Big Labor, Big Auto, Big Government
by Christopher C. Horner
Yesterday’s E&E News PM had an item, “LOBBYING: UAW joins labor-enviro alliance”, reading in pertinent part:
The United Auto Workers has announced that it will join the BlueGreen Alliance, a partnership of labor and environment groups pushing for policies that create green jobs….
The BlueGreen Alliance was formed in 2006 by the Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers. The group also includes the Communications Workers of America, Natural Resources Defense Council, Service Employees International Union, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Utility Workers Union of America, American Federation of Teachers, Amalgamated Transit Union and Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association.
Yes. Events in the early days of the Obama administration indicated it was only a matter of time before the UAW would join this enterprise seeking massive further expansion of the state. As I detail in Chapter 7 of Power Grab: How Obama’s Green Policies Will Steal Your Freedom and Bankrupt America, “Obama’s “Baptists and Bootleggers”: Unions and Greens Selling Out America”, “Team Obama is teaming with big business, unions, and green pressure groups in an unholy alliance to advance an agenda relieving you of your wealth and freedoms, to their enrichment, in a collaboration designed to move decisions from individual producers and consumers to the Federal government. As part of this perverse game, the Left pulls for ‘green’ energy production and then blocks that very same production on environmental grounds or until it can use such projects to enrich favored unions and companies.”
Oddly, these groups are pushing for cap-and-trade, in addition to other mandates designed to make the price of energy “necessarily skyrocket”, as Obama so delicately put it.
This in turn prompted the Wall Street Journal to note that ” In addition to all the other economic harm, a cap-and-trade tax will make foreign companies more competitive while eroding market share for U.S. businesses. . . .The most harm will accrue to the very U.S. manufacturing and heavy-industry jobs that Democrats and unions claim to want to keep. . . . [Cap-and-trade] would be the greatest outsourcing boon in history.”
Which all only makes sense when you recall that the issue is not the issue. “Global warming” and “cap-and-trade” — now “clean energy” and “green jobs” after a poll done by Stanley Greenberg suggested this re-branding — is simply the latest vehicle to ride to Big Left’s desired state.
As I write in Power Grab.:
David Foster, spokesman for the “Blue-Green Alliance,” a labor greenie group, admitted how it is a union priority to use “the environment” as a way to organize society and divvy the spoils. “It is an economic restructuring bill for the global economy. We should not pretend that it isn’t.” No objections here. Possibly they hope to replicate the most recent success of intrusive government mandates making organized labor a partner of America’s automobile manufacturing industry, culminating in the federal takeover. Regardless, we see both labor and the greens echo the claim by Americans for Prosperity’s Phil Kerpen that the agenda creates “political jobs, designed to funnel vast sums of taxpayer money to left-wing labor unions, environmental groups, and social justice community organizers.” If nothing else, we know that an inarguable result of Obama’s general agenda as well as specific environmental “salvation” is a massive increase in the size of the state. And the Blue-Green Alliance spent more than a million dollars last year lobbying for the agenda. It even teamed up with Gore’s campaign for a national bus tour pushing their agenda.” (citations omitted)
The question is whether they can wholly pull this off as a matter of law before Obama’s avowed model, European social democracy, collapses. A hint of what the answer to this question will be will be on display in early November.
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111 Comments
Big Labor, Big Government, Big Auto?
BIG PROBLEMS!
As an aside, but similarily connected, did anyone happen to see the Real Estate Report today? It is imploding. http://www.cnbc.com/id/38830968
Obamanomics isn't working, and won't work. It is a crisis of confidence. Those people could not run an ice cream stand, let alone a Nation.
Two words…."buy Ford".
The unions have been exposed for their nonsense. They are outnumbered by productive citizens who HATE them. Viva la November!
Continuing evidence of the need to immediately turn the RINOs and Dims out of office! American simply can not continue on the path to destruction!
global warming = green jobs = obama administration = bullshit
Its all bullshit, folks. Just more sky is falling bullshit designed to tax us into submission.
F**k that.
Nothing to see here, move along. Just spreading the wealth around.
Does anyone else feel like we are being ganged on and held hostage?
I don't like feeling this way but everything points to the fact that we are being surrounded and we are almost out of ammunition.
The real estate market was being artificially propped up by tax credits.
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/0...
When will these idiots get OUT of the market, and let it adjust and fill in the void like it has done in hundreds of countries over thousands of years?
So, the union leadership is now openly operating against it's workers? What is the membership thinking? When are the members going to put their foot down and throw these bums out.
Smells like Mark Lloyd, Tides Foundation, all over again………..
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://remembernovember.com/
CL, Your link is a bummer, but I think my link trumps yours: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/business/econom...
How much of that stimulus theft laden govt. money goes right back into campaign coffers….?
They have about five months left to pull this off and even then they are risking alot.
If they pull off another big federal ripoff there might be hell to pay next January when all those House committees go red and can start issuing subpoenas.
Big-gov and big business want their smart grid and electric vehicles, even though electric vehicles powered from coal plants via a smart grid are really not a cleaner solution than gasoline is. It doesn't matter that mass electric vehicles need billions of dollars in tax payer smart grid investments either, or the fact that battery technology is not even close to being practical solution. While the left blocks on environmental grounds the utilities, state and federal regulations make it very difficult for any type of alternative sources of power to connect to the grid, even though alternative sources exist that produce power cheaper and much much cleaner than utilities do–already producing 10% of this countries power despite the uphill battle with the Gov-Utility controlled grid.
Ahhhh the Alphabet Organized Crime Family gotta love them! I am curious to all the mafia members err I mean union members what the hell is your problem? Do you not realize you are a pawn… no, a slave providing money to the heads of these organizations to push their political agenda? Or are you that stupid you can't see what most of us see? Cap and trade is an agenda based on a lie and if they get this through it will destroy this country once and for all as the final nails are going in as we speak! Newsflash kids we dont make anything here anymore and the more jobs get outsourced through the less jobs there will be here the real unemployment rate is apprx 17%. Celente is predicting 22-25% in 2011.
I swear there are days when I just don't want to read any of this crap its day after day and everyone sits idly by as it happens. I know whats coming and I can hear it now "well how come nobody said something?" "why weren't we warned?" blah blah blah. The warnings are there too many ppl are too caught up with their own little worlds to watch the news and spend 5-10min a day checking out the headlines. No no you worked a long day, had to get the kids off to practice, make dinner, feed the dog/fish, cut the lawn, catching up on American Idol or Real Whor… Housewives of Wherever etc not realizing that these chores are in fact blessing that someday you may wish you have!!!!!
Rome is burning, those responsible are setting more of it to blaze. Don't worry just continue to think someone will put the fire out, and while you do that realize that that someone is thinking the same way; 2 people becomes 4, 4 people becomes 16, 256, 65536 and so on.
I cannot do it alone, to spread the word about http://www.savingtherepublic.com 's tactics, and neither can you to stop the animals in DC, the fringe media and special interests. But together we can ALL make a difference and stop them the question is what are you prepared to do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7jsKLXqA0g
No. I felt that way about a year ago, then the Tea Party sprang up, and I realzied there are more people who feel like I/we do than people who feel otherwise. The media portrays US as the minority when in reality it's the media, academia, and the ruling classes who are in the minority. We're called the silent majority for a reason, but now we've been awakened by a threat to the existence of our country.
Don't those Styrofoam Temples look really stupid now?
Toyota has no union.
It's smaller version of our own gov't, run tyrannically.
Lemmings rarely think beyond paydays. They are the original vote sellers after all.
Come on November!
Yes, I know, it is all Bush's fault.
The subpoenas will only happen if enough people with values and principles are elected, right now even if the repubs take control there is no guarantee that the current repub leadership will do what we believe they should. I have yet to see any indication of the majority of the repubs hearing what the American people are saying, granted there are a few but we need a lot more.
Well maybe not….at least until their support of la ratza stops….
Time to look for the Anti-Union label!
Two words… I do.
Cass, yoo hoo Caaaass,…….Cass Sunstein,…….wherrrre arrrre yoooou? I see your fingerprints all over
this Cassie S. Didn't you make some promises during your confirmation hearing about doing evil things
with your power Cassie? I don't think you're keeping those promises Cassie.
Do we need to Beck you again Caaaass?:-)
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Start diggin for rocks!
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I used to think Chevy was as American as apple pie I was wrong.
And in related news, GM is thinking there will be a rush to participate in an IPO. This coming from the same people who wiped out GM share holder value in order to enrich the US government share holders, the Canadian government share holders, and the UAW share holders.
I doubt that even Forrest Gump Investments, LLC. would throw any money at shares of a New/Improved Government Motors.
If "creating" green jobs is such a great thing, why does Spain have over 20% unemployment? For every green job created, two non-green related jobs were lost.
ROTFLOL………..Y yes they do, tarpon………now that you mention it…….HA HA HA HA HA
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"The United Auto Workers has announced that it will join the BlueGreen Alliance, a partnership of labor and environment groups pushing for policies that create green jobs…."
This is just the labor union supporting what they will actively pursue for unionization. It's about growing their organization and using government (subsidies) to do it. Be damned the taxpayer.
I have an old but restored Chevy pickup with a 454 and I've considered the purchase a C6 Vette, until the corporation circumvented an honest restructuring last summer. Now, I doubt I could ever drink my conscience far enough under the table to buy a new General Motors vehicle.
Alas, over the last few decades I've bought new GM's, Mopars, Toyotas, various English and Italian vehicles which will remain unnamed to protect the soft-headed, and 5 new Fords in the last 10 years. I have nothing but good to say about all of the Fords.
No kidding. Why would ANYONE invest in ANY company with a big union? The same thing will happen again. The gov't will ignore investors' rights and law to buy the votes from the union thugs/members.
There is not a chance in the world I would sink money into GM. SOme people will because they would expect their shares to be safe given the government involvment. But, Barry-Bop has gotten what he wants ftom the unions. If they go down again, he will throw them under the Volvo made bus.
Unions have outlived their usefulness to humanity. The "worker oppression" which may have once been a problem has since been become far less of a problem than worker laziness, overpay, and the pension funding issues.
What's that called when you become the problem you used to hate? The unions ARE the man, and they are worse men than the enterprising titans who hired people to begin with.
And they claim morality while demanding social programs which bankrupt us? Blue and Green are disguises for their Marxist red.
lol @ protecting the soft headed. : )
So true my friend, so true.
Global Warming? I thought it was simply 'summertime'…Geez, where have I been?
Government Motors, sure….Fight Socialism, Buy A Ford!
Just think about their faces when they have thier obi-wan-kanobi swoards taken away from them!
Unions, Sierra Club, Obama–socialists all. Lets face it. We have been infiltrated.
Yup. It's claimed that confession is good for the soul… After spending real money on those vehicles, I'm not convinced.
Unfortunately, you still feed the beast, via the UAW.
Syrin23 I agree with that! I keep thinking, lets see, we're in the hundreds of Millions and furious. They've got 600 in Congress, then media, academia etc etc. Then I feel better. We far outnumber them.
That's why they're so intent on keeping the 20Million Illegals for Votes, and why they attack Gov. Brewer,
and TODAY obama has sent out the DOJ to harrass our other American Hero, Sheriff Arpaio. I pity Obama and the DOJ if they abuse Sheriff Arpaio too much. America at this point will go Viral, to protect him, and will start obama's Impeachment tomorrow instead of after Nov.
United Steel Workers? It amazes me that this bunch of Union thugs still exist. I grew up in Pittsburgh and had front row seats to watch the greenies of the 70's and 80's totally decimated the Steel industry. Now they join forces with the green bastards that killed their once great American industry. You could say the same for the Auto Industry. Just totally F'd up!
Time to break out the BIG GUNS !!!
My family has driven GMs almost exclusively. Now no one will own one.
This is all part of the liberal con, too redistribute wealth (our wealth), urban sprawl (our sprawl), global warming (except of coarse Owlgore with his private jet and Beach home). It’s all BS, and fully exposed, and it’s getting time to sick’em!
The thing that I find so amazing is how all these dumb ass rank and file UAW union folks,……….
are allowing themselves to be taken to slaughter,……….
all the time thinking that they are going to be working,……
the way they did from 2000 to 2008.
Union members who start to regain their integrity are faced with tremendous peer pressure.
If one of them even starts to waiver in his outward commitment to the union or their extortion and bully tactics, the others will pounce on him.
The coach of their kids' little league time will find reasons why their kid gets less playing time. Play dates for their kids will be fewer. Several union members will drop over around dinner time to have a chat.
On the job, the union will ensure that if someone's hours get cut, they're his. Or he'll get the worst assignments.
It is very hard for an individual to stand up to unions once they infect a business, industry, or region.
We must make sure that Card Check doesn't get passed. It takes away the right to secret ballots for unionization. If it does get passed, within several years union membership will double, due to union intimidation.
It's time that we downsized. . . all of it.
As a further aside to this, did anyone see today where John Boehner asked that Obama asked for, and accept the resignations of his Economic Team? Starting with Timmy Geitner and Larry Summers…………..
The Ford Foundation is one of the largest groups donating billions to leftist socialist causes.
One example is the Ford Foundation's role in underwriting The Open Borders Lobby. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/funders.asp
AHHH the left …ever notice that with wealth,education, and everything else the left always wants to bring down the successful never bring people up to success ….
The Ford Foundation is one of the largest groups donating billions to leftist socialist causes.
One example is the Ford Foundation's role in underwriting The Open Borders Lobby.
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/funders.asp
Not only that…. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/funders.asp
Most interesting, is that these forces (hoping for this unified impingement of individual rights, and the implementation of government oversight and dictation of industry and economy) represent everything they claim to hate about Republicans/Conservatives.
They aren't representative of a 'majority' of citizens. What percentage of Americans are in unions?
They focus monetary donations with a laser like accuracy on specific issues which directly benefit their power and money.
They are actively attempting to implement programs which would relieve individuals of specific choices (rights?) that have, since the formation of the Republic, been an independent and individual decision (rights?).
Frankly, how these folks can believe there is any difference between themselves and the picture of the Conservative Republicans that they paint; I find fascinating.
It's as if we have entered Bizaro World.
We listened for years about the poor decisions, leadership and frequent vacations of Bush the Younger. Now, we are victims to the bad decisions, vacuum of accountable leadership and non-stop golf and gourmet eating of this President.
What's changed? What's different?
And the low rent fools at the bottom of the food chain that provided a majority in the elections: How short sighted can they be? Certainly, I understand the desires ignited from the spark of the perception of being 'down trodden'. Of the perception of being disadvantaged by the system. I understand the overt willingness to listen to the promises of a Messiah. To be a Believer in the hope that your situation would change.
But, what if the problem truly wasn't the system?
Then what? What of the change and promises? What is the effect?
The human mind is designed to play tricks on ourselves. Mostly for reasons of clarity and self protection. One of the most insidious tricks it plays is that of illusory correlations. It's magical thinking. Creating relationships or correlations which truly don't exist.
You couple that 'magical' thinking with another cognitive illusion: that your shortcomings are NOT a result of your own character, actions or doing, and you have a scenario in which a segment of society is willfully voting against another segment of society out of what amounts to spite.
The old poking your eye to spite your face scenario. They will vote higher taxes and programs at such a level as to damage the rest of the citizenry and disrupt the established quality of living; but in the end, enough won't trickle down to them to noticeable change their own circumstances (you can't legislate ability, character or work ethic).
And, in the process, they will have destroyed the greatest experiment in Freedom, self-governance and opportunity the world had known.
Japan's auto manufactures statement on unions. "They are protection schemes for inferior workers."
I am reading a lot of people suggesting Ford is the all new American car company.
The Ford Foundation is a top donor to socialist causes.
Why do you think they were immune to the Obama massacre?
Please visit: http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/funders.asp
Excellent overview! The only exception I would note is, "What has changed, what is different?" I contend it is different in that it appears to be much, much worse !
This is correct, and we must stand up and start making our numbers matter.
Part of the statist game is to silence us, to make us feel outnumbered that we do not speak up when in public.
Stand up and be counted citizen!
"Green jobs" is just a euphemism for a useless govt position. Liberals are creating a nation of parasites. Several weeks ago I started investing in Chinese companies; it's incredible that the communist-capitalists have a better economic understanding than the democrat ignoramuses in DC.
A smackdown of leftwing economic policies by Intel's CEO………..
Intel CEO Otellini: The Democrats Are Destroying our Economy…….. <a href="http://.http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/2010/08/24/intel-ceo-otellini-the-democrats-are-destroying-our-economy/” target=”_blank”>.http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/2010/08/24/intel-ceo-otellini-the-democrats-are-destroying-our-economy/
You are absolutely correct my friend.
While Ford is a success, and I am partial because that is all I have ever owned, with the exception of two GM vehicles, Ford is a bastion of liberal donorship.
That has always grated on me.
I am not sure but I don't think Ford Motor Comapny has had any relationship with the Ford Foundation for 100 years or so.
Disband Unions. They're Radical. And America wants Conservatism, Safety, and Constitutional values. Unions don't cut it!
WOW! Short, to the point, and extremely accurate.
Exactly.
Other than its name, the Ford Foundation has not had any connections to the Ford Motor Company nor the Ford family for over thirty years. Henry Ford II, the last family member on the board of trustees, resigned from the foundation board in 1976, encouraging foundation staff to remain open to new ideas and work to strengthen the country’s economic system.
Your confusing the two companies they are separate.
Woody Allen is making movies in Europe because it's too expensive
http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/content/2010/aug/24...
Well the progressives are also not representative of the majority and they also focus money on particular interests and most certainly implement groups and programs and causes that eliminate choices for people.
There really isn't much difference, only the pile of poop each group covets. Progressives most definitely destroy liberty so I don't find the union behavior surprising. In fact you would be hard pressed to find a single true classic liberal in the ranks of unions.
People have to realize progressivism is NOT true liberalism. Its is almost the opposite. Any social planning MUST involve destruction of liberty and choices and the necessary control of people.
So, Green is the New Red? I think I remember reading that in a book by some guy named Horner once.
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
"Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive"
Unions priced themselves out of competition.
The best thing Hussein could do for the economy is dissolve his admin and step down as President.
Yes Sir Mr Logic, I sure did………Boehner is running unopposed so it's probably not a campaign
stunt,……………so perhaps he's already feeling the POWAH from the coming election……?
Talk about countin your chickens before they hatch?????
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I saw an SEIU building in DC the other day. Freaked the hell out of me. They seem to spend a lot on their offices, which is probably why they screw over their members. Union are such a joke. Just elitist liberals exploiting the working man.
Prof of Steel, nice read…..thanx
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"Just elitist liberals exploiting the working man. "
Bingo. The wealthy progressives/leftist use the movement to insure their own positions and quash anyone who might threaten their wealth or position. Control of the herd is their competitive edge.
Which leads to the question of why was an income tax instituted instead of a wealth tax, or amassed asset tax if you'd rather? Another one of those questions that makes a person say mmmm.
Oh yeah, maybe my perception is off base, but has anyone else noticed the tendency of the uber-wealthy, billionaires and such to support the Democrats disproportionately? I always hear the left squawking about the evil rich being the conservatives. Do they mean the Buffett, Bloomberg, Gates, Soros, Ted the mouth of the South Turner, Winfrey, et al.?
Infiltrated or infested?!!
It's a damn shame and I pray our country recovers ~
Sadly, I disagree. I think you vastly underestimate the source of and the nature of our horribly corrupt culture while overestimating the true numbers of those capable of the changes necessary for our renaissance.
Union members refuse to acknowledge reality. I have gotten in so many arguments with my stepdad over the nature of unions. Never once has he agreed with me or conceded to a single point of mine. Facts be damned. He gets paid very well and has a great pension coming when he gets to retire at fifty something. When the government won't allow unionized companies like GM fail like they're supposed to; the union members aren't affected and still get to keep their goodies.
I completely agree. This is one major source of my pessimism.
This will work until we have a government that says we are not going to carry you anymore, Then the membership will be asking what did you do with my pension money, Oh, it went to the democrat party?
Or we start investigating these unions for pension fraud.
Big Labor, Big Union, Big Government, Big JOKE!
Hey Cowboy,
Drove from Elko NV to Oglalla Nebraska today (13 hours). Was gonna stay in Cheyenne, all hotels were booked. Had to drive another 2 1/2 hours to here. Tipped my hat to Wyoming for you, damn they have alot of Antelope. And everyone, I mean everyone (except me) drives the speed limit. Weird if you ask me.
hundreds of millions? Delusions of grandeur much? How many of these retarded Tea Party candidates actually made it past the primaries with your hundreds of millions of votes? A gazillion of them? You don't even need to take off your socks to count them. That's what your hundreds of millions of votes got you…squat! Probably because the majority of Republican voters said "HELL NO" to the Tea Party's best. Oh well…enjoy your "hundreds of millions" of whatever.
Probably has something to do with the fact that Henry Ford was a big supporter of the unions and the working man which is why Ford is still union to this day. I know you're all upset that big government isn't doing enough to expand, restrict and regulate an individual's personal labor decisions and salaries but your quest for socialism may someday come true. There may be a fine day in America when an individual's liberty to make their own labor decisions will be restricted and regulated by an expanded form of government so that the American worker can have a collectively acceptable piece of the capitalist pie based on more regulated social labor standards and government will intrude and abolish unions. You know…Socialism! Stalin would be so proud.
The people who owned General Motors stock prior to 2009 lost.
True but most of them hung on and still kept investing. It's General Motors, the manufacturer of some of the best American automobiles in the World. Who wouldn't hang on? With GM posting quarterly profits for the first time in 7 years and the new IPO coming this fall on top of the streamlined product line and the Volt, they're kicking a$$ and taking numbers!
US Population is approx 310,000,000. Obama's rating has now plunged to approx 30%. That would mean that approx 220 MILLION Voting Americans are NOT for Obama's Marxism. You could be out of your $6.dollars an hour job soon.
"You could be out of your $6.dollars an hour job soon." Actually if the elitists your loyal get in power, that $6 an hour job is probably what I end up with.
And you're right! I forgot about the hundreds of millions of people under the age of 18 that won't be voting for Obama.
"Prof of Steel",………….????
The Ford foundation has been hijacked by the people "administering" it.
Henry is spinning in his grave over what they are doing with his money…
MANY philanthropic foundations are no longer following their creators wishes.
all 3 suck…
Green must die. or middle class will…
Both I fear. They have stealthily infiltrated leadership and educational venues and they have rat infested unions and journalism.
Remember November, so the down sizing can begin, and economic freedom can start to return to US.
http://remembernovember.com/
Milton Friedman – Greed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A
If, no living Ford gives a crap that the Ford Foundation is propagating and ensuring the destruction of the American Republic as designed…then, they must be socialists.
If the Ford family has no authority, sway, input, advice, concern, etc….over their namesake charity and If they have no influence at all, then, they are simply stupid socialists.
One of his first comments made after he 'changed his approach' I commented he sounded
like a professor, and told him hence forth to me he would be Prof of Steel. I guess you could
call it an inside joke between Joey and me.
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The UAW is another black hole…that needs to be plugged.
You're right again. Contributing to the destruction of America is not in it's best interests. So many that want to bring this country down. It's scary!
""worker oppression" which may have once been a problem has since been become far less of a problem" — As you lobby and advocate for a government big enough to restrict and regulate an individual's freedom to make their own personal labor and salary decisions? It's obvious the "worker oppression" threat is greater than ever and if you need proof of this, read your comment and others like it to get an idea of how you are trying to dictate a worker's rights to conform to your socialist views of acceptable labor standards. Why so Socialist?
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