Defending the Automakers?

I can't believe I am defending the automakers and, in fact, maybe I'm not but there are some things that people are saying that bug me.

1. They lied about how much they are paying their workers. In reality, I think they were trying to explain that they are at a disadvantage because they have an older work force and a ton of retirees. Trying to take very complex situations and coming up with apples to apples comparison numbers sometimes might look like they were trying to mislead people.
2. CEO's make too much money. Yes, they do. It's our whole system of executive compensation that is out of whack. But thinking that someone who is asking for 8 Billion dollars to keep his company afloat that if only they wouldn't pay their CEO 15 Million dollars everything would be okay is nuts.
3. The CEO flew in a private jet. Give me a break. Do you want someone making that kind of money to be sitting around in the Delta Frequent Flyer Lounge having cocktails. No, you want him working every minute he can. That is why corporate jets exist to maximize the efficiency of highly paid executives. I have worked in jobs where I have flown on such planes. It was to save money not waste it.
   
4. Detroit deserves what they are getting for building gas guzzlers. Truth is that Detroit builds the cars that people want that have a lot of profit margin. It sort of makes sense. The problems they are having are the same problems that the Japanese automakers are having. Gas went to $4.00/gallon. The housing market collapsed. The economy went to hell. Just what kind of car should they have been making that would be setting sales records?
5. We should just let them fold to punish those highly paid CEO's. Are you kidding? Even if they never work another day in their lives they have riches beyond the wildest dreams of most of us. Allowing the auto companies to collapse would result in the cost of their pensions being paid for by the government (which is a code word for you and me). Their workers would be unemployed and it would just create a bigger mess than we have now.
6. Maybe I'm crazy but it seems like many of the bail outs (which were loans or the like) seemed to have worked?
7. My impression is that the auto companies feel that going bankrupt to reorganize would be a disaster since many buyers would be reluctant to buy a car from a bankrupt company. This seems like a reasonable fear to me.

If the big three can't compete they will eventually go away. But I don't think forcing that to happen due to an economic crisis that was largely not their doing is the wrong thing to do.

And I love my Honda.

I'm Voting for That One

I just don't get it. When George Bush's father was president, republican policies screwed up the economy and during the election republicans said don't vote for the tax and spend democrat. Enough of the American people ignored that advice and a democratic president balanced the budget and made the economy hum.

Then we elected Al Gore and the republicans somehow believing that they speak directly to God stole the election. More lies and falsehoods were used to keep the Bush presidency going and now once again the economy as well as damn near everything else is in complete chaos.

And once again the republicans are lying, cheating and stealing in an effort to again subvert what is right. I don't know what's worse that they do it or that we live in a country with so many stupid people that will believe no matter what as long as it arrives via the internet in an anonymous email.

If John McCain and Sarah Palin somehow get elected by deceit and trickery it will be the greatest disaster to ever befall this country.

I urge you to vote for Barrack Obama and Joe Biden. They might be inexperienced (they're not), they might be willing to raise taxes on some people (that can afford it) and they might be willing to spend money (on things that will bring manifold benefits). But no matter what they can't possibly be any worse than the current administration or their proposed successors.

Why I am voting for Barack Obama

1. He is smart as hell. Our society and our systems need more than catchy slogans to be made to work properly. They need someone that can understand them and make the right policy decisions.
2. We have a two-party system. Despite John McCain's best efforts to portray himself as somehow not being a member of the party that has screwed up America, he is and has voted with them most of the time. It is absurd to think that McCain will win and arrive in Washington with all new people. It will be business as usual. Bad business.
3. I believe for the most part that republicans are motivated by greed and democrats are motivated by a desire to serve all the people.
4. Obama has the vision to move America into the twenty-first century and to once again reestablish America as the shining beacon on the hill. McCain just knows how to say things that sound good like Mom and apple pie.
5. Men with experience have gotten us into the predicament we are in now so frankly I think that experience may be a little over-rated.
6. Sarah Palin.
7. I have two daughters. I believe Obama will institute policies and laws that will be much more helpful to them than anything McCain and his cronies will do. I think the record is crystal clear on this.
8. I listen to both sides and the republicans are liars. In fact, I think that is why they are always claiming media bias. The media calls them out more then the democrats because they lie more, a lot more.

Compare and Contrast

What policies will you support to ensure that America remains the world leader in innovation?

Obama: My administration will increase funding for basic research in physical and life sciences, mathematics, and engineering at a rate that would double basic research budgets over the next decade. We will increase research grants for early career researchers to keep young scientists entering these fields. We will increase support for high-risk, high-payoff research portfolios at our science agencies. And we will invest in the breakthrough research we need to meet our energy challenges and to transform our defense programs.

McCain: I'm going to use my Ronald Regan pen to veto pork and make these people famous.