Repubs are so "anti-union" that they would cut off their nose to spite their face.

[kentuck]

Even John Boehner of OH, a state with many auto-related jobs, has come out against any bailout for GM and the Big Three. They say their business model does not work. And believe you me, they are experts on "business models" that don't work.

Never mind that the companies have cut back on wages, on employees, on union demands, etc. Never mind that they are now making more cars that get over 30 miles per gallon than their foreign competitors by almost double. So the present problem with the auto industry is not entirely a problem with their business model, in so much as it is a problem with the present economy. Thanks mostly to the "business model" of John Boehner and his Republican Party.

So they say they are standing ready to vote against any bailout for these auto companies. No problem. We will just call it a "loan". Then, once the money is appropriated, we can do a Henry Paulson on them and change the "terms" of the "loan". That seems to be the "business model" they appreciate and have no problem with?

But, if the auto companies do not get this money, it would be an earthquake for our present shaky economy. Some estimate that as many as 3-5 million jobs could be affected. We are talking about vendors for auto parts, to dealerships in every state of the union, to the hot dog stand on the corner that depends on the auto workers to buy his products, to the bartender down the street from the plant. This would be devastating for a lot of American workers.

The "bailout" would probably cost less in the long run than the cost of unemployment insurance itself if these folks were laid off. Normally, for each 1% of unemployment, it costs our Treasury about $25 billion dollars plus. This bailout could prove to be a bargain in that respect alone.

The Republican anti-union bias threatens to make a very unstable economy much, much worse. They have learned nothing from the last election.

[monktonman]

1. They know, they just dont care.

why should they? they've got theirs
so fuck everyone else.

[Taverner]

2. I have to side with the GOP on this one

GM is a poorly managed company, that has a history of union-bashing and sending jobs overseas. They make cars no one wants, and is so in the pocket of big oil I don't expect that to change.

For me it comes down to two options:

1 - Cut the cord and let GM die.

2 - BUY GM and make it a national auto company. Let's put our money where our mouth is when its "so goes GM so goes America"

[MichiganVote]

3. People hate Detroit in this country. They'll tell you its about cars. Its not about cars.

They'll tell you its about crime. Its not about crime. They'll tell you its about poverty. Its not about poverty. They'll say its about a welfare population or some made up middle class myth of union people making $100K a year...its not about that either. They won't tell you its about black people, that's the one thing they won't tell you. But it is.

They have found a dump in the country for all their most bitter feelings and burdens. That's what its about.

Sure GM has been a screw up. So what? Our entire Congress has been a failure for years. Should we let it fail? Bail it out? Vote for more entitlements for them? We've done all of that and more and what do we get---more of the same, the shaft.

[dhpgetsit]

4. Cons spout a lot of gobbledygook about unions, but...

Without unions we would never have a middle class in this country.

A middle class cannot survive without some support from the government. The government must enable labor to form unions, and be willing to protect labor through tarrifs and other legislation.

Successful unions want companies to succeed and they do not make unreasonable demands against the management.

A strong middle class is essential to a strong economy. Cons do not like a strong middle class. They are actively destroying the ecomomy in order to destroy the middle class.

History shows that when Cons take control, the GDP goes down, wages stagnate, and unemployment rises.

[INdemo]

5. This is the very reason that Rpukes want to force GM into bankruptcy

because the first ruling a bankruptcy Judge would make would be to void the Union Contract and walla... the Repukes would accomplish their goal.
They fail to realize that if GM would go under that about 23 million jobs(directly and indirectly) would be lost...Foreign car makers would not take up the slack because most of their suppliers are from foreign countries. The reasons to keep GM afloat certainly outweigh stepping aside and watching them sink....

[kentuck]

6. That would probably be the death knell for the union movement...

in this country, if they go under. I think it is worth the investment to save them. The amount would be debatable.

[brook]

7. My landlady

brought up the issue of unions the other day. Said she wouldn't be able to afford a $20 hamburger.
While I mentioned that folks making a living wage would be much less reliant on assistance programs,
I was under no illusion that it made any difference. With Republicans, it's always about them.

Ninety-five percent of my SS check goes to my rent. At 75, I'm still hitting the floor at 5:30 am to go
to a part-time, low wage, no benefit "job". If I hadn't had a union job in my salad days, I'd be on the damned street. <sigh>