And this is the other side of the coin. The UAW took a hit (see my other post about the job bank) but in addition to that, GM has to continue cutting costs, if for no other reason then to keep the bailout money. You know, I’m sad to see people lose their jobs but much like the Starbucks and Disney store issue, when demand falls and you can’t support the stores then the stores unfortunately have to go. I’m hoping this in turn makes GM a leaner company and they can rebuild within the next 10 years. They could also learn a thing or two from Toyota (who make a damn fine car if I do say so myself).

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So let me make sure I have this right…as Obama and his congressional henchmen proceed to use Orwellian language to mask a giant boon to social welfare programs by calling “Stimulus” and actual project that would have added stimulus to the economy gets mothballed. And what makes this story even more silly is that it was a factory that would have made a “green” car. The Volt is the old EV1 of “Who Killed Electric Car Fame” all done and made fancy for the new generation of eco-sensitive drivers.So not only do we not get the new factory that would have provided jobs for construction workers as well jobs for automakers (once the factory was tooled up and ready to go) but we get an obstacle in the way manufacturing “green” cars. No jobs, no green cars and no stimulus despite the multi-trillion dollar “stimulus” package that was passed in the House. Nice, what a trifecta.

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Well it’s about time. The UAW needed a good kick in the pants and frankly that’s exactly what this is. In times of mounting debt and a recessive economy you can’t have policy that has fortune 500 company bleeding money like a stuck pig. All of the American car companies need to downsize for the time being, shed excess weight (see next post) and invest in new and innovative products if they are going to survive in the global economy.The other good thing about this is that it forces GM and other car companies to be somewhat responsible with the bailout money they were just given. Sacrifices have to me, unions are no different.Now if only we could find a way to severely hurt the teachers union….

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