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In Round One of the epic, title fight called Taxpayer v. UAW, I noted earlier that the UAW practically threw its rival out of the ring like the Hulk Hogan scene in Rocky III. In exchange for token concessions, the UAW agreed to have their above-market wage and benefit plans subsidized by fellow citizens. How nice of them to accept such an offer.
In Round Two, Darth McConnell and the non-union southern Republicans are striking back, if you can tolerate the mixed movie metaphors. I personally find some of it offensive, including Sen. Shelby's humiliation of beleagured executives. These guys are being punished for the supposed sin of not smashing the union earlier. Running a car company is not brain surgery: in simple terms, you can't sell enough product with this labor structure.
Ultimately, the scene resembles the Gothic crossing of the lower Danube in 376. At first embraced by the Romans, and drafted into their army, the Goths quickly turned on their hosts, routed the emperor, and paved the way for 100 years of decline. So it is with the Japanese incursion of automobile manufacturing in the U.S.
The clock is running down -- could be a month, could be 5 years. But it's running nonetheless. Either the UAW scales way back, or the Big Three stumbles along to its eventual liquidation. In all events, there is no need for taxpayers to subsidize the fall.
