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Thursday, December 11, 2008 12:00 AM

Senate GOP to UAW: Drop dead

Organized labor campaigned mightily against Southern Republican senators. So kiss that auto bailout goodbye, because now it's payback time.

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  • Thursday, December 11, 2008 06:52 PM

    Michigan is a one-state depression

    Precisely because it has the highest number of UAW jobs of all the states. It also has an insane tax policy, causing business to flee.

    Timbuktom, German workers may make more money, but look at the perpetually high unemployment rates in the European socialist countries. If you're lucky enough to have a job, great. (Great if you like a 78% tax rate.) But if you're unlucky enough to not be able to land a job, tough nuts.

    Germany has realized this is a problem and is gradually deregulating its industries, lowering the unemployement rate from around 11% (that's in good economic times) to about 7.5% in the last quarter, still way higher than U.S. rates.

    Auto execs are certainly guilty of stupid decisions, but the bulk of Detroit's problems can be laid squarely at the feet of the UAW and their demands that make Big 3 cars uncompetitive.

    Besides, they make crap cars. After years of owning Toyotas, I thought I'd give Detroit a chance again and bought a Jeep. I had to have the differential rebuilt twice in less than 60,000 miles. The transfer case is always leaking. Piece of crap. I"ll never buy a Detroit car again.

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