[427TJ]

I'm with you John. Labor is too often the easy scapegoat for the mistakes of management. Management never fails to give themselves bonuses no matter how poorly the company does, then when the bad news is made public management says that labor cost is the real problem. If The Big Three automakers (or any U.S. airline) used 100% slave labor they'd still find a way to lose money.

(Full disclosure: I am an airline pilot and union member.)

Sam: I hear you but I think it's the corporate culture of the Big Three that needs to be modernized. Toyota is probably taking advantage of right-to-work laws but Big Three management has been shown the new way to build cars for over 30 years now by the Japanese and they still resist change. Alan Mulally might be able to make Ford work or he could manage Ford into oblivion. Either way he'll walk away with millions (and millions) in his Golden Parachute. I'd smile too if I were him. If Ford (or GM or D-Chrysler) fails they'll moan about labor costs--while they conduct interviews from their 150-foot yachts.

I'm all for capitalism and I definitely love making money, just don't tell me that it's all my fault when the company loses money while the top 10 managers lavish themselves with "incentive pay."

Labor = American families.