How exactly is it the unions” fault that the car industry is what it is? I am just curious. This is one of those things that people say all the time, but when challenged, they lack a valid response.

It was management that persue bone-headed plans, building only large gas guzzlers when the potential for gas increases was evident. It was management that so completely outsourced their design and engineering that their own staffs are barely able to orchestrate new vehicles, it was management that exported all its labor — and who do you think bought most of those cars?

The worst you can say is that labor bargained and extracted what they could for pay and compensation…you know what a Republican would call it is an entity worked out a deal where it comes out ahead?

A good deal.

I will grant you that labor has done one other thing wrong–they will protect unproductive members to their detriment and bargain to retain unneeded jobs….but how many boards of directors have a) kept poor performing executives, b) enriched these executives with outrageous compensation packages, and c) given these executives obscene golden parachutes.

A business succeeds or fails based on the decisions of management–including the decision to give labor wages and benefits. It kills me when people trot out these cliches.

As for America not being as phenomenal as we might like, some of that is just because other countries are catching up, not because we’ve slagged off. It’s no small thing that our citizens have led the Internet boom. That’s impressive stuff. We also have a very good bio-med industry and, the one government Airbus contract aside, we’re still leaders in aerospace.

One reason I’m not worried about the longterm (short term, I’m indeed worried) is that, first of all, we hate NOT being number one. Our competitiveness can be a weakness but it’s more frequently an advantage. We also do things very well when we decide we want to do them. Look at the food movement in America. In a matter of years, we’ve gone from having just a few wineries and small farms in California to having artisnal foods and fine wines and spirits available across the nation. (and for you free market haters, a lot of that was do to deregulation, taking away restrictions the prohibited small businesses from competing — sorry, had to get that in).

But, Michael, point taken. The jeans and brains class will go for Obama in large numbers. After all, all the new anti-Americanism is ruining their over seas vacations.

Please don’t blame immigration for poor planning, bad execution, and arrogance, the immigration challenge was supposed to have been dealt with in the early 1980’s. Many of those same incompetent clowns who were supposed to do something about it are still floating around Washington by the way. I blame the American people. I blame them because of their apathy and their willful ignorance for the situation(s) we now find ourselves in.

Many love to hear “we’re number one” – “Godbless the USA” – but ask those same people to serve the country they live in and they’ll tell you it’s someone else’s issue. Ask them to do 2-4 years of compulsory service and they’ll tell you to go “F” yourself. Ask those same people to get involved in local politics and even the local school board and you get the same response. I love this country, but I know how much better it really could be if people took an active role in their Republic – as a nation we typically do not.

In fairness, I may be overstating some things – (I have rather strong opinions) but I don’t think I am. I’ve traveled outside the US quite a bit and lived in many countries, I know what’s out there in much of the rest of the world. There is only one USA, there isn’t another one like it anywhere in the world – and (at the risk of sounding melodramatic) the USA belongs to anyone in the world who ever had hope for a better life – that’s why immigrants still want to come here – they too can be Americans. It’s an idea not a passport photo.

Immigration is a good thing – we can’t blame immigrants because the majority of citizens who vote in this country feel that our standing in the world is more important than our ability to take care of our citizens. We can’t blame immigrants because many of our corporate executives think quarterly profits are more iportant than a good product, or the human conditions that go along with that persuit.

We have systemic problems in the fabric of our society, and they are serious and getting worse – “God bless the USA” – “Red,White, and Blue these colors never run” – just wont work anymore. How about this for a new tag line…….Real problems require real people to implement real solutions – no experience required (in fact it may work against you) but a deep and abiding love for the US Constitution and everything it represents a must.

As for us not leading the world in cars, you can thank the unions for that, not the Republicans. And presumably other nations’ universities and entertainment industries are also run by liberals, so really what you’re saying in that case is that our liberals are better than their liberals, not that liberals are overall better prepared to lead the world.

Still, I agree with the overall point. Americans need to get their act together, and the Republicans deserve to have their asses handed to them in this election. (And I’m speaking as someone who, at 38, has never voted for a Democrat.)

Americans are under informed, over entertained, under educated, over stimulated, spoiled, willful, unpredictable and prone to violence. Aside from the industries of intellectual property, our only other real industry is war – we do that really well – better than anybody. Although we may be sucking air when it comes to providing our population with great grade schools and high schools, or medical care, or a dignified wage scale for a days work; or safe roads, bridges, and levees – we can kick anyone’s ass tank to tank – and that’s what really matters isn’t it?