This country is in need of some serious conversation regarding the future of the big three auto companies, Ford, GM and Chrysler. Some people are of the mind to allow the companies go into Chapter 11 so that labor can step in and acquire the companies. Some people are of the mind to allow the companies fail suggesting that their usefulness has passed.
I think that the country needs to have the members of the UAW sitting on the board of directors of the big three auto companies. As a nation, we are not going to do well if the auto industry goes down. Here is a diary posted on Daily Kos which is a start for the conversation.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/24/173537/61/190/665963
What has been so odd, is the relative ease with which money is being handed to the Wall Street bankers while labor is in serious need and only wants a loan which will be paid back. I would like to see the nation come together over the issue of acquiring the auto industry to hand it over to labor with the proviso that we engage in green design and start to build for a green future.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Can the netroots help buy the auto industry for the workers?
That is a serious question. This is a question that we have been discussing in a diary on Daily Kos this morning. I called the UAW today and asked if we could not organize a movement on the web to purchase the controlling interest in the big three auto companies. It was discussed this morning on Thom Hartmann's radio program also.
The auto companies have a capital worth of several billion dollars. To take controlling interest in these companies might not take all that much money. The netroots could help. The other unions in our nation could organize campaigns to purchase the stock. We could all purchase a share or two of stock and put it together to have a controlling block. The management could be replaced and workers put on the board of directors so that they can have a voice.
The people would benefit because this would give us clout with big oil. We could change the way autos are done and start to export our autos which would be in great demand. The planet would benefit from sustainable technology and Wall Street fat cats would be told to sit down.
The auto companies have a capital worth of several billion dollars. To take controlling interest in these companies might not take all that much money. The netroots could help. The other unions in our nation could organize campaigns to purchase the stock. We could all purchase a share or two of stock and put it together to have a controlling block. The management could be replaced and workers put on the board of directors so that they can have a voice.
The people would benefit because this would give us clout with big oil. We could change the way autos are done and start to export our autos which would be in great demand. The planet would benefit from sustainable technology and Wall Street fat cats would be told to sit down.
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