Lining Up at the Trough

Let's say that you run a shitty business. It's your own fault. But, suddenly you see other people whose businesses are doing poorly getting government money. What do you do? Line up to get yours, of course.

The geniuses in Detroit are conniving to get bank bail-out money to help prop up their poorly run dinosaurs because they can. Never mind that US automakers have been losing market share since the 70s. Sure, this downturn is another kick in the teeth for them, but it's their own fucking fault. When gas prices spiked during the Iranian hostage crisis they could have said, "Shit, this ain't the last time this is going to happen. Let's make all of our cars more fuel efficient." Instead, they made a bunch of crappy small cars while Toyota and Datsun/Nissan made good ones and kept grinding out big pig cars. Sure, those made them some money in the short run, but for now they are screwed.

The other thing that kills me is how they are BEGGING the government for money, but cry like spoiled children when the government asks them to reduce emissions or improve fuel efficiency (no matter that their Asian cousins don't seem to have a problem with this). There is no good reason to prop these companies up. The politicians who carry their water will say, "There are too many good jobs in the industry and that support it to let them fail." What a bunch of bullshit. If one of the big 3 goes under, another (profitable) car company will buy their assets and use them more efficiently. It's not like the long term demand for cars in the world is going down. It's just that these people will make cars and parts for another company. And, most likely, without the UAW. I don't think the democrats in Michigan, Ohio, etc want to see one of their biggest patrons go downhill any further.

This also provides prez-elect Obama (or, more specifically, his arm twister Rahm Emmanuel) with an interesting test. Henry Waxman, chief noodge in the House, currently chairs the house oversight committee. They've been spending the last two years slapping the bushies on the wrist for past bad deeds. Waxman has made it known that he would like to head up the energy and commerce committee, which is currently chaired by John Dingell of Michigan. Dingell is a notorious apologist for the automakers and has used his position to consistently block tighter emission and gas mileage standards, or anything else his patrons think might be bad for them. He's been sucking at that tit for a loooooooooooong time and he has seniority on the committee. And congress luhvs their seniority rights.

If Obama is serious about his environmental agenda, Dingell is the wrong person to head that committee. Obviously, the prez-elect isn't going to burn big political capital on a fight that's not really his and piss off half of the democrats he needs to work with. But, it is an opportunity to see how much influence he has over the new congress.