Ron Gettelfinger, President of the United Auto Workers, is pushing for the government to approve a bailout that will keep the auto industry afloat.  Gettelfinger also pointed out that 8% to 10% of the cost of a car is attributed to labor, and that the UAW's contracts didn't have anything to do with the companies' problems.  He pointed to the housing slump, credit crisis, rising unemployment rate, and the slowing economy in general.

     I would certainly agree that the economy as a whole has played a role in the auto industry's problems, but we can't deny that the industry has dug their own grave, and now they are asking American tax payers to save them from themselves.  Approval of this bailout must be avoided.  Bailing out the auto industry will be awarding mismangement, and will invite CEO's all over America to plead their cases for their own bailout.

     The United States is full of large companies which could damage the economy if they failed.  Sending the message that mismanagement will be rewarded will open the flood gates.  It's also troubling since many Republicans, including myself, have criticized Barack Obama for his socialist leanings, yet many support bailouts.  We must oppose using taxpayer dollars to reward poor decision-making, and stop the public ownership of private companies.