{"id":2778,"date":"2008-11-14T14:14:05","date_gmt":"2008-11-14T20:14:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paulryburn.com\/blog\/?p=2778"},"modified":"2008-11-14T14:14:05","modified_gmt":"2008-11-14T20:14:05","slug":"i-cant-believe-it-i-actually-agree-with-republicans-for-once","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.paulryburn.com\/blog\/2008\/11\/14\/i-cant-believe-it-i-actually-agree-with-republicans-for-once\/","title":{"rendered":"I can’t believe it… I actually agree with Republicans for once"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve been reading this article<\/a> on the chances dwindling for a bailout of the U.S. auto industry before Obama and the new Congress take office in January.\u00a0 Republicans are blocking efforts for financial assistance.\u00a0 Without aid before January, it’s possible that one or more of the Big Three automakers (particularly, GM) may fail.<\/p>\n

I think the Republicans are right.\u00a0 Let them fail.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe financial straits that the Big Three find themselves in is not the product of our current economic downturn, but instead is the legacy of the uncompetitive structure of its manufacturing and labor force,\u201d Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby said in a statement. \u201cThe financial situation facing the Big Three is not a national problem but their<\/strong> problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exactly.\u00a0 They created this mess.\u00a0 While Toyota was busy designing the Prius, GM was putting all its efforts behind big, gas-guzzling SUVs like the Chevy Avalanche and the Yukon XL.\u00a0 Vehicles that now, nobody wants.\u00a0 Too bad.\u00a0 GM made a decision and it turned out to be the wrong one.\u00a0 Make bad decisions, suffer the consequences.\u00a0 They don’t deserve to be bailed out.<\/p>\n

My suggestion is, instead of giving $25 billion to the car companies, spend $25 billion to create a WPA-style program that will employ the people who are affected by GM’s failure.\u00a0 Put people to work building infrastructure, working on initiatives to improve the environment’s health, educating our children.\u00a0 There’s a lot that needs to be fixed in this country other than the auto industry.\u00a0 Here’s a chance to fix a lot of it, and at the same time provide for those who will lose their jobs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"