I just read a column by House Minority Leader, John Boehner (R-OH), entitled: "Autoworkers and Taxpayers Deserve Better than Washington's Flawed Bailout"

Mr. Boehner opined that he felt we Americans deserved something much better, in terms of government intervention with the auto industry, than what is currently being offered in the “Land of Oz” (i.e. Washington, D.C.), arguing that a Republican-developed plan is much better than the one being put forth by both the Democrats in Congress and the Bush administration.

Though I find any sort of government assistance to the auto industry remarkably dangerous, I must admit that I am finding hard to argue against such things as loan guarantees – if it works for the FHA and VA, why not adopt a similar tactic for the auto industry?

Anyway, this is not why I created this blog. What caught my interest was a comment posted by a Dr. Douglas from Oregon. Here is his full comment, followed by my reply:

“Why is it OK to spend billions (unaccounted for) to bail out banks but wrong to spend much less to save millions of jobs?

Why is it OK to waste another $50 billion on Iraq but not to strengthen the manufacturing backbone of our country?

Why are the republicans using this as another opportunity to bash or undermine the unions?

Why did the republicans lie regarding the $75 an hour that union people supposedly made?

What extreme environmental mandates have been placed on the auto industry?

Why do republicans consistently favor the rich at the expense of the little people?”

Dr. Douglas:

First, it was not “OK” to bailout banks and Wall Street firms. “We, The People” were very much against it, but Congress chose to ignore us. Bailing-out the auto industry is not the correct thing to do either. Where will these ridiculous bailouts end?

Despite how much you wish for the government to end operations in Iraq, thereby no longer “wasting another $50 billion,” it is an exceedingly dangerous wish. Regardless of how you may feel about it, we owe it to the Iraqi people to finish the job but more importantly, we owe it to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who paid the highest price. I do not, however, expect you to understand such a thing.

Republicans are not using this proposed bailout as an “opportunity to bash or undermine the unions.” They are bringing to light an important issue: Labor unions have done more harm to the people they purport to represent then they do good. Democrats, however, seem unable to resist the power labor unions hold over them. Dr. Douglas, I come from a small “steel town” in Northeastern Ohio and, as a “victim” of labor union activities, I can spend hours educating you on the realities of labor unions – but something tells me that it would be unconvincing and, therefore, a complete waste of time. If you don’t believe me, just take a close look at the public education system in this country where—thanks to the extremely powerful teachers’ unions—emphasis is placed on tenure than on merit with the product being school administrators being unable to do anything about mediocre teachers, even if they wanted to. Answer me this, good Doctor: If public education is supposedly good enough for millions of American children, then why isn’t it good enough for President-elect Obama’s own children? Obama’s choice of sending his children to a prestigious, elitist private school smacks of hypocrisy, if you ask me.

You think Republicans are lying about unionized auto workers earning $75 an hour? Why not do your own research then, Dr. Douglas? If you do, be sure to include total compensation (i.e. health insurance, pension, etc.) while doing your research. I think you will be surprised what the average unionized auto worker earns in total compensation (not just a salary, but total benefits.)

Even a layman such as me understands that whenever the government place environmental mandates (through the “good offices” of the Environmental Protection Agency) onto the auto manufacturers, it adds to the cost of each car produced. Why? The automakers are forced to spend an enormous amount of money in R&D in order to make each new generation of automobiles more fuel efficient and to reduce emissions – the higher the mandate, the higher the cost. And even a layman such as me also understands these costs are then passed along to the consumer.

I freely admit there was a time when the Republican Party had been looked upon as the party of the “rich” while the Democratic Party had been the party of the “working man” – but those days are long gone. If the Republican Party were the “party of the rich”, then explain to me, Dr. Douglas, why do such “blue-collar” workers like Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffet, and Bill Gates support Democrats? Why does the Hollywood elitist crowd blindly support Democrats? Tell me, doctor, how many Democratic blue-collar workers have been elected to office in Congress, then tell me how many Ivy League-educated, multi-millionaire Democrats have been elected?

Saying the Democratic Party is the party of the working class is espousing a perpetual myth – one that is simply a lie. Democrats, especially liberal Democrats, have a complete disdain for middle-class America, for those people who struggle daily to make ends meet. Need proof? Look to your own question, Dr. Douglas: “Why do republicans consistently favor the rich at the expense of the little people ?” Little people?!   My, how arrogant, Dr. Douglas! As a proud member of the “little people,” I am rather insulted.

As a fiercely independent-minded American, I am greatly concerned with the agenda of our Congress and our newly-elected president. I am firmly against “wealth redistribution” just as much as I am against the current level of government intervention in the marketplace. Yes, I do believe there should be regulation, but common sense should be a factor here. Well, if common sense were so common, then everyone would have it, right?

It doesn’t take high-power intellect to see the agenda of the “Left” (being left-handed, I find that term insulting too!) as nothing short of fashioning the United States into a European-style socialist country. Take it from a person who has spent several years living in Europe, especially Eastern Europe (am living there now), socialism does not work … never did, never will. Why? Well, I am not going to give you a lesson on socialism; you’re just going to have to look it up. Suffice it to say, in the end, who pays? Where does the money come from?

Now is the time, Dr. Douglas, for all of us to not only hold our elected officials accountable and responsible, but to hold ourselves the same. If we continue down this path towards socialism, even “socialism-lite”, we risk bankrupting our children’s future.

But liberals have little or no understanding of accountability or responsibility.