"Where's the love? I never knew Detroit was a dirty word" -- Susan Tompor, DFP columnist

[Bozita]

Where's the love? I never knew Detroit was a dirty word
BY SUSAN TOMPOR • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • NOVEMBER 16, 2008

After living in Michigan most of my life, I never knew Detroit was a dirty word.

I've always driven a Chrysler. I grew up in a house in Warren that is blocks away from a Dodge truck plant and a General Motors powertrain plant. Sometimes when I drive over to my old neighborhood now, I see people crossing the street to go to work.

So you'll excuse me if I don't know why the so-called bright minds that drove all those deadly derivatives down Wall Street deserve a bailout far more than the guy or gal who drives a car off the line.

Why should General Motors Corp. be forced to fail? But Bear Stearns and American International Group get rescued?

Each night when I go home and turn on the television, I find myself insulted by the righteous tone on cable or the networks. Look, I've always understood that many people do not like American cars or union workers or car company CEOs.

I didn't know that some really, really hate us -- and couldn't care less if one or two or three Detroit carmakers up and dies. So we'd have hundreds of thousands of people suddenly unemployed. And the response is: Who cares?

more...
http://www.freep.com/article/20081116/COL07/811160459

[peacetalksforall]

1. I just don't get the Republicans and I don't have time enough to read - what's

their agenda now? For decades, MANY in this country would resent it if you drove a Japanese car? Now, they want these three to fail? I think they have been cheating us on some quality in some of their lines, but I never considered that it was the line employees fault? The rules get passed down. They have quality control. It seems the are attacking the CEO's - how unusual - for Republicans.

[Lasher]

3. It's all about the unions.

Republicans hate unions, particularly those like the UAW that have managed to negotiate decent living wages and benefits. Today I was watching Faux News Sunday and heard Juan Williams (he's supposed to be a liberal) mention the "terrible union contracts" that prevent the Detroit automakers from competing. It was in support of an argument in favor of letting the big 3 go into bankruptcy.

[peacetalksforall]

4. Of course. That's it and I know it. I think I'm getting to know what it's like

to not be able to keep up with the constant news. My brain isn't working, for one.

This is a single issue complaint. This would be one of the final blows to the little people.

So the criticism of the CEO's is all in the plan - and instead of the CEO's feeling betrayed by the Rpublicans, they are going to be rewarded - big time.

Thanks for replying.

[PassingFair]

7. Bingo.

This is the end game for them.

Republicans and DINO's alike.

[SoCalDem]

8. I'm betting ole Juan is IN a union

but he's against anyone else who wants even a little control over their own workplace:grr:

I'd bet almost everything I have, that if you offered a union job with full benefits to any anti-union sign carrier, they'd JUMP at the chance..

It's sour grapes..pure and simple..

"Deeeee-troit" is right up there with "SaaaanFrannnnncisco" & "NoooooYork", is republican codespeak for liberal & multi-cultural..and for people who would NEVER vote for their cockamamie ideas

[acmavm]

5. Don't blame the republicans alone for this shit. Take a look at a lot of

the threads here and you'll find a lot of DUers are foaming at the mouth in anticipation of the abandonement and failure of Detroit. It's not just the Big Three, is the companies that supply them as well.

[Bozita]

9. Seems like many are clueless as to the origins of a lot of the benefits and working conditions ...

... enjoyed by current workers.

Stuff like the 5 day, 40 hour workweek, paid vacations, sick days, workers comp, unemployment comp, health, dental, and vision care.

NONE of that stuff came about from the benevolence of management.

[acmavm]

10. Exactly. I wish Upton Sinclair were required reading in the schools.

People don't even seem to have a clue what those that fought for worker's rights had to go through.

[peacetalksforall]

6. We've got to raise this issue - this is so sad - not losing those companies , but that

some would go to this extreme because they HATE US.

[Faygo Kid]

2. Exactly right. The financial "whiz kids" get all the money, but the auto workers can go to hell.

And all the suppliers, too. The hedge fund managers get bailed out and keep their billions, but the U.S. auto industry gets kicked in the teeth, along with the millions of jobs it creates through its suppliers.

God damn the Bush administration.

[MadHound]

11. For most of us, we didn't want either the Wall St. bailout or the auto industry breakout

By the by, how's that Wall St. bailout working for us? Oh, yeah:yoiks: That good.

I don't care if it's a Wall St. firm or a Big Three firm, we simply can't afford to keep throwing good money after bad trying to keep an unsustainable business model afloat.

[Bozita]

12. Look at this pic of the front page of today's Detroit Free Press...