ORIGINAL: lear4406
Wooooo!! I never said I was for socialized health care. I'm quite the opposite. I was just pointing out as to why they went to Canada. I want the big three to stay in the good old USA. But they have to get real about their positioning. I think the folks on the assembly line are overpaid. I don't think theres a reason for them to make that much to be quite honest.
My apologies lear, I must have read that too quickly. Though even reading it over again, I can now see what your saying, but it is still a little confusing. hpjunky also appears to misunderstand what you're were saying as well. It was worth mentioning anyways since that is an idea that I hear all the time when they mention the Big Three's woes. Nonetheless, I agree with most of what you said lear.
Your right, I think they are getting overpaid myself especially considering that is a job which requires no formal education yet if you calculate all the benefits including retirement and so forth, they are getting paid between $50-75 per hour. I know tons of people who have positions that require expertise and a college education that don't get paid, even half of that per hour.
The problem is I don't think they can move away from the union areas in this country. I think there are laws that forces them to hire union positions, but I still think they could move the factories in less union focused areas in the U.S. At least there they could possibly get employees who would put in the effort they are getting paid for.
I agree that they should stay as U.S. based as possible; however, I must remind some of you that our countries best customer (buyer of exports) is Canada. If we want them to buy stuff from us, we likewise have to buy things from them.