print“We’re lectured that the automobile industry is a ‘uniquely American’ industry; its workers more American—and, hence, more deserving—than the rest of us. Since equality before the law is no longer apple-pie, I’d like to know what’s so quintessentially American about a failing industry. If anything, failure is un-American.”
“How uniquely American is a $75.86 hourly compensation package? How many un-uniquely American workers are rewarded to the tune of $133,000 a year? The truly American (because productive), local workers of Toyota and Honda cost their employers, all told, $44 an hour. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average hourly remuneration for regular Americans, benefits and all, at around $28.50.”
“The workers of The Big Fat Three are unique alright; they’re freaks of industry, as they receive 150 percent more in compensation than the average, American working stiff.”
The excerpt is from my new WND column, “The Big Three Uniquely American? My Eye!”
Besides being unconstitutional: (1) Saving Ed’s job making Buicks in Detroit will cost Sam’s job making Toyotas in Kentucky (Bastiat); (2) Auto “dealers” preserve an undeserved monopoly through corrupt legislation – or else why wouldn’t most people purchase a car “on line” and save $ 2000? So they SHOULD go bankrupt; (3) While we are bailing out – how about the horseshoe makers that the automobile displaced?; (4) Why shouldn’t the Big 3 reorganize the old fashioned way by working with creditors in the capital markets? – But Congress prefers to spend non-existent money to increase its power.
Impeccably argued, as usual.
Incidentally, does anyone have a link that breaks down and “itemizes” the $75.86 hourly figure cited in this column? The UAW disputes it, of course, but much of the confusion results from the fact that most people are not aware that this is the total average costs of employing a unionized auto employee for one of the big three. I have looked at the web site for the Bureau of Labor Statistics but I don’t see where it is broken down. A link would be appreciated if anyone has one.
This from the article: “Detroit is circling the drain because its uniquely American workers and their union bosses have extorted from the car companies pay that exceeds their productivity. The Big Three sell cars, perhaps as many as their Japanese competitors; they just lose money on each sale due to the cost of their uniquely American workers and their syndicate, the United Auto Workers.”
Isn’t it interesting that this is the very thing you never hear from congress on either side, NOR from the beggar ceo’s who want the money. No one will say this out loud in Washington. This is about bailing out the UAW. It seems to me that the companies need a bailout FROM the UAW. And that’s called bankruptcy.
Isn’t it interesting that this is the very thing you never hear from congress on either side, NOR from the beggar ceo’s who want the money. No one will say this out loud in Washington. This is about bailing out the UAW. It seems to me that the companies need a bailout FROM the UAW. And that’s called bankruptcy.
“The workers of The Big Fat Three are unique alright; they’re freaks of industry,”
as I pointed out in Vox Day’s blog
we have also been called “punkass spoiled brats” and we “ride around in
shelbys holding out tin cups”
If as a UAW worker making as much as these analyst say we do, funny that I ain’t rich! and also we here at my union local
have voted for every proposal the company put before us to save money and build a better product and it was working for Ford until the economic downturn.
Big Three Bailout:
This is a big dilemma.
Due to the “largess” accumulated over time, both the “workers” (i.e.: auto worker “union” backed contracts) as well as the established “dealer networks” with their employees (and their contracts), we face a precipitous decision.
On the one hand, I, as a second-generation Hungarian, would simply say that the heads of the largest capital industries in our country made some incredibly lousy decisions, and that they must now “live by them.”
However, “they” (who made those unconscionable business “choices”) will simply fade into a comfortable “retirement.”
That will not preclude or solve the massive, impending “problem” that is about to occur.
Which is: “Millions of people without paychecks and health benefits that they’ve become accustomed to.” THAT IS AN UNACCEPTABLY UNSTABLE PORTION OF THE U.S. POPULATION. (That is why “our Representatives” are even considering this.)
Perhaps, and I declare no authority on this, in order to “ease” the impact of ultimate demise: Perhaps, and only due to our “good nature” in a contributory/charitable sense, should we “entertain” . . . on short-term basis, bailing out the so-called “auto-industry.”
Szasz
[What you suggest is indeed the Democratic Despotism upon which the elected base their right to steal and distribute. In many cases, the mobocracy, what you call “We,” will support the theft. Ironically, this time the push to take what is not theirs is both undemocratic and unethical.–Im]
Clarification:
I gladly contribute to the “Boy Scouts” and “The Alzheimers Association.”
I do not consider the “Big Three” in similar category.
However, I do believe our so-called “Representatives” are “concerned” that without “paying-them-off” … (at least for a while…) that these so-called representatives are simply attempting to “maintain order.”
This may be all that they are even remotely capable of.
Regardless of what it “costs” us.
Szasz
Further thought…
I agree with you, Ilana, wholeheartedly.
HOWEVER: Practically speaking, I believe our paid-off, gutless “reps” have no viable alternative … at the moment.
NOW: Whether these “idiots” (my characterization) are capable of actually solving the problem of a massive displacement of humans (all with children and mortgages, or at least healthy rent-payments)… THAT IS ANOTHER MATTER …
…Which deeply concerns me.
Szasz
EVEN A “FURTHER” THOUGHT:
I really think our “Reps” are totally scared.
By that I mean, given the “current” contorted state-of-affairs (i.e.: two (2) wars; forget Africa…) \\\
What else can we possilby expect such a low-class-group of morons (my analysis) to begin to accomplish …
This reminds me of a “mugging…”
PLEASE, MISTER, HOW MUCH CAN I PAY YOU NOT TO HIT ME ?
…totally sickening; but what my accountants will tell me I am faced with…
Szasz
BTW:
The last time I was “mugged” I simply pulled out my 32 and my cell-phone and informed the “mugger” (turned out to be a scared teen) to freeze-or-die.
He lived.
Szasz
Sadly, Szasz, the government is much better armed than any mugger and has punishments far worse than a beating should they come come for your money and you prove unwilling to pay.
Personally, I’d like to see the unions exposed for the moral bedouin they are. Bedouin? Oh, yes…as with a Bedu’s herd of goats, they eat everything down to the roots and leave a wasteland behind.
That said, there’s a defense issue in there. We can afford to buy our cars from the Toyota plant in Kentucky. I’m much less sanguine about inviting Mitsubishi (yes, they build tanks) over to take up and run our M-1 plant (currently made by Chrysler).