Auto-Bailout Redux

As I listen to the chatter on both sides of this argument, the UAW vs the Management Teams, I find it increasingly difficult to believe ANY of them.

As I listen to each pundit or even serious news-person state the so-called "facts," I am finding it hard to believe ANY of them.

One group says the Union wage is $28 per hour, some say mid-teens. Does this factor in health care? Some say the Union has made concession after concession, including agreeing to wage freezes (no standard 3% pay-raise yearly). Some call the union greedy for not willing to give up their big fat wages and retirement packages.

Some say the foreign automakers actually make more money per hour than Union earners. Some say the earn far less and are doing just fine.

Some say the foreign automakers are getting help from their home countries during this tough time (apparently Volkswagen is getting financial help from Germany), AND they were given large incentives to bring their plants to the state they chose ($500 million payments) without ever needing to pay those back or even pay taxes on them.

There are so many number, so many people trying to spin this thing, it's difficult to believe who is really telling any truth here. However, it does seem clear that the Union management fucked the automakers, but the CEOs and Management of the big 3, REALLY fucked themselves.

Not just by letting the Union get over on them, but by purposefully lobbying Congress and stalling, fighting ANY attempt to improve cars fuel-efficiency and also by building shitty cars.

And even NOW they're doing it. GM has just announced they are delaying their Volt engine factory building project which would build engines for an electric car. HOW DOES THIS HELP?!?!?!

Again, the Management showing that THEY JUST DON'T GET IT!

While I don't think an electric car is a feasible alternative in the long run (how many rolling blackouts are there every summer in LA and then there was that big shut down in NYC during one summer because people use A/C too much???)...this just sends the wrong message.

This shows that the government should take over the Big 3 and literally force the CEOs to stay on for 10 years at the rate of $100,000.00 per year.