Buy America, weaken America
One wonders if GM and its workers would be in a better position today if things got this tough 10 years ago. Or if GM's unionized workers hadn't become accustomed to benefits, negotiated during high times, that cover virtually all healthcare expenses, an even better deal than members of Congress get. Or if the roaring success of SUVs in the 1990s hadn't allowed GM to get lazy and put aside development of new sedans and hybrids and economy cars that can compete with Hyundais, which used to be a late-night joke. Now it is GM, once an American icon, that is becoming the late-night joke.
For now, Schumer and Graham and many of their congressional colleagues know there are votes to be gained from China-bashing, or Dubai-bashing, as the case may be. That might work as long as there are disgruntled voters out there, worried about jobs and unspecified threats to national security and vague foreign dangers. But as GM woefully demonstrates, an even bigger threat comes from companies and workers who are never challenged, until it's too late. If only there were votes to be gained exposing that.
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