Is Big Business Responsible for Nothing?

I had high hopes for Obama, I really did. The racial thing getting tamed, having new ideas, it looked like it might be good after all. I am afraid my Hope was premature: here we go, another billion-dollar bailout for huge American business.

I'm all for keeping our guys going, but the core of this is that the taxpayers will be responsible for the negotiated deals of the UAW. Pelosi started talking that way today. I am adamantly opposed to giving money to the UAW via a bailout to the automakers.

I haven't yet decided what should happen concerning aid to the auto makers, but I know it doesn't involve taxpayers being responsible for backing bad deals. Particularly, those with the UAW (they are are their own sort of robber-baron after all), aren't part of it.

The UAW wants assurances of healthcare and retirements that they negotiated though collective bargaining with the automakers. Well, didn't Obama promise universal health care? Maybe this is a golden time to give it to the UAW and see how they like government-administerd healthcare. That would serve 'em right, too.

One more step toward socialism, and Obama hasn't even been sworn in.

The Big Three Meet With Pelosi

November 06, 2008 5:36 PM

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl reports: The CEOs for the Big Three automakers –- General Motors, Ford and Chrysler -- and the head of the United Auto Workers union met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership this evening. Their message, apparently, was a blunt one: We need help and it can’t wait until next year.

"We need an infusion [of cash] now," a senior auto executive told me today.

Auto Maker Aid May Come With Strings - WSJ.com:

"Democratic leaders face a delicate situation. Chrysler LLC, owned by hedge fund Cerberus Capital Management LP, and GM are looking for government money to underwrite a proposed merger that could result in the loss of thousands of jobs held by members of the United Auto Workers union -- who just helped to deliver Michigan for President-elect Barack Obama. The UAW is warning Democrats against using government money to underwrite union layoffs.

Mr. Obama during the campaign expressed support for giving more federal aid to the unionized auto makers.

The UAW is backing a plan to have the government put money into trusts the auto makers and the UAW established to pay for UAW retiree health care."