Hey! Remember back a couple months ago when it seemed, like, immediately important that we do something about global warming? And Al Gore won a Nobel Prize and gas prices were so damn high? Okay, but that was before the huge economic meltdown of the banks, and the media, and the automotive industry, so now it's more important that we stop thinking about global warming and all the penguins marching to a broil, and start focusing on how we are going to prevent living in Hoovervilles and outsourcing eating to India.
Which is just another way of saying Congress has basically come up with their bailout package for the Big Three automotive companies, and it's not looking good for those of you that were hoping Green Initiatives stood for something other than the color of cold, hard cash.
As it stands now, a $15 billion loan, paid out of a fund previously allocated to implementing fuel-efficient technology, will be given to the struggling car-makers. In exchange, the companies will have to submit detailed restructuring plans by March 31 that show how they'll transition to long-term viability and pay back the loans. A powerful "car czar" appointed by President Bush will be tasked with overseeing the entire process.
We had $15 billion allotted towards fuel-efficient technology? Who knew! Of course, Bush is just going to take back that money and send it over to his buddies at For, Chrysler, and General Motors, but it's almost comforting to know that the money was hypothetically put away for a crisis that our current president doesn't even believe in.
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Dear America,
Thanks!
Best,
Detroit
When Chrysler calls looking for my car payment, I'll just tell them to use $400 of their bailout money for this month's payment…since it's coming out of my pocket anyway.
clearly, i'm in the wrong business.
i need to get my ass on over to detroit, so i too can be paid $70 an hour when i get laid off.
Being from Michigan I'm glad this got worked out. We have 9.3% unemployment last time I checked. Higher actually because a ton of people are no longer collection unemployment, myself included, so we don't get counted into that 9.3%. If this didn't come through it would have killed the state. Even with this money the auto industry is still going to lay off people, now hopefully not as many as they were talking.
Keebler,
I'm from N.E. Ohio — The rust belt. My dad was a steelworker, and employment in my home town is mostly on auto components. So, believe me, I get the effect that the big three crashing and burning would have on that entire area.
That said, from a global warming perspective, this was an opportunity to force some changes that seems like it was missed. Would it have hurt a lot of good, vulnerable people in the short run? Definitely. Will continued (more like ever-increasing) global warming hurt even more vulerable populations in a more devestating way? I believe so.
But you're right to point out that it was not an easy decision and that a lot of good people — not just the fat cats — will benefit from this.
Mmmmm. Broiled Penguin.
I'd rather detroit get the money, and not some pie in sky green shit.
To hell with Global warming! We'll all be dead in 20 - 40 years anyway!
Fuck the children!
I agree with you SeaKat about trying to force some change. The problem is, even with the auto industry going to Washington with their hats in hand they still have way to much pull there. American auto doesn't want to change. Like all big businesses with too much pull in Washington they think they will always be in control, all they have to do is slip the right people some cash.
Washington should have flexed it's muscle and forced more change toward fuel-efficient technology from them.
"Washington should have flexed it's muscle and forced more change toward fuel-efficient technology from them."
Exactly. This was a golden opportunity to FORCE them to change their ways. Too bad Congress didn't take advantage
@#7 "No Pinkos"
::looks around::
Nah, it's just too easy.
its expensive to be green. the big 3 go under and so to do 3 million jobs. giving money to the big 3, unlike investment banks, also funds hard working americans just trying to feed their families - which is why this one was harder to pass. giving money to car companies does not mean we no longer care about green. Who could afford to be green, if they couldn't afford a box of pasta for dinner.
perhaps jossip could go green?
I do think we need to take bigger steps towards being green, but I have to admit I'm fine with this for the simple reason that I work in the oilfield.