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Senate to Middle Class: Drop Dead
Friends,
They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers start building only cars and mass transit that reduce our dependency on oil.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers build cars that reduce global warming.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers withdraw their many lawsuits against state governments in their attempts to not comply with our environmental laws.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the management team which drove these once-great manufacturers into the ground resign and be replaced with a team who understands the transportation needs of the 21st century.
Yes, they could have given the loan for any of these reasons because, in the end, to lose our manufacturing infrastructure and throw 3 million people out of work would be a catastrophe.
But instead, the Senate said, we'll give you the loan only if the factory workers take a $20 an hour cut in wages, pension and health care. That's right. After giving BILLIONS to Wall Street hucksters and criminal investment bankers -- billions with no strings attached and, as we have since learned, no oversight whatsoever -- the Senate decided it is more important to break a union, more important to throw middle class wage earners into the ranks of the working poor than to prevent the total collapse of industrial America.
We have a little more than a month to go of this madness. As I sit here in Michigan today, tens of thousands of hard working, honest, decent Americans do not believe they can make it to January 20th. The malaise here is astounding. Why must they suffer because of the mistakes of every CEO from Roger Smith to Rick Wagoner? Make management and the boards of directors and the shareholders pay for this.
Of course that is heresy to the 31 Republicans who decided to blame the poor, miserable autoworkers for this mess. And our wonderful media complied with their spin on the morning news shows: "UAW Refuses to Give Concessions Killing Auto Bailout Bill." In fact the UAW has given concession after concession, reduced their benefits, agreed to get rid of the Jobs Bank and agreed to make it harder for their retirees to live from week to week. Yes! That's what we need to do! It's the Jobs Bank and the old people who have led the nation to economic ruin!
But even doing all that wasn't enough to satisfy the bastard Republicans. These Senate vampires wanted blood. Blue collar blood. You see, they weren't opposed to the bailout because they believed in the free market or capitalism. No, they were opposed to the bailout because they're opposed to workers making a decent wage. In their rage, they were driven to destroy the backbone of this country, not because the UAW hadn't given back enough, but because the UAW hadn't given up.
It appears that the sitting President has been looking for a way to end his reign by one magnanimous act, just like a warlord on his feast day. He will put his finger in the dyke, and the fragile mess of an auto industry will eke through the next few months.
That will give the Senate enough time to demand that the bankers and investment sharks who've already swiped nearly half of the $700 billion gift a chance to make the offer of cutting their pay.
Fat chance.
Yours,
Michael Moore
- Posted in
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105 Comments so far
Show AllDo tell. And what did President-Elect Friend of the New Day have to say?
Exactly.
Dems could very easily put the republicans on the ropes but because they serve the rich too, they are wishy washy--and it allows the conservative nuts to be aggressive.
Its always the conservatives who are on the war path-never the left.
theft as naked as the thieves are desperate.
Senate to Middle Class: Drop Dead
Middle class to Michael Moore: oh, like we're soooo surprised...
DOMESTIC ASSAULT & DINGBATTERY INCLUDED
Gallstreet Shock-&-Awe $uckers,
Shabby Crackers & Twice-fooled (Media) Slackers, O My. . .
~heartless mindless souless MotherfUCkers!
"Of course that is heresy to the 31 Republicans who decided to blame the poor, miserable autoworkers for this mess. And our wonderful media complied with their spin on the morning news shows: "UAW Refuses to Give Concessions Killing Auto Bailout Bill." In fact the UAW has given concession after concession..."
http://flickr.com/photos/frankenhut/2764053425/
Its ok Mr. Moore, there are plenty of new jobs with Americas Stazi police.
We can have 50 percent of the country committing warrant less surveillance on the other 50 percent.
Its called vigilante community watch gang stalking torture.
The government does not pay well, but there is job security in fear mongering.
And with the Republican Lunatic religious right wing in charge of our community watch spy's, the jails will fill with people they don't like.
Cha Ching for Dick Cheney and his investments in Van Guard Group.
BornFreeMen
I'm in agreement with you Michael. The Republicans are on their last kick. No amount of Medicine will heal those sick puppies. That they represent the greedy segment of our society who cares only for themselves and the big bucks is oh so very clear to the U.S. electorate. That's why so many Republican candidates lost and more will lose in a couple of years in the next election. In the meantime, the media ought to wake up and smell the coffee, because these Republicans are a beat behind the American People. When they label what they are trying to do to the worker, as in "right to work," laws, who are they kidding? They certainly are not looking after the welfare of the worker. They are being as deceitful and tricky as they have been these last 12 years or so, and it sure has gotten old and worn and stale. Give it rest!
So, where's the government going to get the money needed to pay off its debts if everyone's wages are dropping like stones?
The rich seem to have moved most of their coins off shore, and would flee rather than pay up. the poor don't have enough to pay off the debtload, and this bailout seems to be making matters worse, not better. (then again bush still is pres so none should be surprised that he's added a runny sauce to a crap sandwich)
If you thought inflation was a bitch, wait till ya get a load of the fun in a deflationary market.
That's right...and deflation was a hallmark of the Great Depression.
As with global warming, we shouldn't need any more warnings. We can see the effects of plunder by the military-industrial-political complex with our own eyes. We had better get ready for tough times ahead. While we're at it, we might want to sharpen our swords for battle. It's the only way out.
"All Nature's difference keeps all Nature's peace." Alexander Pope
"The rich seem to have moved most of their coins off shore, and would flee rather than pay up."
Do you think a few hundred million of us could help them find the border?
Rickster
72% of American GDP is dependent upon consumerism (20% of world GDP is dependent upon American consumerism). Wouldn't it make sense to pay workers enough to consume with? Or am I missing something here.
uh, because maybe they dont have anymore money to give, hence the possibility that they may file for bankruptcy. I dont know about you, but my parents always told me money doesnt grow on trees.
.Actually the union contracts were never an issue when Ford was netting 38 Billion / year in profits. The 20 million a year its CEO pulls down, not including bonuses and stock options, seems not to be an issue either.
The auto manufacturers are in trouble today, not because of the union contracts they signed, but in part because they were stupid enough to continue making products that were declining in popularity and because they failed to fully fund their pension plans and are now on the hook for those underfunded pensions.
Mr. Moore is also wrong when he completely focuses in on the GOP and fails utterly to give his own party full "credit" for the failures to regulate and reach across the aisle for decades. Nobody is right when everybody is wrong.
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
One more time corporate media tells us what corporate america would have us believe. Unions are bad! Healthcare for all is bad! People in other countries who don't want us occupying their homeland are bad. Unions are bad for the corporate (and Wall Streets) bottom line. Universal single payer healthcare is bad for Insurance and pharmaceutical corporations. Being persona non grata in other countries is bad for the oil industry. The mask has been removed. Its never been about nationalistic security, It has always ben about corporate security from the early days of our country. We used to believe we were being attacked from overseas by a hostile country, now we can easily see that "our intrests" read: "corporate intrests" have always been what we've been protecting.
Now it is becoming obvious that we are being attacked by us. Our pension funds are invested in wall street so we are linked to their survival. Our living wage is bad for our economy and the economy is linked to Wall street. Therefore; if we get a living wage we are against Wall Street and against our own retirement. If we get health care for everyone then thousands of workers in the insurance industry will be laid off making the Wall Street numbers fall and that will be bad for our pensions. So having universal healthcare will be bad for us. Tens of thousands of workers will be laid off and an entire manufacturing industry will be doomed if the evil union won't make another concession. So, it seems, the greedy unions that ensure safe working conditions, brought us the 8 hour workweek, ensure us a living wage and vacation and holiday benefits is bad for us. Did I mention that unions are bad?. Did I mention that universal healthcare is bad. Did I mention that it is bad not to occupy another country to protect our intrests? That is kind of like what Hitler used as a reason to occupy Poland and others it worked for him! If I seem to be rambling and confusing forgive me. My mind thinks rationally and the things I watch on corporate TV, or listen to on Corporate radio or read in corporate newspapers tends to contradict my thinking. I think I'm going crazy, or maybe by thinking and trying to make sense of things I am becoming my own worst enemy. I'm beginning to love Big Brother!
So, you're answer is to --blame republicans? Really?
The simple hard & cold fact is, Michael, capitalism--as practiced and forced on the world with our facade of democracy, trust and goodwill, all at the point of a gun barrel--is fast coming to an end. The 20th of January has nothing to do with anything.
Its just ...over. Any piece of the pie for your hommies in Detroit, really doesn't matter at this point, given the bigger picture. No insult meant. Your feelings for your home state are understandable, but they are no different than the rest of us out here.
A collapse is underway.
They are doomed to ride it.
Godspeed.
I'd suggest to you that far from collapsing, capitalism is about to be restored to its regulated state which will allow it to function again.
Capitalism is practised around the world because so far no other economic system has worked. Even the socialist democracies couldn't survive without Capitalism.
Do you really think Obama will be able to restore capitalism to its regulated form?
.He really does, and he also believes in the Tooth Fairy too!
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
"Capitalism is practiced around the world because so far no other economic system has worked."
I hear that quite a bit. To be meaningful, we would have to discuss what "worked" means. How has it worked and what does it mean to work? It seems to me we would also have to weigh the pros and cons and see how they balance out. Of course, we would also have to define "capitalism" and determine which elements are integral to it...private control of resources?, competition?, profit?, bottom line?, top down management?, the classical "laws of economics?, corporate personhood? Beyond that, we would have to analyze what constitutes a good life for humans, healthy living conditions, and vital sustainability and what we can do to nourish and promote them.
Sorry to be so persnickety, but I think the time is right for U.S. citizens and others to think about these things.
What happened to the "working class"? Oh...I guess that would mean "workers" and the mists of "socialism" would arise.
Somehow "middle class" has engulfed just about everything but the rich. I'm not sure this isn't a bit of obfuscating flabbiness (not always conscious, of course.)
I would say Michael Moore that your points are obvious and do not have to be stated again. But that would be wrong.
According to polls, lots of people are not thinking straight. They buy the story that the unionized line workers are responsible for the failures of the auto industry and have to be smacked down before any bailout. They do not see through the union busting goals of reactionary Senators nor do they take proper note of the contrast between how the banks and auto companies are being treated.
So say what you have to say anywhere and everywhere you can. Some of the MSM like Bill Moyers have had good programs about this. I hope you can get on some of the other more popular shows.
Joe
I believe that eventually Congress will pony up, though it looks as if the UAW will have to give up something to avoid the automakers going chapter 11. If they go chapter 11 the UAW is toast.
I was looking at you statement "the story that the unionized line workers are responsible for the failures of the auto industry" It seems to me the automakers agreed to these contracts. How can you blame the lineworkers? They don't set their pay or benefits. Management does. Management put them here, not the American worker.
I don't see how they can justify the Banks billions and AIG if they don't help the automakers. At least we'd see some real benefit from that.
I do wish Mr. Moore wouldn't label everyone thats a Republican a bastard. Its not true and makes his statement look a bit hysterical.
.Moore has sold his soul to the democrats, a failure of his own success I think.
Bush has said that he will make the auto bailout a part of the 700 Billion thus negating the need for the Senate to arise from its coma.
Personally, and I say this as a union guy, chapter 11 is probably the fairest solution. It would allow reorganization, would result in the departure of some of that inept management, and the wages lost to the workers would be in part justified by their continuing to actually have jobs. The new contracts signed by the UAW are much different from the old wage scales, with an entry level of around $14/hr. and corresponding decreases in benefits ,both of which rise with seniority.
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
What you said plus I still think the Congress will end up doing something. I base this on their performance so far.
Actually 11 is their best shot in my opinion too. But I think Congress is too stupid to listen to the majority.
One mistake in Moore's sensible piece---Congress gave not BILLIONS to the Wall Street sharks, but TRILLIONS.
The auto industry is asking for less than one percent of what they gave to the guys who ate your retirement savings.
And let's not diss Bam yet, give the kid a chance.
Sam Abrams
mas.smarba@gmail.com
Sierra says the Republicans represent the greedy segment of our society who care only about themselves and the big bucks -- is this to imply that all is well because now the Democrats are in the majority? I don't think so. There are very hard times ahead. Obama is with the greedy segment of our society who care only about themselves and big bucks. Let's get rid of capitalism. This is not on the agenda of either of the two corporate political parties. We apathetic sheeple need to wake up -- our slaughter is just ahead.
Moore for Media Czar in the Obama cabinet!
Dr Wu, the last of the big-time thinkers
Moore writes "They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers start building only cars and mass transit that reduce our dependency on oil."
That is a real solution. And unfortunately when the flawed bailout passes after Obama is elected (he needs to look like he accomplished something for the regular person, though it will pass for the benefit of the corporate elite), it will most likely not have a provision to actually solve the US's gas addiction.
It is why people started driving Toyotas, Honda and Nissans years ago, not just because of the cheaper cost of the cars, but because they were more fuel efficient, especially compared to the Big Three automakers.
I don't support the bailout unless it has a requirement that Detroit produce cars that we move us away from fossil fuel dependency.
.Years ago fuel efficiency was not the issue it has become today, not among the great majority of automobile buyers. The real reason folks bought Honda, Nissan and Toyota was because they were mechanically better buys and came equipped with much of what the buyer wanted while Detroit made junk which came stripped forcing buyers to pony up for a lot more money for extras.
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
ardee,
Some good points there.
Just a few diehards are still driving American cars in this country.
Our family's fleet includes a 93 Plymouth Voyager, a 99 Chevy Cavalier, and a 2000 Chevy Metro, and they're still running well.
In Cuba they're still driving 1950's American cars around Havana!
ardee: remember the days when radio and heater and fag lighter were optional..we have come "a long way baby"
ken
.Did you mean, "cigarette" lighter? Politically incorrect ;-)
I think that it was the competition that forced Detroit to include more and more optional equipment as standard...
When I went to Havana with the Venceremos Brigade to help with the sugar cane harvest I noted the raft of older American autos in great condition on the streets. I understand, from some who have been there more recently, that there are even more such today.
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
"The real reason folks bought Honda, Nissan and Toyota was because they were mechanically better buys"
I have yet to ride around in a foreign car that didn't give me the impression I was riding in a tin can. You call that mechanically better. Living in an environment were used cars are the norm. I've had to work on these foreign pieces of crap. Not only are the parts far more expensive they have the feel of cheap products. Foreign cars such as Honda, Nissan and Toyota are meant to be disposed of in three to five years. Most Americans I know can't afford to do that.
Rickster
.My Toyota Tundra has 140,000 miles, has never needed a single repair. I got 180,000 out of an Infiniti M-30 without replacing one item excepting for a throttle body, my daughter has a five year old Honda, same story.
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
My 95 ford F150 has 320,000 miles, I had to rebuilt the front end a year ago. I did it myself outside of wheel alignment no special tools required. Dirt roads are hell on vehicles. I haven't seen any foreign vehicles that were able to handle them for very long. I've replaced the motor within the last month. That's not bad for 320,000 miles.
The rest of the truck is in good shape, well except for the dents in the body were I've slid it up against a tree or two. Some of them trails aren't very level and it's almost impossible to keep your back end from sliding sideways sometimes
Rickster
"Foreign cars such as Honda, Nissan and Toyota are meant to be disposed of in three to five years." Our Toyota Camry is 17, going on 18. Never failed to start. Never broke down. No major repairs, just replacing belts and such during routine inspections. Total cost of ownership is very low.
We would have preferred to buy an American car, but needed to educate our kids, work, go to school and get around. Could not afford the time and money to subsidize bad products costing thousands.
Perhaps American cars work better in ranching territory with dirt roads, sand, dust clouds etc. I don't know. But people in cities need smaller, more fuel efficient and reliable cars. Huge cars and trucks are mostly about self-presentation.
I hope we start to make better 21st century cars here.
Joe
I am sorry to disagree Michael, but you are wrong.
A $20 pay cut at most of the remaining factories outside of the auto industry would have the workers working for free.
GM, Ford and Chrysler are almost the only consumer goods manufacturing industries that haven't taken the easy fast bucks road to off shoring in China. Yes, they build cars in Mexico, but with many US produced components, and they have built cars in Canada for decades. My company manufactures fasteners for many industries, and automotive is just about the "last man standing".
The UAW contracts come from a different era - the Big Three and the VW bug, and no robots era. Today they have to compete with US non-union shops of Toyota and Honda, VW's Mexican built cars, high value added cars from Japan, and decent quality imports from Korea. It doesn't take as many people to build a car nowadays, so there are fewer contributing to the pension funds. The Big Three are saddled with generous contracts, health care and pensions that add hundreds or thousands to the cost of each car. Without the sales of hundreds of thousands of SUVs and loaded pickups, they can't deal with this burden.
Quality has been effected because GM pounds suppliers for every penny's worth and then some. Most suppliers are already near bankruptcy, if not already. If your Chevy has quirky electronics, its because GM can't afford to do robust designs, and then beats up the suppliers. Mostly because so much cash flow goes to wages, benefits and retirees, while the import brands can plow it back into the company.
There is room for the UAW to give back some more. It will beat the heck out of wroking for WalMart.
When Moore talks about a $20 reduction he is including every benefit not just the hourly wage.
OK. "Top rate" where I work is about $17/hr. Add in Keystone HMO, and that adds about $7.00/hr equivalent. Take away $20 and thsy starve. Needless to say, all their wives work, OT is snapped up like dogs going after a bone, and most have second jobs. Moving back in with Mom and Dad is increasingly popular.
Not much sympathy here for overpaid semi-skilled workers making cars we can't afford. Even less sympthy for the way, way, way overpaid execs and bean counters.
.Your lack of sympathy for your fellow blue collar workers seems a bit unproductive. Auto workers have jobs both dangerous and boring, a bad combination proven out by a history of injury and health problems. They earned their wages and the companies prospered for decades under those union contracts. The new contracts call for starting wages at the $14/hr level with corresponding reductions in benefits also.
It is certainly not the workers faults that their products were increasingly out of touch with the wishes of the buying public. We always seem to see a negative reaction to union wages that were obtained through struggles over decades. Yet these same posters seldom dwell upon the Mgmt. incompetence and bloated monetary rewards that caused the problems.
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
But we must let the free market win out! It has produced the greatest wealth in tthe history of the planet! None of us would be middle class without it!
We might not even have computers, or, be online!
If Dubya doesnt give them a loan, I am certain Obama will fix it--yet stick within the standards of the Keynesian free market--without it, we will become socialists!
He will have an entirely new economic team....the best is yet to come!
There will be great challenges, yet, we must not abandon our free market principles...we are an example to the entire world. That is why everyone copies us..
Just look at how good the economy was under Pres. Clinton
The problem here is that we are not functioning under free market principles. We are under unregulated capitalism and policy guided markets. Just in case you weren't being sarcastic.
Those who want the UAW to give up more benefits are missing the point. To ask the workers to give up more lessens the responsibility on the shoulders of the management. The CEOs and boards are the ones who have created this greedy, shelfish mess of a car industry. The Senate simply assists them by focusing on the workers - not the management. Where are the strings attached to the financial institution's bailout? Nowhere - because those are the neighbors and social buddies of these so-called representatives of the people. Do they live in the neighborhoods of suffering blue collar workers? Do the see how they struggle? No, but if they look at the meia they can see how AIG has spent their bailout money - at spas . Then they turn around and announce massive layoffs. I am so furious about the double standard and coruption of thie whole "financial rescue" situation. It stinks!!!
Why in God's name should the UAW have to give back more?? It would serve nothing except to further weaken the union. which has already made substantial concessions. Management needs to give up their fat salaries and demand universal health care. This would go a long way toward solving their problems.
I quite agree about management salaries. There is a story that when Daimler bought Chrysler, they found a substantial number of Chrysler Vice Presidents took home more money than the chairman of Daimler! What do these guys do to make them worth multiples of six figures to manage a failing company? I guess Daimler dumped Chrysler because its a hopeless money pit.
The Republicans have been trying to destroy the middle class since FDR but they needed us to produce goods and to fight the wars that kept their fat asses safe.In their view we are not needed any longer since the speed with which capital and labor can be moved around the globe in seconds and dissenting populations and Nations can be vaporized in minutes with almost no threat of retaliation.They merely move the base of operations to anyplace they choose since who has the power to stop them.The Nations big enough to threaten the USA in large part belong to the same Bastard's Club.They will go along since it is one of those win-win situations for them too.
You nailed ot!
They may have forgotten that they need the grunts to keep those fat asses fat. If those 'grunts' go on strike or a slash and burn frenzy, they may get a lot more than they bargained for in their rapacious greed. A race to the bottom has (or likely will have) negative consequences for them as well. Put enough of the world into desperation and thinks can get ugly very quickly.
They should have let the Banks and Lenders fail. They also should let the big 3 fail, aswell. Let the free market run it's course. screw this "privatizing the profits and socializing the losses" game.
I blame the Republicans, THEY opposed the financial bailout, THEY opposed the auto bailout, soon THEY will oppose the stimulus bill. Michael Moore, is right, clearly they don't care about working class Americans. The only way we can heal our economy is to finance massive public works projects. We need a new New Deal, such as the $500 billion stimulus package the Democrats have just proposed. Will the Republicans stonewall every effort for change?