Fire in the Hole!

"Your premium brand had better be delivering something special, or it's not going to get the business."

Warren Buffett

I'm listening to the UAW President, Ron Gettelfinger. I don't know everything about the auto bailout "situation." But, I know one thing.

Gettelfinger just doesn't get it.

I'm not against organized labor in principle. I understand why unions developed in this country; and, since I'm a worker, I'm generally on the side of workers.

I don't think the unions are entirely at fault for the kinds of products turned out by Detroit.

But, I do know that - at the outset of the first discussions about auto bailouts - the UAW loudly and in every venue that would have them - said they weren't going to make any concessions. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero.

They've been treading water ever since.

He read an anonymous e-mail about how Republicans were saying that the bailouts were the Democrats' first opportunity to repay the $50 million or more contributed by unions to support their candidate in the Presidential election.

Check.

How this event would be the precursor to card check. (If you don't know what card check is all about, just Google it.)

Check.

How the GOP Senators are just trying to break the unions.

Give me a really large flippin' break.

"If we worked for nothing, it wouldn't help them limp into January."

He just said that.

Yep, it's too little, too late. They haven't been willing to be part of the solution for such a long time, they've convinced themselves they were never part of the problem.

American autos just aren't competitive. Period. Haven't been for decades. I can count on two fingers the number of American autos this household has purchased or leased in 27 years. There's a reason for that.

It's not that we're automobile snobs. It's more that we search for the quality and value equation that meets our needs among the various choices, and American automobiles have fallen onto the "poor" side of the ledger. Every time. The exceptions include an American automobile that I bought when I graduated from college. It had rear-wheel drive and had to be jettisoned after I left the driving comfort of California for the snowy midwest. The second time involved a company car arrangement that favored a Chrysler product, and we made that choice.

Clearly, we haven't been alone. Not by a long shot.

Senator Bob Corker is now responding to this disingenuous labor response to a bail-out that at least 57 million Americans don't want anyway.

I've heard for weeks that the auto companies can't go through bankruptcy, because it will result in liquidation. Obviously, they didn't get to this point overnight.

The UAW walked away from the deal when they refused to circle a single date on the 2009 calendar for wage cuts. They want to wait until their contracts expire in 2011.

Don't know what Kool-Aid they're drinking (or eating by the solid cake), but I'd like to order a case of it, please.