It's the foreseeable result of paying highly-skilled level wages for semi-skilled level work. It doesn't take a craftsman or a master welder to build a car from the parts stream, and it never did, but that's what we've been paying and the tax revenue stream from the inflated wages has been the basis of the Michigan public-sector economy. Reality has a way of overtaking fantasy.
I couldn't read the entire article, as for some reason it crashed my browser (twice), however, you are dead on in part, DAT, as I have had a great deal of exposure to GM's manufacturing practices over the years.
First, GM has manufactured vehicles offshore since the '50's, in many countries (Germany, UK, Spain, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, Chili, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Korea, and even several unknown spots like Saudi Arabia and Egypt.......just as a partial list) This was initially motivated by the fact that the types of vehicles used in these areas were significantly different from those manufactured in the US therefore making it more economical to build them locally than to import them. It is interesting to note that they generally had a substantial level of US sourced components.
Over the years, as GM's management changed its focus from auto design and marketing to finance, and its goals from midterm to short term.....thus capitulation to the UAW really began in earnest, as it became management's philosophy that it was less costly in the short term to cave to union demands than to suffer the losses of a prolonged strike.........this MO continued to the point where the cost of a US built vehicle became so uncompetitive that we now arrive at the position where it becomes more economical to build them elsewhere and import them than to continue manufacture here.
Lanie fails to understand that corporations do not have a sense of patriotism, or even a conscience......they exist to make money, nothing more, nothing less......If GM can use the Magic Negro's pandering to the UAW to keep themselves afloat until they can outsource their most profitable lines to less expensive areas, this is a good business decision.
You must also realize that their most profitable vehicles (trucks, SUV's, etc.) are the vehicles that the government wants to use their bailout blackmail to eliminate in order for GM to become more "environmentally friendly", you get this sort of result. It is further important to note that "CAFE" standards apply differently to imported vehicles than they do to those that are domestically produced, so overall, this is the (not surprising) result of liberal involvement in the private sector.........exactly the opposite of that which was initially intended.
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