Thadeus III

What's an American Car These Days?

Mr. Perry likes to filter information like many do today so suit their POV or assuage their conscience because of buying a foreign car or product. All one needs to do is to look at what other countries are and have been doing for their businesses, people, and banks, not just now, but for YEARS. . In Japan, China, and especially Germany and other European countries the governments have been subsidizing their car makers for years. Since last Fall, Germany has been giving it's citizens a cash incentive to buy GERMAN made cars such as the now popular Opel Agila. When a $5K incentive is suggested here in the US all people can do is complain about how it's helping those lazy *#@$! auto workers and their companies. Other countries have always been protectionist. Ever since WWII the U.S.A. has been too much the worlds care taker. People here need to get past petty jealousies and prejudice when it comes to the well being of us all. There will never be a time when all of us get the same pay or benefits. Contrary to what many people think or say, a union doesn't "dictate" how a business is run or what engineering or production design choices are made. A union does help workers attain safer work standards, benefits, and compensation based on how well the company is doing, while trying to establish a decent standard of living or well being for workers and their families. Is spite of what others may say, this has helped establish a fairer standard of living for others not working in a unionized company or occupation. No more. Now GM, Ford, etc, want to provide $14-1$16/hr and also have a person fund his/her own 401K and a good deal of their medical insurance. Not even Suze Orman would see how that is possible. In the case of the UAW, losses in benefits and pay have occurred especialIy since 1982. But many are too petty, jealous, or ignorant to research that. Well, I guess we all need to move 10- 20 people into a single household and start living like third world countries.

In addition, I've always told my kids to make the best of what you have, live within your means, but keep your eye open for opportunity to better yourself by making efforts to do so. Not everyone has the same talents or academic abilities, another reason for a union to help provide a worker some measure of dignity no matter what his job position. . If you keep looking at the other guy, making comparisons, and being competitive for money, you will either be unhappy or an arrogant blowhard that no one wants to be around (except others like you).
This country needs to take care of it's own as other countries have for years. Instead of criticizing and and forming narrow minded opinions, we need to see how the rest of the world is handling this financial crisis. And Kman, I applaud you for your moving into the electrical field. Ir does require a lot of sacrifice to travel and move around a lot. I have a friend that did electrical contract work as you are. But he decoded to eventually work for a local contractor for less pay and a weekly paycheck to be with his kids and family. We need to be mindful of other people's circumstances and respect their decisions.