Let Detroit Go Bankrupt

Post by yummyfajitas » Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 1:52 PM UTC

sethg wrote: post #107

crabapple wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because if the Big Three go under, a very large number of workers (folks working for the Big Three and for their suppliers) will suddenly be collecting unemployment insurance instead of paying taxes and they will also paid in taxes if bailed. so GM is going to become a giant money laundering operation for the IRS? cut out the middleman and put them on unemployment...then they can actually find PRODUCTIVE work

The unemployment would cost the government more than the bailout. One could argue that it would still be better off in the long term for the government to bite the bullet and pay that unemployment money than to keep the US auto industry afloat; I am partial to that argument myself. But I'm responding to the "why should a waitress at Denny's..." question.

Post by olefoo » Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 2:17 PM UTC

jmtulloss wrote: post #76

byrneseyeview wrote: post #69

I think we should allow the car companies to form a union. They can collectively agree that unless every single auto worker accepts $10/hour and no benefits, they all fire everybody. It would be very interesting to see how this works out.

Who benefits from this scenario? Between the American people, car company execs, auto workers, and the government, this is a lose-lose-lose-lose plan.

Post by gamache » Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 2:38 PM UTC

hugh wrote: post #33

ckinnan wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The last thing America needs is another federal "czar," especially for specific product sectors. The Soviets lost, remember?

But they won against the Czars.

Post by antidaily » Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 2:46 PM UTC

Tichy wrote: post #110

Locke wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. How do people buy cars? On credit. Harder to get credit means fewer people capable of buying cars. A bad economy means fewer people buying cars. GM et al, did not create the credit crisis. They did not create the bad economic conditions. But we want them, and more importantly, all the people working in that industry to suffer? Honestly, I can't imagine how letting them fail won't cause more than 25 billion in ec…

They build cars nobody wants anymore, credit or no credit.

Post by KWD » Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 3:05 PM UTC

mchristoff wrote: post #93

ars wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're talking like his job was an entitlement. Companies go bust and people lose jobs, it happens a lot. The reason people are talking UAW workers that way, is not because they begrudge the individual worker like your father - they don't. It's because the car companies were not allowed to fire or lay off people as they wished, which gives a very strong impression of entitlement and job guarantees amongst UAW workers…

huh?? in the last 15 years gm has closed dozens of plants. yes, certainly the union fought to get the best deal collectively for their workers, but you have to have rocks in your head if you think people like my father felt entitled. they felt lucky to have a job. as for finding another job... you highlight my point! it's pretty fucking difficult to find another job when after 20 years the only thing you're qualified…