Art Rimbaud

Demand More for Your Auto Bailout Dollar; Oil Patch Should Bounce Back Long Term

the total lack of research in this article is amazing. yes, the Japanese (and German) auto companies do not have UAW-type benefits here in the US. but they also have nationalized healthcare and pensions in their home countries. that was part of the economic rationale for building their plants here - cheaper labor. sound familiar?

that being said, it's clear to me that President Obama will have an overwhelming incentive to implement what President Ford wanted to do in the '70's - raise gas taxes to (a) promote the fuel efficiency & energy independence agenda, (b) fund the Big 3 bail-outs, and (c) chop off Big Oil at the knees.

again, the fault is with the lazy American public (particularly the Baby Boomers) and their elected representatives who were too short-sighted to do this 30+ years ago, and would have created a healthy, globally-competitive US auto industry in the meantime.