(MI) GM Retiree Wants Alabama Boycott

WXYZ Detroit/Channel 7 ^ | 12/10/08 | WXYZ

[Kieri]

HUNTINGTON WOODS, Mich. (WXYZ) - A retired General Motors engineer is taking aim at one of the auto aid package's biggest critics with his new website.

SEE THE ACTION NEWS REPORT IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ON THE RIGHT

Joe Babiasz says he's launched BoycottAlabamaNow.com to show Republican Senator Richard Shelby what's it's like "to turn your back on hardworking Americans." Shelby has been one of the biggest critics of both the aid package and Detroit's automakers.

The website includes contact information for Shelby, and a page that takes on some of the things Shelby has said about the Big 3.

Babiasz says his message to Shelby is "if you're not going to support America, we're not going to support Alabama."

[Kieri]

NOW things are getting interesting!

Good thing it's not Florida. The Sunshine State relies on the snowbirds. ;-)

[VRWCmember]

Like that clown was going to visit or buy anything in Alabama to begin with.

[Frantzie]

GM union retirees have retirement and healthcare plans on par with Congressmen and illegal aliens. Evenrything is free and paid for. Why should taxpayers subsidize their golden parachutes?

[Joe Boucher]

Let’s see, Alabama or Michigan?
Lots of mooselimbs in Michigan. Lots of rust belt empty businesses in Michigan. Lots of welfare b.s. in Michigan.
Lots of rural beauty in both. Little union activity in Alabama. And the winner is Alabama.

[PGR88]

Joe Babi-ass:

I live near Detroit - and I’m considering packing up and moving to Alabama! Anyplace but MI or NY!

[Arguendo]

LOL, maybe we should boycott Michigan since they want all our taxpayer money.

Oh wait, it looks like no one's buying their stuff anyway.

[Free_in_Alabama]

The last thing we needed were a bunch of union elitist down here anyway. Lets face it, if a UAW boycott impacts the business model of any company down here to the point of making it look like Michigan, that company deserves to fail.

Does that mean the Alabama UAW workers cant go to work or buy cars that have products made from UAW infested suppliers that reside in Alabama. FYI - I worked at several UAW plants, the facts are many (NOT ALL) union employees were being way overpaid for what they did.

[davetex]

A southern man don’t need him around anyhow.

[Deepest South]

if you're not going to support America, we're not going to support Alabama

I don't think that Shelby or people in Alabama can be said to not “support America”

Since when is the freaking Detroit auto industry some sort of flag we should all salute. Are Ford, General Motors or Chrysler somewhere in the Declaration of Independence or Constititution?

Does working in a car plant somehow rise to compare with men and women in the military.

If this is the attitude of autoworkers they have even a higher opinion of themselves than any of us imagined

I think Shelby is saying Americans should not be expected to support industry and unions that are not able to support themselves.

[FrankR]

"GM Retiree Wants Alabama Boycott "

I check the stats on Alabama, and I didn't see any real influx of goods and services purchased by Michigan. I guess the boycott has already begun.

Maybe Alabama should put a ban on hiring any ex-UAW workers when they move down to Alabama in search of jobs. You move there, you'll have double-wide payments to keep up, hard to do without a job. And those air conditioning bills...wheewwwwwww...they're a bitch.

Insofar as boycotting Alabama...they won't be getting anymore Chittlins, Rebel Flags, or doublewides shipped up to Michigan. It's hell to be them.

Hell, I wish they would boycott Georgia and stop moving down here in droves.

[TYVets]

I hope he stays up north so he doesnt pollute the white sands of the Alabama beaches.

[RobertoinAL]

Now that’s rich. So, we don’t pay our auto workers $75.00 per hour? Hey you yankee jerk, we are trying to make good cars down here (Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai). Our cars do last over 75,000 miles before falling apart like yours. And yes, we are a right to work state, no unions. So don’t send your $hit down here, and keep your yankee a$$ up there. We don’t need anything from Michigan. Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.

[70th Division]

OH ya all good American cars i see. And where do the profits go? ets see Germany, and Japan. Yankees? Still fighting the war we see. Gee I got 177K on my Chevy and except for plugs and wires no problem here. it would be nice if you could discuss and issue with out taking it so personal. You do realize that your state gave Hundereds of millions of dollars in tax breaks to get those companies to move to your state.

[WVNan]

As a former citizen of Ala. I say DITTOS.

[RobertoinAL]

Well, at least our companies MAKE profit and don’t have to beg for a bailout. And yes, we’re still fighting the war. The cars we make are made BY Americans, without the union interfering. I doubt that most of the Big 3 cars go much past 100K without major parts replacement. This is verified by the fact that the American consumer buys non-Big 3 cars mainly because of reliability issues. Yeah we gave tax breaks, but the companies provide jobs. Jobs are what most Americans need.

[pappyone]

“if you’re not going to support America, we’re not going to support Alabama.”

Shouldn’t that be “if you are not going to support Michigan, we’re not going to support Alabama”. The only thing Michigan has is bad weather and overpaid workers.

[basil]

As a never been citizen of Alabama, I send a big thank you for cars made there. Five years and many miles later, I still love my Lexus—made in Alabama. Hands down, it’s the best car I’ve ever owned, and I plan to keep it many more years.

[70th Division]

I have had 5 Cavaliers and this one has 177k on it with only plugs and wires. GM makes good cars. You do not have the legacy costs that we do. The pyramid affect of the big 3 going under will cause a depression in the U.S plain and simple.

[MrB]

Rush had a quote from some congressman today.

GM and Toyota sold the same number of cars worldwide,

but GM showed billions in losses and Toyota billions in profit.

Hmmmm... wonder what the difference is?
Unsustainable business model of paying people who aren’t producing, maybe?

[HighlyOpinionated]

If you’re interested in a great area of Alabama . . . they’re still building houses and jobs are available . . . try for Baldwin County (on the east side of Mobile Bay). The towns of Spanish Fort, Fairhope, Daphne, Malbis, Montrose, etc. with Spanish Fort having the better schools.

Well, my son in law teaches there, so I have to say that. LOL