Feds picking on Michigan: Where's the outrage on the left?

Cross-posted on Right Michigan at www.RightMichigan.com.

The Grinch is back at it trying to steal Christmas from the domestic auto industry again. The same day that Congress officially signs off on a massive new set of rules and regulations expected to push Michigan's largest job suppliers to the brink of bankruptcy we get word from one auto company in particular that they're ready to kill 5,200 jobs in the next year. Which sort of makes the Governor's little happy dance over a recent promise of 500 new jobs over 5 years seem that much more silly. What with her promising tens of millions in tax breaks just to buy that much good news and all. But that's where we sit today.

Michigan companies being targeted by the federal government and nary a Democrat Congressman to lead a filibuster. The radical new CAFE spike moved yesterday and is expected to be signed by the President today with much fanfare. This energy "plan" is going to kill Michigan jobs. It's basically knee-capping Ford, GM and Chrysler by imposing massive fuel economy increases on their vehicle fleets and telling them what they can make and what they can't instead of letting the market dictate production. According to the Detroit News:

"This is basically a no energy bill," said Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, listing a litany of problems with the bill, including the fact that the technology doesn't exist to produce enough ethanol required by 2022. He predicted that autos would increase in price by 10 percent to 15 percent as a result of the increase in fuel efficiency standards.

The Bush Administration said earlier this year a similar fuel economy is likely to cost the auto industry $114 billion over 10 years, with Detroit's Big Three paying $85 billion. General Motors Corp. has said the $40 billion government estimate is "probably low" and could add as much as $5,000 per vehicle...

Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, said the bill's passage was a "glimmer of hope that we will be able to get beyond the gridlock."

Well of course, Congressman. If you're willing to sell your home State up the river then you'll always be able to get past gridlock. But is getting past gridlock what your district sent you to Washington to do?

Now let me say this very plainly... I disagree with the President on this one. Vehemently. He's a Republican. I'm a Republican. But that doesn't stop me from calling him out and saying he's wrong. Because I'm also a Michigan resident. This is a State I love. I was born here, raised here and Lord willing I'll raise my own family here. And I don't particularly like it when the federal government kicks us when we're down.

Of course it would be nice if we could present a united front here in the State that put the world on wheels. I'd welcome and encourage my friends in the regressisphere to join with me in telling the truth about this new package of legislation. In calling out those who voted for it and more than anything, in putting Michigan first. That might mean taking off those Democrat blinders for a minute but for the love of pete, we're talking about real jobs and real families right here at home.

And it isn't like the industry isn't having a tough enough time on it's own. The Ivory Tower reports that General Motors is prepared to let go 5,200 more workers through buyouts and retirement incentives.

"We continue to work closely with our UAW partners to improve our competitiveness in the currently challenging U.S. market conditions," GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said in a statement. "This first phase of a comprehensive attrition program, designed in conformance with the 2007 UAW national labor agreement, provides our employees with attractive options to consider."

Let me translate that for you... "we can't afford you any more and we're going to take you out behind the woodshed. If you volunteer we'll make it quick and painless. Do you want a blindfold and a cigarette?"

These are the decisions that thousands of Michigan families are faced with right now a week before Christmas. And the Democrats in Congress and the President are piling on. Where's the outrage on the left?

There's a full-court-press going these days on the lefty blogs warning about the dangers of the right-to-work movement (because personal freedom is a dangerous thing). They claim to support union workers. They love union workers. They're all about the middle class.

But why aren't they all about Michigan? Does the regressisphere only care about working families during campaigns? Only during election years? Maybe in a few months when we're closer to November 08 they'll find a voice and start to pretend to care about moms and dads across the State. Heaven knows it isn't politically expedient to defend their home State now.

Maybe I can add that one to my Christmas wish list. A heart for each of the politicians, elected officials and bloggers on the left.

Might as well add consistency to the list too. I haven't seen a single article or admission explaining how tax cuts bring jobs to the State, despite the announcement yesterday from the MEDC of tens of millions of dollars to get a half dozen companies to expand operations here in Michigan.

The Associated Press reports that each of the companies was promised a sweet deal from the State's economic development arm. Tax cuts and incentives. Meaning they'll invest and grow and produce more tax revenue. That's how it works. We see it in the news day after day after day.

But still no "we were wrong" from Andy Dillon, Jennifer Granholm or their lapdogs on blogs around the State. And that's OK. The Democrat Party has a rightly earned and growing reputation for being full of liars, criminals, racists and moral relativists. Their lack of integrity on economic issues is certainly no surprise.