Comments on: Why Are Autoworkers' Jobs More Important Than Others?

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:56:40 +0000

They real problem is that “Sales are down” for the Big 3. They recently admitted to manufacturing more vehicles than they can sell. If we accept that as truth, then the solution would seem be increase sales.

The question to be answered is how will 15 or 35 billion tax payer dollars being shifted to the Auto Industry motivate people in the rest of the country to rush out and purchase a new car? The answer; I’m sure it will not. The Big 3 have an image problem with the American people and giving they our tax dollars will not do much to correct the situation.

They have debt to repay and a payroll for people doing nothing. They can’t build more cars because they can’t sell what they have already produced! So what is the purpose of the bail out when Chapter 11 would work as well without tax dollars?

OR: The Government could just send out $35,000,000,000 to the general public in the form of coupons to be used for the purchase of a new car from the Big 3! PROBLEM SOLVED!

By: Leslie Opp

Leslie Opp — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:39:23 +0000

UAW jobs are no more important than any other job.

They need to just shut-up and take it like an adult.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:34:23 +0000

What I find scary is that we have a congress that somehow feels it knows what is best for the Big 3 and us. A very small percentage of those in congress have any Business experience and are trying to dictate how those companies need to change to make it in this economy. The congress runs a company ( USA ) that is basically bankrupt. They have exorbitant retirement and health packages. Speaker Pelosi fly’s around in this large government jet because the small jet just didn’t work for her. Didn’t they just criticize the Big 3 for the use of private jets. The governments Legacy fund(Social Security) is close to broke and yet they refuse to address that issue. But congress knows how to fix the Big 3’s retirement and health care issues ?
At the same time we pass out billions of dollars to financial/investment companies with very little restrictions. Now those companies are getting ready to pass out million dollar bonuses and congress is sitting there saying very little. How about we take that money back and try buying up the bad subprime loans and work from the bottom up this time. Banks call in loans all the time when companies to not meet the terms of the loan agreement. Why shouldn’t they be held accountable.

By: Fred

Fred — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:33:42 +0000

I will agree to a “Bail Out” when these three companies agree to bring back all the jobs they have sent out of the Country back,after all are they not worried about jobs ?
Than maybe i could buy a vechile that was truly made in America.I went to a web site this morning to try and find American made furniture,”Good Luck”.But there has been a site put up to “BOYCOTT” Alabama because of Sen. Shelby’s no vote to the Bail Out as it stands,and i agree with his vote,if Alabama is boycotted,I will have to Boycott the Auto. bailout.

By: Gale

Gale — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:03:11 +0000

I fail to see any redemptive value in “bailing out” the “giants” when the
arrogance and Union Power obviously has the polititians by the “private parts”(Said in a manner to also include Pelosi) I also fail to understand that with multiple surveys in the past two-three weeks that indicate 70-75%
of all of us in the USA DO NOT want to “bail out” the automobile industry,
that our “corrupt” polititians will not follow the voters wishes and not
do this ridiculous thing. Who or Whom are THEY working for. I always was under the impression that they were there to represent us…….Oh I forgot
its who or whom “paid” the most or giving the “promise to pay” is who or whom their represented. Bull Hocky! Let them change their cash flow, honor their obligations, and break the strangle hold that the UAW has on them, just like I and my family has had to do for many months now.

By: john shaw

john shaw — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:51:24 +0000

the democrats want to save the grossly overpaid union workers with a bailout. this will turn the auto workers into government employees union workers which is what most union worker are now anyway!

By: Don Jr

Don Jr — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:42:08 +0000

Ever been screwed by a Dealer/Salesman. I have every time I buy a car…. Karma’s a biatch

By: Darren

Darren — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:37:57 +0000

UNIONS-UAW…… They have their hands out for a large majority of our Dem-Dummies in our Legislative Branch. Think about it, when the textile industry was failing in the south, did any Dems jump on board and try to stop the rush to leave the country or bail out the industry. No — they followed Mr. Bill right down the road to the so called Free Trade. Why? Not enough union hand outs for our congressman to support the failing industry.
So while the local textile worker earned one third of what the UAW employee does, Congress turned a blind eye since the poor textile worker could not line the Legislative pockets. So Detroit,, sink or smiw — get yourself out of your own self created mess…….

By: Larry

Larry — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:24:54 +0000

The United Auto Workers should buy Chrysler and prove they can manufacture cars with the best of them and keep their jobs. The employees would own the company and have a vested interest in its success or failure.

By: Angry_Taxpayer

Angry_Taxpayer — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:24:00 +0000

This is what results from the short term thinking of all involved:

In the Detroit 3’s case, both management and the shareholders were happy to take the profits from selling trucks and SUV’s, and ignore all indications of rising future energy costs, as well as the fact that Toyota has been successfully selling the Prius since what, 2001 ? I believe they could see this coming, and have simply ignored the long term results of their actions, choosing instead to take the profits which resulted from their actions.

Same problem with the UAW: they were happy to take home the large paychecks and benefit packages which they and UAW leaders negotiated, while ignoring the fact that other auto manufacturers in the US paid a significantly lower (yet still very attractive, IMO) wages & benefits. If the UAW leaders and members had taken a longer view, they would have seen this disaster coming. Does any UAW member truly believe that the company they work for could survive in the long term when people are paid for sitting around and doing NOTHING ? Again, I believe they could see this coming, and have simply ignored the long term results of their actions.

Certainly these are not the only factors in causing this. Government interference at both the state and federal levels have a proven record of failure, and politicians seem unable to take a view that is any longer than their next re-election. Yet, corporations and the UAW contributed large sums to those politicians re-election!

As a Michigan resident, I am absolutely terrified to think of what the results of failure of the auto companies will be. But it is well past the time for those involved to accept responsibility for their actions. It is absolutely wrong for those who have taken the profits from their actions to now come to those of us who have not participated in, or profited from, those actions.