The bottomless UAW money pit
Two weeks ago, I told you about the UAW’s gold-plated golf course. Now, the rest of the story. As required by federal law, unions must file yearly disclosure documents with the Labor Department. I looked up the LM-2 form for the UAW’s 2007 annual report (No. 000-149). My syndicated column today shares some choice morsels from the annual report and reviews the union bosses’ long history of pilfering workers’ dues for their personal enjoyment and gain — including moronic investments in a doomed airline, doomed radio network, and doomed Palm Springs resort. Thanks to George Bush and the bipartisan bailout enablers, what the UAW did do its own workers it will now do to taxpayers. We’re porked.
What a way to ring in the New Year, huh? Make sure your congressional reps know about this. Here’s how to write them.
***
The UAW’s money-squandering corruptocracy
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2008
Nero fiddled while Rome burned. The UAW golfed. While carmakers soak up $17 billion in taxpayer bailout funds and demand more for their ailing industry, United Auto Workers bosses have wasted tens of millions of their workers’ dues on gold-plated resorts and rotten investments. The labor organization’s money-losing golf compound is just the tip of the iceberg.
Earlier this month on my blog, I noted that the UAW owns and operates Black Lake Golf Course — a “championship caliber” course opened in 2000 that’s part of a larger “family education center” and retreat nestled in 1,000 acres of property in Onaway, Michigan. Spearheaded by former UAW president Steve Yokich, the resort also includes “a beautiful gym with two full-sized basketball courts, an Olympic-size indoor pool, and exercise and weight room, table-tennis and pool tables, a sauna, beaches, walking and bike trails, softball and soccer fields and a boat launch ramp.” Like everything else we’re subsidizing these days, the UAW’s playground is a money pit. The Detroit Free Press reported earlier this year that the golf course (valued at $6 million) and education center (valued at $27 million) have together lost $23 million over the past five years. While membership in the union has plummeted, the UAW retains assets worth $1.2 billion.
Curious about how the UAW will be spending my money and yours, I sifted through the union’s most recent annual report filed with the U.S. Department of Labor (which you can find at unionreports.gov). Who knew hitting the links was so central to the business of making cars?
In May and November 2007, the UAW forked over nearly $53,000 for union staff meetings at the Thousand Hills Golf Resort in Branson, Missouri. In September 2007, the UAW dropped another $5,000 at the Lakes of Taylor Golf Club in Taylor, Michigan and another $9,000 at the Thunderbird Hills Golf Club in Huron, Ohio. Another bill for $5,772 showed up for the Branson, Missouri golf resort. On Oct. 26, 2007, the union spent $5,000 on another “golf outing” in Detroit. In May and June 2007, UAW bosses spent nearly $11,000 on a golf tournament and related expenses at the Hawthorne Hill Country Club in Lima, Ohio. And in April 2007, the UAW spent $12,000 for a charity golf sponsorship in Dearborn. In August 2007, the UAW paid nearly $10,000 to its for-profit Black Lake golf course operator, UBG, for something itemized as “Golf 2007 Summer School.” UBG had nearly $4.4 million worth of outstanding loans from the union. Another for-profit entity that runs the education center, UBE, had nearly $20 million in outstanding loans from the union.
Perhaps, the union bosses might argue, they need all this fresh air and exercise to clear their heads in order to make wise financial decisions on behalf of their workers. If only. UAW management has proven to be a money-squandering corruptocracy with faux blue-collar trim. Former UAW head Yokich, who built the Black Lake black hole is also responsible for bidding $9.75 million of workers’ funds in a botched bid to purchase the gated La Mancha Resort Village in Palm Springs. The 100-room walled resort with spas, poolside massages, and a “croquet lawn lit for night use” was on the verge of bankruptcy with $5.2 million in debt. Despite outrage from rank-and-file union members who thought one gold-plated golf resort was quite enough, leaders defended the La Mancha bid because, as union spokesman Paul Krell put it, “‘You can never tell if you are going to become snowbound.” Always putting the workers first!
That deal didn’t go through, but the UAW’s quixotic dalliance with a failed airline did. In February 2000, the union poured $14.7 million into Pro Air, a Detroit start-up airline that, well, didn’t get off the ground. Plagued by safety problems, the feds shuttered the company less than a year later. The union didn’t fare much better in its venture with a liberal radio network. In 1996, union heavies got the bright idea to invest $5 million in United Broadcasting Network, a left-wing precursor to Air America that the UAW hoped to use to spread its corporate-bashing propaganda. They shelled out for a $2 million, state-of-the-art studio in Detroit and incurred years of losses of a reported $75,000 a month before closing the network down in 2003.
And while the UAW and carmakers cry poor, they’ve operated massive joint funds for years that have paid for lavish items such as multi-million-dollar NASCAR racer sponsorships and Las Vegas junkets. The dire economic downturn hasn’t changed the behavior of profligate union bigs at the front office or the shop floor. Local Detroit TV station WDIV recently caught local UAW bosses Ron Seroka and Jim Modzelewski — both of whom make six-figure salaries — on tape squandering thousands of hours of overtime on such important labor security matters as on-the-clock beer runs and bowling tournaments.
At least the groveling Big 3 CEOs gave up their corporate jets. Where’s the public flogging for the greed-infested UAW fatcats reaching into our pockets to keep them afloat?
***
Postscript I. Here’s more on the UAW golf course and its deadbeat UAW managers. Local county official Dennis Lennox e-mailed the following press release yesterday detailing how the union has avoided taxes on its tony resort:
UAW gets around paying fair share of taxes for lakeside resort
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHEBOYGAN, Mich. (Dec. 29, 2008) — The United Autoworkers Union has repeatedly tried to get around paying the assessed property taxes on a $33 million private resort for members and their families in recent years, which has impacted funding for education and other basic public services in rural Northern Michigan.
Public records indicate the union has challenged Cheboygan County’s Waverly Township in the state Tax Tribunal – forcing multiple reductions over the past four years. The legal challenges come at a time when Cheboygan County struggles to fund cash-strapped schools, which rely heavily on property tax assessments.
“Shame on the UAW for not paying its fair share towards educating Cheboygan County’s next generation,” said County Drain Commissioner-elect Dennis Lennox (R-Topinabee). “The UAW is using its $1.2 billion net worth to get around the system and its responsibility to pay the same taxes that hard-working families pay without dispute.”
Published reports indicate the resort – formally known as Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center – has lost $23 million over the past five years. The UAW covers costs of the resort by using the interest it earns on the strike fund, according to tax documents, but massive losses in the past five years have forced the union to make heavy loans to keep the center afloat.
Appealing assessments to the Tax Tribunal is perfectly legal, though few local governments can afford to mount a defense against the UAW’s legion of lawyers in today’s bleak economic climate.
The situation in Waverly Township was made worse by the inaction of former UAW lawyer-turned-County Commissioner Leonard Page (D-Grant Township), who has avoided helping Waverly Township despite assurances at County Commission meetings that he would help end the long-standing dispute.
Postscript II. Didn’t have room in the piece to get into the notorious nepotism/extortion case involving UAW Local 594. Here’s the 2007 DOJ press release announcing the sentencing of two union thugs found guilty in the scandal:
Two top former union officers from southeastern Michigan were sentenced to terms of probation on charges of conspiracy to demand from General Motors Corporation (GM), the authority to amend the terms of the national labor agreement between GM and the United Auto Workers (UAW) when they were not authorized to do so; and in conjunction with that, conspiracy to extort from GM, skilled trades positions of employment for two specified non-GM and non-UAW individuals whom the union officers knew were not qualified or entitled to those positions, United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy announced today.
Murphy was joined in the announcement by Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena, of the Detroit Division, and James Vanderberg, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.
Sentenced today by United States District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds were:
Donny G. Douglas, 65, of Holly, Michigan, on both counts, to two years probation with six months home confinement on electronic tethering, in addition to 100 hours of community service, and a $4,000 fine. At the time of the offenses, Douglas was employed as a UAW International Servicing Representative.
Jay D. Campbell, 65, of Davisburg, Michigan, on both counts, to two years probation with six months home confinement on electronic tethering, in addition to 100 hours of community service, and a $4,000 fine. At the time of the offenses, Campbell was employed as the Chairman of the Shop Committee and chief negotiator for UAW Local 594.
Douglas and Campbell were found guilty on June 27, 2006, after a jury trial, of the offenses of conspiracy to violate the Taft-Hartley Act, and conspiracy to extort under the Hobbs Act.
United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy said, “Abusive and extortionate practices increase the costs of doing business for our local employers and undermine the confidence in the integrity of our community’s essential commercial activity. Any criminal extortion activity like this, which we consider to be serious and abusive of voluntary participation in the marketplace, will be pursued with vigor, as it was in this case.”
The evidence presented at trial showed that between approximately August 1995 and August 1997, Douglas and Campbell, using their union positions, conspired to demand from GM the hiring of Campbell’s son and another individual, who was the son of a former union official, into skilled trades positions, when Douglas and Campbell knew those two individuals were not qualified for those positions and when such hiring was in violation of the normal hiring process that existed in the union contract with GM. Furthermore, these demands by Douglas and Campbell threatened to delay or prevent the settlement of various negotiations that occurred between Local 594 and GM during those three years, culminating with the threat to prolong an 87-day strike that occurred in 1997. As a result of these illegal demands by Douglas and Campbell, the two individuals were hired by GM into skilled trades positions so as to avert the continuation of the 1997 strike.
Murphy commended the work of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey W. Dancer of the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and Special Agent David B. Rogers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Wouczyna and Trial Attorney Vincent J. Falvo, Jr., from the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, Labor Management Unit in Washington, D.C.
Rank-and-file workers furthered charged that Local 594 bosses embezzled more than $480,000 to settle a sexual harassment suit against ex-president Donny G. Douglas and to pay legal bills.
What does the UAW stand for? Unending Abuse and Waste.
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Good morning Michelle.
Reporting on union abuses is a full time job.
The Cerberus Bailout Connection
Bush gave General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC up to $17.4 billion today.
Cerberus bought 80.1 percent of Chrysler from Daimler AG for $7.4 billion in 2007. Cerberus said it doesn’t have the funds necessary to bail out Chrysler.
General Motors sold a 51% stake in its GMAC finance unit to an investor group led by Cerberus Capital Management in November 2006.
On Oct. 19, 2006, John W. Snow — President Bush’s second Secretary of the Treasury — was named chairman of Cerberus.
Dan Quayle is chairman of global investments for Cerberus Capital Management.
Why would George W. Bush choose to bail out two companies controlled by Cerberus Capital Management, which is controlled by Bush cronies?
First, as an ex-union steward of a union that saw the future and gave up it’s ‘UAW’ ways and partnered with it’s company to provide for it’s members for the future, I am appalled that such conduct as is documented in your articles and references hasn’t been brought up under RICO.
Second, I wonder how many of our politico’s (both parties) have spent hours on those links discussing ‘union business’?
Third, President-Elect Obama’s plan to revitalize the economy and provide the x millions of jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges seems to forget a) the years of engineering required to produce such projects, b) that we already have construction companies in place, c) the majority of the ‘jobs created’ will be unskilled labor, the first ones to be hit by recession/layoffs with no place to go, and d) the acknowledgment that a future workforce, in order to be sustainable in the current and future economy must be an educated workforce.
Unlike the predictions of a former KGB analyst, I don’t believe that this country is headed towards a revolution, but I do wonder what is going to happen when all the left’s favorite projects are going to be ‘put on hold’ because of lack of funding availability?
And people actually wonder why I have such disdain for unions. Time to begin the dismantling of these disasters.
have the Goreacle types ever complained about the evil golf course run off at UAW sites?
I sure hope all those courses the UAW nits tee off at allow blacks.
hmmmmmm
ACH,
Americans do not wonder dem slacks and media hacks do. Happy New Years Eve
bring it awwnnn 2009 the year of the flush
Reference to 3C of my previous – I forgot Hilda Solis, and advocate of blanket amnesty and open borders was appointed Secretary of Labor, my bad.
IMHO, most unions have outlived their usefulness. Back in the 19th and early 20th centuries there were viable reasons for unions. The robber barons of the time made millions and billions and treated workers like slaves.
Now the main purpose of unions seems to be to suck the life out of viable money making businesses. I have worked at several places where workers talked of unionizing and brought the issue to vote. Management at all places made it known that if unions were voted in that they would close up and go somewhere else. These places paid decent wages at the time. Needless to say, the unions were voted down because the majority would rather have a job. These places paid decent wages at the time.
OOPPSSS. I hit COPY instead of CUT to move that statement. Need more coffee.
Tennessee Dave said: “IMHO, most unions have outlived their usefulness…”
I agree where union and company work towards the common goal of success, however, there are still some abuses on both sides out there that even the Fed Gov’t regs don’t address. Again, as a union steward for 5 years and a manager for 25, I got to see both sides of the equation, and where the union exists for the good of it’s members and works with management (and the visa versa is required), all involved benefit – the Demming Principal in it’s purest state.
I too need more coffee – insert “however” after ‘I agree’
I haven’t bought an American made car(Big three) since 1994 and won’t ever but a car made by Union thugs. Toyotas and Hondas for me until the big three break these parasite unions.
GUYS- PLEASE PICK A DATE TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON!
WE NEED TO STOP THIS BAILOUT CORRUPTION!
I’M READY FOR A FIGHT!
Unions and their leadership are nothing more than small scale versions of communism and its Politburo. The workers are all “equal”, just some (i.e. union leadership) are more equal than others. The leadership sits in it luxury dictating work rules and pay to the masses. Individual achievement? Rubbish.
The UAW is among the worst of the worst. I hope they are crushed.
Ditto jjmurphy. Corruption, dishonesty and even murder. Where is Jimmy?
Pure coincidence I am sure. But then Mr. Bush does consider our money his. We wish him well.
Exactly.
I was an employee of a non-unionized union (imagine that). When the employees decided to organize, I had two choices: go union or quit.
Negotiations were so secret, they never came up with the terms until it was put before a vote. I had resigned and moved back to Florida before the vote.
Best career move I ever made.
On December 31st, 2008 at 7:40 am, Tennessee Dave said:
IMHO, most
unionsCongressmen/Congresswomen have outlived their usefulness.Still harping on the $17B when Obingo is coming to town with a TRILLION DOLLAR bill in his hand?
No, I don’t work for a union.
Yes, I hate their corruption (since I was 17).
Mercy4Me I am just about ready to fire up my gross polluting SUV and head for DC now and I will be bringing something more substantial then a pitchfork and a torch as part of the more than angry mob. After all God helps those that help themselves and that is about the only way I can see us saving ourselves from the rapidly growing tyranny of our Federal Government.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE (mo-lone lah-veh) Translation: Come and take them!
Excellent article Michelle.
Most unions have evolved into anti-productivity organizations or branches of the local mafia family. Living in western Pennsylvania, I have seen first hand the thug like activities of the UAW members (Lordstown, OH) and Teamsters. I recommend the John Wayne movie “Big Jim McLain” for your viewing pleasure. The movie is a realistic depiction of how unions have gone bad.
To hell with those organizations. They truly deserve the wrath of our Nation, not our tax dollars.
If you are going to list all of the unions abuses, you are going to need a bigger blog. Unions have thier uses in countering abusive bosses. However the unions today are not unions but POLITICAL ENTITIES. The union bosses should be unpaid positions or at best lowly paid positions. The unions should not have massive assets like golf courses. In fact the only funds they should have at the end of the year are strike funds and the rest should be refunded to the members. The UAW needs to be abolished.
Boomer & Mercy, alone we cannot accomplish much, but if a large mob of people who care were to take action to cast off our oppressors, we could not be stopped. too bad most Conservatives think that whining is all they need to do.
Stevevvs, thanks for letting us know about the Cerberus Capital Management connection.
Why am I not surprised? Another lying democrat/union official/politician!
It is not yet time for the revolution. The middle class would not support it now. It would be seen as sour grapes over the election. Saint obama the fraud needs to be seen to fail first and the middle class needs to be REALLY hurting. 18-24 months is my guess. Now is the time to plan, not to act.
DavidinFlint, where are you? You got the bailout you wanted. Now are you going to hold your precious UAW accountable? It’s called “responsiblity”, and you may want to start taking some. Please tell us your plans to reform your union, we’d love to hear it.
Any further bailout of the auto industry should come with the stipulation that all unions be disbanded, merit pay be reinstated and that automakers be union-free in perpetuity–or at least until they repay their bailout cash.
The UAW is the millstone around neck of the American autoworker and the industry as a whole. Now with Barry in office, they’re going to do away with the “un-American” secret ballot?
The sad thing is, the UAW owns Congress since outside of buying crappy golf courses, they spend their money on Democrats on about a 95-5 clip.
More golf dates.
I used to work on the engineering side of a manufacturing plant in Clevealnd, OH that had the Teamsters as their union. While most of the shop employees were great people the shop stewards were whining troublemakers. When reps arrived from the local headquarters they seemd like characters out of a mob movie. Large thuggish brutes that moved, talked and thought slowly and would park their enormous black Caddies anywhere they pleased, including the handicapped spaces. One day I made the mistake of pointing out to one of the good fellas that those spots were reserved for people with physical disabilities and had half a dozen complaints lodged against me by the union. I was lucky I didn’t get my legs broken.
OKAY! Will someone PLEASE explain to me why the big three is being hammered with “show us your plans” while AIG et el… can just belly up to the bar with nada for a plan (and their business doings were just as outrageous as the big 3’s), get 20x’s more money then the big 3 and we are STILL harping on the big 3′s $17b? I must be missing the boat here.
I get the corruption – that has been going on for decades. Is it because the corruptocrats are getting $17b and not $350b that everyone so upset about? Hell, CS 2.0 had $150b in pork added to it before it passed and we are still going on about $17b. Congress can’t sneeze without spending $100b!
I know I am not the swiftest car on the lot but, for gawds sake, I can’t be the only person here who thinks this way! Am I the only one here who sees this as putting a band-aid on a cut while the patient has a bleeding jugular?
UAW – cut
Congress – jugular
Big 3 – cut
AIG – jugular
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123068282771344095.html
UAW, Democrats, Marxists, whatever. All are synonyms for criminal stupidity. This incessant government meddling in the marketplace will only guarantee a depression. This is Economics 101 being lived out in real time. We should not have to discuss or debate these well established economic facts. When governments recklessly inflate the money supply, very bad things happen. Where are the eggheads, professors, and captains of industry now that we need their input?
Get the Dems and RINOs out of power now (and yes, prosecute them) or we are lost. Their continued interference in a problem they created will only ensure complete collapse. Criminy! This is like watching a toddler drive a bulldozer off a cliff! The reason there is absolutely no public confidence in the economy is because there is no confidence in national leadership, and no confidence in a justice system that is failing to pursue the corruptocrats.
And…the National Education Association isn’t much better.
BULLSEYE!
I’d be curious as to the total amount of union dues (both the UAW and NEA) that went toward supporting the Democratic Party over the past 2 or 3 election cycles. I’ll bet the golf course and other perks are a drop in the bucket compared to that ripoff of it’s members.
Everyone knows that power corrupts. The unions are perfect examples. Congress is another. Blago is another. There is so much corruption in this country right now, we are in pile of trouble! We the People need to figure out how to get the power back to the majority where it was intended when we were founded. It seems like democratic elections are no longer working…voter fraud ala ACORN, “fixed” recounts, and of course, law suits and riots when an election doesn’t go the liberal’s way. We must get back Power To The People! I am going to be on my treadmill every day to get in shape for that march on DC. Just let me know where and when. This little old lady is retired, I have time on my hands and I’m itching for a fight.
Is your lament that we’re disproportionately criticizing the Big 3 compared to AIG, Wall Stree, et al? TARP was poorly conceived, and more poorly executed with regard to oversight. Don’t you think from this point forward we should scrutinize every new bailout(Son of TARP) to avoid future mistakes? Otherwise we should just set up a requisitioning system for printing money.
How do we fix the mess in Congress?
In a perfect world…
Vote every last one of them out of office. Totally.
Start fresh with no seniority system and pass out committee chairmanships by using a lottery.
Make the new electees (previous congressman cannot run again), adhere to the same standards of conduct federal employees must abide by (i.e. cannot accept gifts over $50), and institute term limits.
No lawyers allowed.
Campaigns can’t cost more than $100,000.00.
Why does O’Reilly persists in not holding Bush accountable for anything any more?
We need to spread the responsibility, and it starts with holding our politicians accountable for their own action. Thanks Michelle for the investigative reporting the press no longer does.
Oh, and what’s with this employee “free choice” thing? That is a perfect example of using fancy words to fool people into thinking it is a “good thing, instead of taking away your constitutional right to a private vote. Kinda like “fairness doctrine”. Or “pro-choice” (like the fetus actually has a say in the matter)!
Michelle,
A friend of mine liked to say, “I’m never surprised, but frequently appalled.” You should not be surprised by the brazen squandering of union dues. Where did they learn this pilferage? Why from our own government, of course. It is a well-established fact that people are notoriously generous with other people’s money. Our own government doles out largess like there’s no tomorrow. When it comes to appropriating money for social causes (golf outings included), our governement has taken the lead with reckless abandon. Davy Crockett was cited to have said the following:
“Congress has no right to give charity. Individual members may give as much of their own money as they please, but they have no right to touch a dollar of the public money for that purpose … for when Congress once begins to stretch its power beyond the limits of the Constitution, there is no limit to it, and no security for the people. … Money with them [congressmen] is nothing but trash when it is to come out of the people. But it is the one great thing for which most of them are striving, and many of them sacrifice honor, integrity, and justice to obtain it.” (excerpt from The Life of Colonel David Crockett; compiled by: Edward S. Elis (1884))
Even a PARIAH that attaches itself to a HOST, knows not to go too far in depleting the HOST’S strength, for fear the HOST will die… Unfortunately the UAW has no knowledge along this line… They are determined to kill the GOOSE that laid the GOLDEN EGG… As a result of this mentality they will die along with the HOST…
That would be a start. More to the point, let the system fix itself. Get the gooberment out of the “fix it” business. I lost $50+ thousand because the real estate market corrected itself. Should the gooberment send me a check?
It would be nice to rid ourselves of the idiots who voted for CS 2.0. That will never happen because they get reelected about 90% of the time.
sonofdy has a nice suggestion – revolt. The problem is, people will not leave the TV and miss “Dancing” to do it.
Let’s plaster the boards with the Reps who voted against CS 2.0. Let’s make them hero’s. Let the Rep’s know we are watching and let them know their grandstanding against the big three while voting for CS 2.0 is BS and we will be watching them – CLOSELY.
Write – email – fax and thank your Reps who voted against CS 2 and fire the ones who voted for CS 2. I did. They are listening.
Thanks 7-11ty. I was about to say the same thing to #2, and Soap – the point is not any diffferent than the Barney Frank/Fannie Mae issue. Most of our political leaders are rotten and we too have been critical of Bush policies on this site.
Repub. leaders have let us down and Dem. leaders have socialist intentions. We need better leaders with more constraints so the crooks don’t keep stealing from us.
You’ve commented here long enough to know that 95%+ of the people on this blog agree with what you just wrote. I was just curious why you claimed to be the only one showing the proper amount of disgust for the TARP bailout scum compared to the Big 3?
It may be because we have yet another Big 3 got $17b and I am supposed to be pissed thread. If that disgusts you, I am good with that.
Look at that statement. When was the last time the NEA was hammered for the damage they are doing? UAW killed the auto industry. Let the auto industry fall. The NEA is corrupting the classrooms for our country. They kill the free thought process of our children and fight to keep open minds from learning. They make the classroom a steady diet of pre-programming and churn out lemmings – with the good help form our failed gooberment system providing free education. Our educational system is a joke but – hey – the Big 3 is getting $17b.
I digress. I don’t have to comment on Big 3 threads. I guess I will take that in mind and quit.
As a former NEA member (like a teacher has a choice), I second that emotion. Corrupt. Grossly negligent. Wholly mismanaged. Pigs at the trough.
Even when California passed a law that said I could earmark my dues not for the union, but for charity (a form of conscientious objection), they would not allow me to choose my charity (National MS Society), but instead gave me a Chinese menu to choose from, which included–you guessed it–liberal charities like Habitat for Humanity and the United (Get the Boy Scouts the hell out of here) Way.
Weak.
My thoughts exactly, SoapBox! The public school system has destroyed the intelligence and problem-solving skills of two generations of children. We are now reaping what has been sown. And they have systematically rewritten history so that no one under the age of 60 even knows why we fought the British in the American Revolution. Or, why the Pilgrims came here in the first place! OR, the fact that WE did not murder the Indians when we came here! When I hear some of the stupid comments coming out of the mouths of college students (and their professors!), I am sickened. The public education system is irrevokably broken! THAT is where we need to start cleaning house or, in another generation, the ability to think clearly and rationally will be lost forever. The liberal way of “thinking” will be the norm and we will be finished.
It does not matter to them if they kill the host. And if they do I am sure that they will get the politicians that they put in office to force Toyata, Honda, etc. to accepth the UAW.
Is anyone really surprised a union is involved in illegal activities?
I feel like I can’t even punish GM by buying foreign, non-union built cars now. Congress will just keep bailing with my tax money.
We’ve lost our place at the bargaining table.
Anyone for a fun game of Perestroika?
Thanks Michelle but this was already published in the New York Times and spread round the world by AP. Oh wait – no, they are camped out in Hawaii waiting for a photo of Obama shaking hands with Marines after working on his pecs rather than reporting the news. Sorry,my bad, they don’t do news anymore, but I think Katie Couric was about to look into this after she gets out of her pike position…
They have been aided by a generation of “helicopter” mothers who hover over their children (no matter how old) and instill in them a dependent attitude. When Junior moves out of mommy’s basement, still dependent, he looks to The Government” for all the things mommy used to do. Shelter, food, medical care, bailout from over-spending…
Exactly! We have a LOT of work to do if we ever want this country back. The moms who hover are also in the generation that the public schools brainwashed. Two generations, the parents and the children, all brainwashed. This almost seems hopeless.
“helicopter” mothers ? Sounds serious.
Reason 644 to pull your kids out of public school. Whole lot of fathers need to get more involved and use that most hated of words in the last several generations:
No.
Some are so bad they are referred to as Blackhawks. The kids go to college, and in class and meetings, the kids call mommy on the cell and she listens in. Then the Administration and or Professor hears from mom. Really.
I have to partially blame Dr. Spock for the lost generations that have grown up without discipline in their lives, long with the inability of parents to say “no”. Another left wing , liberal advocate.
Michelle, There is more to the UAW story. Despite professing to represent auto workers, the UAW has branched off into the public sector, ferociously organizing to win local government workers to the UAW. Then they browbeat struggling towns and cities into making budget busting concessions. If people knew this, they would know that the UAW is no longer the auto workers union.
happyscrapper #46.
I thought about this (the edumication system) last night when I stumbled upon and watched “Soylent Green” with Charelton Heston. Very scary indeed.
Yes, the Big Unions are bad, but they are funded by the politicians in Washington, both sides! Why does the UAW have over a billion dollars of assets??!!!
Mercy4Me, I’m with you: when do we march?
We need to get MM involved in this so she can organize it. I am willing to fly out there from Minnesota, just about any time. I may even talk my husband into it. It would be fun to have a large group and also I would love to meet Michelle in person!!
On December 31st, 2008 at 9:01 am, Boomer
On December 31st, 2008 at 1:15 pm, happyscrapper
On December 31st, 2008 at 1:02 pm, MarcoPolo
Well thats three of us ready to go, but thats not enough. COME ON TALKERS! SCREW JUST BLOGGING OUR COMPLAINTS WE NEED TO GET OFF OUR ASSES AND SAVE THIS COUNTRY!
I call on MM to use her platform to get the word out for a time and date.
Hell, Look at what the left does. They sit in trees for months for their stupid causes. We need to sit in the chambers of congress!
Nice to see my tax dollars being put to such good use. ./sarc
Considering the actions of the thugUAW, I hereby vow not to buy a Ford/GM/Chrysler product next time I buy a vehicle.
Why should I pay twice for the same vehicle?
The UAW leadership is scum and the leaders or GM and Chrysler are idiots.
Republicanvet.. amen. I already swore to never buy one of their products again. I could care less what financing or cash back deal is offered. I know many people that now have this same sentiment. They’re not going to reinforce this non-sense.
America is sick of this crap. I’m looking forward seeing the reports of their dismal sales figures down the road…and their furrowed brows as they try to figure out what happened.
Mercy4Me: I agree wholeheartedly–the DC thugs are not going to listen until we, the people, show some guts and go after them en mass. Count me in!
It is time right now to start at the bottom with local officials and State Reps. It is two years until the next election–plenty of time to get NEW people to challenge the existing Reps and get the old guard GONE. Get involved with your parties local orgs and take over. Many in your area feel the same way.
In AZ McCain has announced for reelection and there is a huge backlash building to get rid of him–problem is the people who would make good Senators are not willing to buck McCain because of “friendship” (crock of —-). I have told state officials that if they don’t get someone else I can support, I will support and work for the election of the democrat candidate just to get McCain out.
You have to be willing to take those kinds of steps as well as participating in a major march–how about July 4th 2009?? Until then we need to melt the phone, fax, email lines every FRIDAY with complaints and demands to reverse the bailouts, get out of the economy, and prosecute the politicians that are responsible for this debacle!!
I agree that we should not support GM or Chrysler UNTIL the unions agree to pay cuts, cuts in the pension plans, etc. etc. IF they were to actually go the extra mile to make the companies viable, I would then consider buying one of their vehicles. They need to show they understand that the auto industry is toast as currently run by the unions!!
Should be every Monday, otherwise the interns manning the offices (the only ones left in the office on Friday’s) will forget about it by 4pm.
As for the media and their Obasm’s in HI, I see they finally figured out there is a recount going on in Minnesota…now that Franken has stolen enough to claim to be ahead.
Same as ’04 in Washington. Ignore it until the surrendercrat has stolen enough and recounted enough, then immediately demand the Republican (and voters) shut up and respect the count.
Thats a great date. Now if we can get MM on board to have all the other conservative blogs to get the word out!
Whatever the moron CEO’s entered in to is a mess. Pay from the CEO’s should be reduced and assets from the companies sold until they are viable on their own.
It is what anyone else would have to do if they could convince some banker to loan that much money.
As for the UAW, AT A MINIMUM, their assets should be sold off until every dime is paid back to the taxpayer for their Jobs Bank gravy train. It still burns me up that union members could enter the jobs bank, partially collect their salary for doing nothing, and collecting unemployment to make up the difference….and stay on this gravy train for at least two years, even after being offered a job elsewhere with the UAW.
Any other employee in America not of the UAW could not collect unemployment like this while collecting part of their salary.
It took a politician to allow this, now, after the taxpayer has been ripped off once, we are being ripped off again and again to bail out the same stupidity or thievery.
Officials: tracking bailout money is difficult
Except for $17 billion of those dollars. Oh, and the $150 billion in pork that went with the bail out.
There are 53,000 employees at the Department of Education. Someone please explain to me what they do?
Mine voted against this bailout fever. He might have just as well pissed into a hurricane for all the good it did.
Republicanvet:
Much better idea–they can come in first of the week to “operation chaos”. We’ll jam everything so they can’t do anything!! Works for me–they go back to DC when???
I would love to have a list of all of the Congressmen and other government officials who have frequented these UAW posh facilities.
I agree with most everyone here, unions have outlived their usefulness. I am not a member of the NEA because I believe in merit pay and getting rid of bad teachers, of which I have seen many.
I’d like to know the same. As for what’s wrong with schools and how to fix it, the union is just the very tip of the liberal iceberg.
Unions equal the mob. No one wants to acknowledge it. They are our mafia. They won’t go away unless folks who think unions are a good thing stop joining them, take legal action to stop them and o away with them. Anyone think enough auto workers will get fed up with the unions and fight back? Of course not.
Message sent to my Congresswoman, Darlene Hooley of Oregon.
Thanks for the alert, Michelle, and Happy New Year.
I work for a Union (United Food and Commercial Workers Union) supermarket. Last time I checked the President made over 250K per year. 47% of the union employees make over 100K each year.
Yet, too many Co-workers think this is fine, because well, every three years they come in to to pretend to care during negations.
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These union leaders are total garbage. The biggest blame lies with the companies though, because they gave into the unions for decades at the first threat of a strike. The Unions got spoiled, they became convinced that there was an endless supply of money the companies had, and that they would always get some if they threatened to strike. And so, the profit margin kept narrowing, and then became negative.
Now, it’s much harder to cut their pay, people are used to getting that money, they put all of it into something. I mean, only $50 an hour, those poor people.
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unions must
not be given all they want
- spoil them to KILL jobs
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
outlaw ALL labor unions
beat union organizers
like in civilized countries
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All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
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Philosophy of Liberty Cartoon
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Help Halt Terrorism Today!
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USpace
I would love to march on Washington to stop this out of control Government insanity, and in fact, would spearhead the whole thing, but there’s one small problem: Unlike the libtards, which seem to be able to organize anytime there’s an injustice against an animal or criminal, I have a job that puts food in my children’s mouths. However, I would be happy to monetarily support any such venture, should it come to fruition.
Michelle:
Was your article deleted by Townhall?
If so, why?
What do we expect from our culture of greed and immorality? Look at shows glamorizing wealth such as MTV Cribs, the former Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and all others that have littered the airwaves over the past few years. We live in a culture of not only over the top greed, but incredible shallowness. I am richer than you. I am more skilled than you. I am better than you. I am more attractive than you. And if you are not sure about those facts…well don’t worry, I will be happy to get in your face and tell you.
Once upon a time there was a humility to having wealth. Poeple of class did not flaunt it. Flaunting wealth was looked upon as vulgar and low class. Now this is no longer remotely true. Just one example of the overall coarseness of the society in which we live is the piggishness of unions in fleecing their members of dues and spending other people’s money on themselves first, then on their union workers, the financial health of the company be damned. We, the taxpayers of this Country, “loaned” $18 billion dollars to our automakers, and the UAW made not a dime of sacrifice!! HUGE union concessions should have been a condition precedent to any bailout, but it wasn’t. We gave $180 billion to AIG, and afterwards they threw a half million dollar party for some of their employees!!! Was there any bigger “middle finger” flashed at taxpayers in 2008, besides the actual bailout itself?
To top it all off, there is literally nobody minding the store in Congress anymore. So regular taxpayers, who work, pay their taxes and die, and who dont have access to mega-millions of other people’s money to fatten their wallets, just get taken year after year. Will it ever stop?
The immoralty and corruption in our Country and in its foundational structures, is just more proof that we are in perhaps irreversible decline.