Someone Wanna Bail Me Out?
The dreaded bailout has passed the House, but not the Senate. My first question is: What the heck is President Bush thinkin’? I’m pleasantly astonished that a few conservatives finally found their backbones and told him, “No!” Sheesh. You’d think he was a liberal the way he spends our money. I give him points on protecting us, and that he’s pro-life, but his reckless spending [to me, anything that doesn’t haveta do with the military], and his comments on the Bible don’t make him my favorite president. Are we ever gonna get a true conservative to vote for? [Sorry, my clients need me.]
This is insanity gone rampant. Don’t the idiots [pardon] that run GM and Chrysler realize they’re being NATIONALIZED? Does our government seek to run everything? [Actually, if you think like the liberals, the answer is yes, as they know what’s best for us. And, oh, we need them to take care of us.]
First, the banks/mortgage companies. That frosts me, as the bleepin’ Democrats forced sub-prime loans down their throats, then what happens? People can’t pay, and the government has to bailout the industry. Pardon, WE bailout the industry. It’s our tax money. [Wonder where all that money already appropriated for the banking industry disappeared to?]
As for the car manufacturers, what a joke. Guess what? This really isn’t a bailout for the automakers; it’s a bailout for the UAW (United Auto Workers Union). They don’t wanna lose their bloated concessions. Do you realize that automakers have to pay pensions after union workers are dead? When they can’t work? How high their wages are? (Approximately 70 bucks an hour for a line worker, including benefits.) The Japanese get $45; in India, $19.00 an hour. What about the suits? Roughly 20 million a year [I bet those suckers get free cars too.] I saw Norma Rae, but this is ridiculous [the bad connotation].
Add to that the libs and the environmental fascists put so many restrictions on our automakers, it’s no wonder they’re in trouble. What with the CAFE standards (Corporate Average Fuel Economy), which tells Detroit the MPG they should get for the types of cars they sell, I’m shocked they didn’t ask for a handout sooner. Now the Democrats wanna have a “Car Czar” oversee the industry and control the money. Want Nancy Pelosi tellin’ you you haveta drive a Yugo, right before she takes off in a gigantic military plane? [Where are those terrorists when ya need ’em. Yes, that was a joke … kinda.]
Will it end? GM and Chrysler said they need $14 billion to operate through March 31. We’re lookin’ at up to 25 billion to start. Since they’re losin’ about 2 billion a month, this bailout is milk money. It’s usin’ a Band Aide for a decapitation. No. No! NO!
What about the foreign automakers? They get a free ride. [You know, the companies that assemble cars here, so you really aren’t buying a “foreign” car.] They aren’t unionized, so they can afford to sell their cars for less money. I don’t care if I had two broken legs and a broken arm. I’d use my good arm to drag myself down the road before I’d buy a foreign car. [Yes, I had a 7-series BMW, but that was when I was in my 30’s, young and stupid. FYI: If anyone sees me drivin’ that KIA Minivan, it’s a rental. Driving it is my punishment for killin’ the Silver Bullet, may she rest in peace.]
Look, I don’t want a bunch of people out of work, but this can’t be helped. We have a system for businesses that can’t make a go of it—it’s called bankruptcy. Oh, but the automakers are too big. We can’t afford to lose them! That doesn’t mean they go out of business, they just have to reorganize and get leaner and meaner. Nearly all the major airlines went through bankruptcy. Gone on a trip recently? Gee, somehow we still have airplanes to fly us places.
What about the publishing industry? I don’t see the government charging in to stop layoffs there. And the newspapers. [Actually, the leftist papers are getting’ what they deserve.] But, seriously, don’t the liberals care about writers? Editors? Agents? Truth is, no one bails our businesses out. Yeah, some of the problems stem from idiotic policies and the UAW, but some blame falls on the suits as well. Either way, I don’t think they’re entitled to my money.
We need to lose CAFÉ standards. We need to lose our Democrat-controlled Congress. We need to lose the corrupt union bosses—all of which are strangling the industry.
That’s it for now. This makes me ill, especially that some Republicans are for the bailout.
President Bush, ya done us wrong!
K. – “The Crazed Conservative”
December 12th, 2008 at 17:11
I heard about the bail out dying in its second round….Now, I’m not nearly as educated in politics/economics as the average person, but my uneducated opinion is: I’m glad it died. I think they should go through what the airlines did. File for bankruptcy and re-organize. LEARN from their mistakes and be better for it.
I heard on the news a while back that the American auto industries are asking for money because they are about to go under, but yet Honda is opening plants and hiring tons of people…….so, what’s that tell us? The American auto industries are not doing things right, they need to shape up AND NOW!
Thanks for the post!
December 12th, 2008 at 21:23
Thanks for your thoughts, Kelly!
I completely agree with both you and Lynn! For someone in my tax-bracket, I’m amazingly anti-union. Not that I don’t want line workers to make good money, but come on! We shouldn’t be paying them after they’re dead!
My favorite example is Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart always gets a really bad rap because they’re not unionized, and oh, the poor employees don’t get paid much! Well, my thinking is, if you have no education and no experience and no special skills, you SHOULDN’T be making as much as someone who has put in the time and effort to get those things! Besides, I’ve known several Wal-Mart employees who will testify to their good treatment.
The beauty of a true capitalistic society is that the more valuable workers get paid more, and the lazy people get paid less, so you earn what you deserve. Obviously we live in a fallen world, and things don’t always work out the way they necessarily “should” but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a generally good system. You work hard, you make more, and you shouldn’t have to spend your hard-earned money bailing out the companies who screwed things up.
Thanks for letting me rant! If you’re bored, have too much time on your hands, or if you want to hear more of my capitalistic rants, please visit me at my blog: http://avilyjerome.blogspot.com
Thanks, Kelly!
December 15th, 2008 at 05:14
Just remember, the US automakers have CAFE Standards and Union Consessions. This makes it hard to compete with Honda, who has less overhead, and can sell their cars for less.
Still, the benfits of the suits are outta line, IMO.
Thakns for commenting!
K.
December 15th, 2008 at 19:29
Oh yeah, I agree. Benefits of the suits ARE outta line. I mean, are you kidding me??? Gazillions of dollars to them, who didn’t run the company well enough that they needed a bailout, or BK, or whatever. That’s nuts.
UGH.
December 20th, 2008 at 09:03
Well, I finally caught up after having a crazy computer who still doesn’t realize who is the boss. I have enjoyed all your postings.
I wonder what it would be like to make $70 an hour??? I am truly sorry though for those people during this time of the year.
Kelly you are doing a great job. I find your writing very informative and interesting. I have been low key lately as I learn about a little writing job I got. It will be great for my bio. I have gotten over the learning curve of the company and so after four computers failing on me….I can jump in and give my two cents worth. I am disappointed in President’s Bush’s decision about the bailout. I did see Norma Rae too and it is sad that the Unions have taken over so much. I could actually see both sides of the coin for a brief moment when I saw her story, but this is ridiculous.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you.
Blessings,
Paulette Harris
December 21st, 2008 at 21:41
Overall average costs at GM, per production hour, are supposedly $73 vs $48 for Toyota. These aren’t wages but cost accounting numbers taking all wages and expenses into consideration, and are inflated at GM by their so-called Job Bank, superb medical insurance for workers and retired, and high pensions. Awkward work rules play a part in this, as well.
GM claims its costs will drop to $69 next year, but even so, the $31/hour difference will add hundreds to the cost of each vehicle. A government-backed chapter 11 bankruptcy seems like the best way of saving the company (and Chrysler) because the court can cancel union contracts, allowing all facets of costs to be renegotiated. Hard luck for the employees, of course, but they’ve lived high on the hog for decades.
January 3rd, 2009 at 03:27
I for one, don’t want to pay for someone else’s supidity! I have enough of my own mistakes to care of, thank you very much!
As usual, thank you Kelly for saying what we are all thinking.
January 16th, 2009 at 03:38
I am not a whooo whooo person, but Kelly, you are right on in so many places. I think you just have to be Ann Coulter’s twin except for the hair. Anyway, just a joke. The reason I am writing tonight….it is Jan. 15th, is that my son-in-law works in the oilfields of Wyoming. His rig is the top safety rig in the U.S. so he feels safe for the moment as far as jobs go.
However, late Oct. early Nov. his boss told the crew that things could change a great deal depending on who won the election in Nov. Well, he wasn’t allowed to say anything else; left it up to the crew to figure it out. My son-in-law has since lost his car-pool buddy that was with the same company, just on a different rig. His best friend who went to a different company in the summer, was let go as well. That rig was in the Pacific off of southern California. Understand folks, it means that the entire rig shut down. So….right now I guess I would ask for prayers for my son-in-law as he believes it is a day to day job right now. Really scary for an almost forty year old with several children to raise in a blended family.
February 8th, 2009 at 21:13
Absolutely right, Kelly!
GM lost $1,434.00 for every car it manufactured in 2007 (2008’s P&L will be even worse). Pumping more funds into a company that is apparently in business to loose money is pointless. The UAW (with the support of its spineless and inept management) has destroyed the American Auto Industry and forfeited any claim to taxpayers’ aid. Let these over-paid nut & bolt-turners flip burgers for minimum wage for a couple years and then invite them back to the bargaining table. Until then let the market run its course. Laisse faire: it’s a good thing.