to farm those businesses out of America.
Would I give 25 billion to GM to keep it afloat given that I’ve spent 5 decades putting burdens on it that have participated in making it unproductive?
Actually, I’d do better to get rid of the unreasonable burdens and revoked any legislation that makes them uncompetitive. That’d be worth far more than 25 billion bucks.
Deadly combination killed Detroit
1.) Corporate greed
Can you think of any reason why anyone should be paid tens of millions per year in salary. In addition to the salary you have all the other perks (bonuses, private chef, private plane).
2.) UAW
Despite union members making above average pay and benefits, the union wants more. I know a GM employee who makes almost $50,000 a year for sweeping floors. In the mid-west, that’s a great income for someone who never went to college, yet alone finished high school. And the union wants more money for less work. Where are the work ethics this Country was built on?
3.) Quality
Obscene costs for management, labor and retirees, government fees and taxes etc. have driven manufacturing costs up. The auto companies can either raise the price of their product or cut corners. Guess which one they chose.
Not sure if Buchanan wants a bailout...but the reasons he outlined are why the auto industry is failing....esp the bad trade deals that do not allow US cars to compete with foreign makers.
If the government truly wants to save the American auto industry...its time to drop the liberal globalism and start slapping some tarriffs on foreign autos...until those countries open their markets to US autos.
Even in this era of liberal globalism, and basically anti-American politicians and their decisions....the world economy didnt really tank until the US economy tanked first...the US still has the most economic influence in the world...even as our politicians and other anti-Americanists try to trash this nation
We do not need bailouts...we just need to get back to old fashioned American common sense
If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
Okay, here's my amendment: On bailout oped and one bailout news story per day. One down, one to go!
BINGO. Every unionized highly regulated industry is now functioning overseas. I'm surprised the auto industry lasted as long as it did...
Maybe BMW should start producing Packards in Alabama?
The old xenophobe continues to ignore the obvious answer.What killed the big 3 was and is the UAW.
$75/hour cost to manufacture a car with the UAW.
$48/hour cost to manufacture a car anywhere else in the United States.
The UAW has been the cash cow to support the Democrat Party.
There is no question: the Democrat party will bail out the unions.
Many of the replies I'm reading are...
THE UAW KILLED DETROIT!!
THE UAW KILLED DETROIT!!
THE UAW KILLED DETROIT!!
THE UAW KILLED DETROIT!!
(keep repeating till you believe it)
Here's a little secret:
What Buchanan is saying is there are many other reasons besides that has lead to the failure of Detroit automakers.
Issues like Washington interfering with stupid CAFE standards, issues like oppressive corporate tax rates, issues like an unfair trade balance, and of course the Global economy.
To be sure, Unionists had a large part of this epic failure - but they are not the only losers who are at fault.
When can we start to blame it all on BHO?
I would like to see GM bought out by Hyundai or perhaps Toyota. It would serve them right for their mismanagement and probably result in better quality vehicles for US consumers.
The way I hear it there are more are more people working for the Government (at all levels) than their are working in the private sector to pay them.
Do you thing we have a problem here?
If you think the Federal Gov is too big now, just wait for four years.