Who was it who decided to keep making gas guzzling cars and trucks that are clunky and ugly? The United Auto Workers union?
Who was it that decided that they should not listen to their customers who kept asking that they build electric and hybrid cars? Was it the union?
Who was it that decided to not keep pace with the forward thinking Japanese and European automakers? Was it the union?
The answer to all three questions is no. The people who bet their companies fortune on big gas guzzling SUV's was the management at the big three American automakers. They were also the people who spent billions on getting their names on sports stadiums instead of investing in their employees. They were the dunderheads who said 'No!' to making and selling electric cars.
The UAW didn't make Ford, GM, and Chrysler make bad decision after bad decision. Instead the union helped keep the car companies afloat these past few years by giving back wages and benefits so the idiots who kept making bad decisions could keep on stepping on their dicks time and time again. Any bailout for the automakers needs to include job guarantees for union workers, an end to outrageous marketing (i.e. spending millions on sporting and entertainment events), and a provision that the big three produce a couple hundred thousand plug in hybrids right off the bat. They need to stop making Hummers and SUV's and start making cars and trucks that are economically and environmentally sustainable.
If we've learned anything from the bail out of the Wall Street banks it's that none of these companies can be trusted to do the right thing for the country, their workers, and for the planet in general. If we the people are going to be the salvation of these idiots in big business and finance then it's time we fucking called the tune that they must dance to. It's unconscionable that Bush and Paulson are bailing out Citi Corp when Citi Corp won't work with people they are screwing with high mortgages and high credit card interest rates. We can't let the auto makers do the same shit, it's time they all towed the line and started doing their business in the national interest in mind instead of in the blind pursuit of short term profits.
8 comments:
The right smells blood in the water. Killing the unions has been a goal of theirs for as long as unions have existed.
I couldn't believe when I heard that they're bailing out those bastards at Citi. Fucking ridiculous. If we had national healthcare, these companies could save money on healthcare and keep their plants open and running. Of course, IF is the big word there.
And there I go again, talking like a commie.
D Cup is right.
The lack of logic on this is so staggering that it makes my brain hurt, and the media spin on this is so insane...
I think I may watch some Naomi Klein to make my tummy feel better.
I also agree with DCup - they've been waiting for this chance since forever.
I want to see the top management LOSE THEIR FUCKING JOBS!!! WITH NO BONUS AND NO SEVERANCE!!!! That's how the rest of us live, and the govt wants to reward them with MY DIME?!?
I'm not hearing one freaking word about cutting CEO pkgs and perks.
I'm really torn about the auto industry. My father worked for GM for 40 years, so I'm biased. He retired because of illness in the late 80's, and died in Feb. 01.
I have always been disgusted and frustrated by GM's lack of vision, pushing out SUVs and Hummers, which I loathe. But I'm terrified at what will happen if the big 3 fail. GM just canceled my mom's insurance, and she had a stroke a few months ago. While my sisters and I can take care of her (sort of), I am so worried about the other people to which this is happening. It's easy to say let GM et al fail because they have indeed made grievous mistakes, but the amount of people involved that will be negatively affected is staggering.
Then again, the knuckleheads went to DC in their private planes. Nice going, idiots. My father is rolling in his grave.
Well said, Dr. I fully expect they will jump on this crisis and use it to try to break the union.
The US auto makers claim SUVs and monster trucks were what American consumers wanted. Meanwhile, foreign auto makers were laughing all the way to the bank because they were making what consumers wanted and, often, people had to get on a waiting list in order to buy them. And, like Mnmom said, I want to see all those CEOs fired, no severance, no bonuses. A little jail time wouldn't hurt, either.
this post tells it like it is. it isn't the unions fault that the CEOs of these companies are doing everything in their power to go out of business with their golden parachute intact. and yeah, fuck that Citigroup-bailout-but-let-the-middle-class-keep-twisting-in-the-wind shit!!!
And does this mean that they will change the name of the former "Citi Field" to "Taxpayer Field"?
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