GOP Senator Warns of ‘Riots’ if Automakers Are Bailed Out

[speech]

Time and again we’ve heard about the lost jobs and economic impact of failing to bail out the beleaguered American auto manufacturers. But little mention has been made of the consequences of going through with the bailout, and how such an action would be viewed by other Americans.

In an interview following a Dec. 10 press conference where he and four other senators aired their opposition to the proposed bailout deal struck by congressional leaders and the White House (and approved by the U.S. House of Representatives 237-170 that evening), Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., warned that the perception that some industries are being bailed out and some aren’t could lead to violence.

“We’re going to have riots. There are already people rioting because they’re losing their jobs when everybody else is being bailed out. The fairness of it becomes more and more evident as we go along. The auto companies may be hurting,” he said, but “there are very few companies that aren’t hurting and they’re going to hurt. We don’t have enough money to bail everyone out.”

[RSLudlum]

Maybe some of my letters to him have gotten to him :D

Demint on inflation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHgZ-aREg2E

on riots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLKOkmmRIKc

[Kotin]

well he did bring to light the fact that unions are the driving force behind this one..


fucking unions...

[heavenlyboy34]

well he did bring to light the fact that unions are the driving force behind this one..


fucking unions...

I don't know that it's a good idea to place so much blame on the unions. They've been declining in numbers for a good while. Plus, it's typical of neocons to blame their stupid miscalculations/mistakes on unions and individual consumers. All I can say is that it's best to seek evidence before blaming people. (jmho)

[Kotin]

I don't know that it's a good idea to place so much blame on the unions. They've been declining in numbers for a good while. Plus, it's typical of neocons to blame their stupid miscalculations/mistakes on unions and individual consumers. All I can say is that it's best to seek evidence before blaming people. (jmho)

I'm sure it doesnt rest in one place.. but think about what he said.. he said that they are pushing for this because they dont want to deal with the restructuring of everything that bankruptcy brings..

[WRellim]

I don't know that it's a good idea to place so much blame on the unions. They've been declining in numbers for a good while. Plus, it's typical of neocons to blame their stupid miscalculations/mistakes on unions and individual consumers. All I can say is that it's best to seek evidence before blaming people. (jmho)


UAW leadership still cares mainly about... the UAW leadership (they really don't give a squat about their members, at least beyond keeping them as a power base).

[ryanduff]

I don't know that it's a good idea to place so much blame on the unions. They've been declining in numbers for a good while. Plus, it's typical of neocons to blame their stupid miscalculations/mistakes on unions and individual consumers. All I can say is that it's best to seek evidence before blaming people. (jmho)


Union balks and $14B auto bailout dies in Senate
...

Republicans, breaking sharply with President George W. Bush as his term draws to a close, refused to back federal aid for Detroit's beleaguered Big Three without a guarantee that the United Auto Workers would agree by the end of next year to wage cuts to bring their pay into line with Japanese carmakers. The UAW refused to do so before its current contract with the automakers expires in 2011.

...


http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081212/D95106M80.html

Proof enough?

[kathy88]

well he did bring to light the fact that unions are the driving force behind this one..


fucking unions...


I think it depends on the union in question and their "connections." My husband is a member of the IUOE (operating engineers) and he was out of work from last october until april and got laid off again three months ago. He worked maybe 6 months this year. His union did nothing for him, nor any of his peers who were out of work. Are they picketing and whining for a handout? Staging sit-ins because they are "entitled.?" Nope.

I do say this situation is going to be the death of all but the strongest unions. These guys can get jobs with non-union outfits making a few dollars an hour less, and they are going to jump ship.

[xd9fan]

fucking unions...

Both GM and Toyota sold 9.4 million cars in the US in 2007.

GM posted a LOSS of 37 BILLION
Toyota posted a Profit of 17BILLION

dont tell me its NOT the fucking unions..........their an absolute drain. (more so than the bad Management that GM has)
The bailout will not correct the above FACTS.

GM NEEDS to fail and do massive restructuring.

Does anybody really believe Washington knows how to radically restructure a failing company???? GM has a union that needs to be broken and management that needs to be cleared out....they both caused this...they need to face the music...both of them.

Lets not bullshit ourselves people. They are going to fail.....nothing can stop that.

This country is so soft. Failing is good......good for people and good for companies......its a great teacher.

This country is lossing its collective mind.....and we will pay more than 25 billion for this lesson.

[xd9fan]

With this issue
I'm embarrassed to be an america if I talked with a Jap auto worker

[newyearsrevolution08]

With this issue
I'm embarrassed to be an america if I talked with a Jap auto worker

you would be embarrassed to be an american if you talked to a japanese auto worker... why?

[xd9fan]

because america is using socialism to "complete" with the Jap auto makers.
the bailout will not protect GM from failure. Their fate is sealed.

We either believe in socialism/nationalization or we believe in the free market.

And to think GM uses shit like "like a rock" "america" "freedom" "heartland" and "revolution" to sell their trucks and cars........pathetic:mad:

[yokna7]

UAW leadership still cares mainly about... the UAW leadership (they really don't give a squat about their members, at least beyond keeping them as a power base).

Well said, and politically speaking it is unfortunate who is now in office. Labor unions and trial lawyers will get whatever they want. Not because our leadership believes unions are beneficial, but because the lobby is so big. Demoncrats.