Conservative News Political Potpourri, 12/8/08
“Worse Before Better” (Or, “What size is Obama’s foot vs his mouth?”)
Making his first stupid lack of wisdom and experience mistake, President elect Obama stated twice in an interview that “The economy is going to get worse before it gets better.”
Brilliant. He might be right, but he has made his first mistake based on being overzealous and inexperienced. The wisdom of years teaches one that, in a leadership position, you do not aid the negative movement of something by predicting that you think it will worsen.
Let’s face it. There is no way to know for sure the economy is going to worsen before it improves. One thing that is certain is that investors and consumers make their decisions often based on the “predictions” of others, or based on the general “feel” they have based on the best information they receive.
Stating the economy will worsen before it improves is simply a juvenile mistake which will likely increase the likelihood that it will in fact do so.
This is why you don’t elect someone who is a slick talking dour looking serious talking head who is a political flash in the pan one term Senator. And I might remind Obama that he should follow his own previous statement’s sentiment, when he said “There is only one President at a time.”
His movements at this time are over-reaching and awkwardly destabilizing an already difficult situation.
In the same interview, Obama also inferred that the US auto industry must be saved, but that any bailout must be “conditioned on an auto industry emerging at the end of the process that actually works.”
Nice segue.
The UAW, or “Unbelievable Auto Wage”
It is in fact the “work” element of the US auto industry that is the reason it is not working.
With the congress ready to send a package to the White House to bail out the US auto manufacturing industry, the one thing that doesn’t get enough attention in my opinion is the lack of Union concessions. They want to cap executive salaries… ok… but that is a drop in the bucket compared to the billions in Union wages.
Yes there are management issues here. But the elephant in the room right now is the inflated Union wages and benefits. Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings would force the Unions into renegotiation.
It was rumored that UAW members were making around $70. Incorrect. And people in the industry have been shrieking that no, they make on average $28. Oh- like that makes all the difference of the world.
Toyota and Honda do fine in this country. Worldwide, automakers are hurting concerning sales, mostly due to oil prices having recently been at all time highs, but they (foreign auto makers) are STILL solvent and doing fine. Only in the US are we seeing the danger of collapse.
UAW members also receive the equivalent of $10/hr for health benefits. This world class first rate health care accounts for about $1600 per vehicle.
Another element of this situation is the “legacy” costs that the big three pay out in Union negotiated pensions to previous empoyees of said same auto manufacturers from years gone past, when they were far more flush with money. Put another way, the now retired previous employees of the UAW staffed auto industry are sitting on fat deals that are sucking money still, to this day, from the big three.
The UAW and its members, past and current, need to take a hit here. What was it that Biden said on the campaign trail about taxes? That the rich needed to step up to the plate and do their part?
Hey- UAW. Save your OWN damn industry, and lower your wages and benefits to match those of your competitors, who are all doing well, by the way.
Go figure.
Al Franken Pulls Back
Al Franken has retracted the challenge to more ballots on Monday, reducing the total by 425 to approximately 2300. Norm Coleman dropped his challenge total by about 650, bringing him to around 2750 still under challenge. With the victory of Saxby Chambliss, this is not as important of a battle, since it is impossible for the ‘Dims’ to reach the magical fili-proof 60. However, seeing an idiot like Franken lose is still wroth the price of admission.
Approved Christmas Shopping Retailers
According to Focus on the Family, here is the most current list of “Christmas Fiendly” retailers:
Originally published by Focus on the Family Action. Copyright © 2008 Focus on the Family Action.
