It's a shame if the retired auto workers don't get all of their pensions, but it simply is not our problem. If GM and the others can't pay, then they can't pay. Most of us don't get pensions and never will, and it isn't right that we be asked to pay for theirs.
Well...speak for yourself. I think the UAW workers are overpaid and the fact that Ford lost $9 billion while Toyota made $4 billion suggests the same conclusion. You guys made your bed, you go right ahead and sleep in it. Just don't ask me for a financial blanket to cover up both yours and managements' excesses.
I wonder if the UAW will reply.
Speak for yourself. I wholeheartedly consider these union members to be both overpaid and in many cases lazy. I will not voluntarily subsidize said pay, benefits and retirement when 98% of us taxpayers have nothing resembling it.
bump
The steel industry went through this.
...and President Bush is determined to make that "probably wind up bailing you out" a definite...
It is not my problem as the taxpayer. I never was part of the contract. Bankruptcy is the best solution. A taxpayer bailout without fixing their costs structure is a band aid on a terminal cancer patient.
the cold hard fact is there are too many cars built globally and too few customers. The situation is worse due to a global economic slowdown. Cars from China and India will only make it worse. Argentina got automakers to sell cars there at cost. Argentina is a socialist/kleptocracy along the lines of Chicago and the new Obama admin.
Just about any postal employee (former or present) can tell you all about the problem, but they'll also tell you that all you need to do is make sure you don't have any "uniform" parts on you or in your car, and just keep your mouth shut.
Alas, I worked mostly in organizational elements over the years where it was necessary to deal WITH the public on this very issue
Not revealing any secrets here, but guarantee UAW members and other Big Three employees are heading into a time of their lives where they will grow to despise all the busy bodies who want to tell them how to run THEIR business with THEIR money, and why YOU should fix their car for free, and, BTW, give 'em a big refund!
Put 50 billion into unemployment benefits for everyone getting laid off and let the auto industry figure out how to get back in the game on their own.
FTA “we do not consider you overpaid...”.
Oh yes I do. The unions killed their own golden goose through decades of greedy union contracts, getting unreasonable benefits and pay.
We have(now HAD) a GM plant in Janesville,WI. Any friends I had in school who had parents with a job at GM (1970s +1980’s) had it made.
Of course they worked hard, but they were well compensated. They made more per hour than most could dream of making.
The unions broke the US Auto Industry making greedy pay and benefits demands. Also add in blame with the gov’t, for demanding they make cars to the gov’t whims and enviro-wacko ideas that made producing the cars at a good price impossible.
***It’s a shame if the retired auto workers don’t get all of their pensions, but it simply is not our problem.**
They should do like I did when I retired. Take the cash payout and invest it in Bernard Madoff’s hedge fund! I’ll make zillions!
Oh, wait...;-)
This essay expresses my thoughts exactly. I do want to emphasis one point.
The UAW along with the bailout proponents say "IT MUST BE DONE TO AVOID DAMAGE TO THE COUNTRY"
OK, then I say "IF THE UAW REFUSES CONCESSIONS, THEN I SAY YOU ARE TRAITORS TO THE USA"
I own 3 gm cars and I bought a new gm car in August during the employee discount promotion. I now consider the UAW traitiors and AS GOD AS MY WITNESS, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER UAW CAR OR ANYTHING ELSE AS LONG AS I LIVE.
I WILL NOT SUPPORT TRAITORS.
You should send that to every state and federal senator, representative, mid-level government cronie, and any other
relevant party with an e-mail address you can find.
Twice.
Today’s talking points on MSNBC was that southern republicans refuse to save American jobs to promote foreign businesses in south. Also that the Southern States are offering incentives to foreign companies to set up shop, but deny American companies up North federal money to stay alive. This is ‘unamerican’ and union busting. Also republicans are for financial bailouts but not for ‘working’ men and women. As usual it was only one side presented , Scarbourgh Morning Joe
Here’s a quiz to help clarify things for the union brothers:
1. Are you overweight?
2. Do you own an automobile?
3. Do you own a home?
4. Do you hold any degrees or have you graduated from specialized traing in preparation for the job you perform?
In nine out of ten responses, the answers would be Yes, Yes, Yes and No. Meaning that the unionist is unqualified in anyway for any other kind of job and yet has all the benefits and advantages in abundance that 90% or the world only dreams about.
That is excellent!
...and, BTW, if we bail your a$$ out, and you continue happily building shiXXy cars, who the hell is going to buy them? Get it?
AGAIN; everything’s changed ! DUH !
A Memo from the UAW to the Taxpayer: Who cares, as long as we get ours?