Don't Blame Unions For Detroit's Ills

The GOP has always been successful at demonizing unions. But today, it is getting harder and harder for them to claim that the UAW is responsible for the downfall of the Big 3 automakers, even though they are doing their best to paint the picture that way. Mike Papantonio of Air America's Ring of Fire talks about what really caused the downward spiral of the Big 3 in the latest "Pap Attack."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Auto Industry
• Bailout
• Big 3
• Detroit
• UAW
• Union
• Worker
• GOP
• Republican
• Toyota
• GM
• Ford
• Lehman Bros.
• AIG
• Mike Papantonio
• Pap Attack
• Ring of Fire
• Air America Radio
• GoLeft TV

[YiuTeub]

@burn435353 Since your starting your own company I guess you will have no problem having someone else make the rules for you.

Our job market isnt bad where I live. I forgot the States and Europe pretty much pooched it. We are at about 4.8% unemployment in my province.

[burn435353]

@YiuTeub ha! you're funny, im actually working my ass off on starting my own company, but for the meantime im there, and as for just leaving, given the current job market i think i would have to be an idiot to leave a job i have, but my point was that workers build the company and should be able to dictate policy in the company, its rational and its fair, unfortunately the people who usually have the say are the ones that do the least, and their only merit is that they have capital

[YiuTeub]

@burn435353 I had a boss like that long ago. It isnt fair getting treated like that but you have the option of quitting and taking the gamble of starting YOUR own business.

Fair doesnt exist. Let your feet do the talking.

But fear of not finding another job or starting your own business is probobly keeping you there. So hey deal with it. Whiners never get far.

[burn435353]

@YiuTeub im not in a union, i work for a business where my boss doesn't do shit, he sits in his office all day reading the paper, entertaining friends, my boss laid of some people off and cut my health insurance to keep profit margins, he kept the insurance for himself and his family, now, how is this fair? i build the company and get shit, while he, only on the merit of having the money to start a company, gets to do nothing and reap all the benefits of my labor.

[wormyyea]

Yuo know, when im old and finished. i will be able to look around at the wealth i created for myself and say "good job". i will know i did it own my own. I will be an idividual effort not a team. I will know i was smart enough to take of my own health care and money. Know i didnt have to team up with a bunch of other losers and make demands. Smart enough to know if i wasnt being treated good at one place i could leave and better myself. AHHH its great to be an individual.

[StoogeWatcher]

So why is Detroit so crappy under years of Democrat rule? Anyone also notice how unions seem to prosper no matter what the economy and that union fatcats have salaries twice as much as the governor?

[597914]

@BillieBobSmith your commentary doest equate to facts dude.

[597914]

@BillieBobSmith Like I said you dont know what youre talking about. You dont care to know the truth because it doesnt fit your hate agenda. And by the tone of all your posts its a waste of time trying to inform you. All youre interested in is venting your uneducated views and insults. If you really did work on the "inside" you would never bite the hand that feeds you and you would know that, in my case, GM is very happy with the union.

[597914]

@craternem well I jumped on a bus and went to DC on Oct. 2, 2010, for workers rights, for rebuilding America and saving American jobs. And I'm in the UAW. And its not the first time the UAW or unions have done that. The facts in this vlog are true, just because you don't agree doesn't make them lies. inform yourself before you make statements you have no clue on.

[597914]

@BillieBobSmith excuse me but the UAW doesnt design the cars nobody wanted. Quality? Thats engenerings fault, but every report says US quality has met or exceeded foreign now. I think the guys at GM who told me what bolt to tighten, when and for how many hours are the ones to blame for their recent troubles..you know the ones with the college degrees? Hate the UAW, but know what youre talking about first. 26 years at GM, one strike and that was for jobs, not wages. U know nothing.