Two little and disturbing stories concerning bailouts and potential bailouts:
First, a Connecticut lawmaker is begging for taxpayers to foot the bill for the unprofitable newspaper in his small town because he thinks it’s really cute and wonderful (and it probably endorsed him). Apparently residents don’t agree enough to pay for neccessary subscriptions and advertising, but according to this arrogant politician, all of you should be forced to pay anyway. Besides the immorality and economic stupidity of more bailouts, this one has particularly dangerous implications for free speech. If newspapers are forced to answer to bureaucrats they could lose the freedom which makes them even a little relevant. Government papers would be more boring and shoddy than private papers too. Do you prefer PBS to CNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, etc.? The Post Office to FedEx, UPS or DHL?
Second, the bailout hungry U.S. automakers and the unions that work for them (or is it the other way around?) have been defending themselves and blaming their troubles on others, no surprise here. But a funny little fact has emerged about the UAW - they have a money-losing “public” luxury golf course as a perk to union members. No word about selling it. Auto exec’s apparently have to hide their jets in order to steal our money, but union bosses don’t have to forgo their country club. The sad part is that we’re even having this conversation. Get ‘em off the public dole, remove the unfair legal advantages and it’s no longer anyone’s business what the UAW does with their money. But so long as they get special favors at our expense, everything they do is subject to public scrutiny.
Get the government out and treat everyone equally under the law and you will find that people really get along pretty darn well. Start dolling out the favors and we start to tear each other apart.
