Senatorial Sombreros

I had taken a break from blogging, since the last two weeks have been the last week of classes and finals week. Student's needs (and neediness!) increases during that period.

But today I'm confronted with the news that the Big Three Auto Bailout is dead in the U.S. Senate. Apparently some senators from southern states (home of Nissan, Toyota, Honda and other non-union automakers) had asked the UAW to adjust the wages of their workers in Michigan to match the wages paid in, e.g. Tennessee.

Following that line of reasoning, we should ask the U.S. Senate to relocate to Costa Rica. While language might be a problem, Costa Rica is a model democracy in Central America. And they pay there legislators a great deal less there--not that the Costa Rican Deputies (they don't have "Congressmen" or "Senators") are any less capable than our own folks. Actually, perhaps they're better--they've disbanded their army and have passed laws to become a "green" nation that actually may work!!!

During this period of poor economy, we could do with saving money on legislators.

And (since it was good enough for Detroit's CEOs) let's ban the Senators from flying back to their home states. Get those men each an American-made Hybrid! Some parts of Mexico are delightful by automobile . . . .

The point of all this is simply that the cost of living DOES vary from place to place. Perhaps the cost of living in Michigan is high because the auto workers have always made "good" money (because of the UAW?). But the cost of living won't miraculously deflate by congressional fiat. I teach at colleges that have the reputation of being a "good value" -- partially because instructor salaries are lower here, because the cost of living in Lancaster County is less than, e.g. Connecticut.

Am I in favor of bailing out a mismanaged, bloated industry that has been force-feeding gas-guzzlers down American throats for decades??

Government, which normally doesn't run companies very well--but usually has good intentions--should get a stake in these companies, and attempt to force reforms resulting in a viable business model.

That's preferable to bankruptcy, where the same bankers and lawyers that gave you the recent Wall Street debacle all get to take their piece first . . . and leave crumbs upon which to rebuild three million jobs--but this time the American auto industry will be the Central American Auto Industry.

Does anyone at the UAW speak Spanish????