Meanwhile in Europe...

All European Governments are bailing out their auto industries.
The auto crisis has everything to do with the current administration disastrous energy policy and Iraq war and little to do with GM or Ford models. GM and Ford are very successful in Europe.
German auto workers are all unionized (3,6 million members!) Unions not only help set up wages, but have mandatory seats on the board and all auto companies MUST have a workers'council that decides on policy.
The average worker's salary at Porsche's, Opel (GM) or VW is 1,600$ a week for a 35 hr week. Workers are paid a 13th month at Christmas. Like all German citizens, they are entilted to 6 weeks paid vacation and enjoy 100% medical coverage courtesy of their Universal Medical Insurance scheme. Their children go to college free of charge and like any German kid, can also attend free training classes in the Industry.

US auto workers would be competitive if their companies were not burdened by an insane healthcare system that enriches the few and puts the US at the bottom of OECD countries ranking.

The posse of Southern Senators who want to score against the UAW at the expense of the country are the same people who have given huge subsidies to foreign manufacturers in their states. they have chosen Japan and Korea over their own country. Shame on them.

Separated at birth?

In true Grinch fashion, Senator Mc Connell is giving lumps of coal to Detroit workers. Not satisfied with having ruined the nation with their ideology since Reagan, Congressional republicans are hell bent on destroying what is left of it, the hard working blue collar middle class. It is ok to bail out reckless bankers who gambled our savings, but if the workers' Unions do not commit hara-kiri, our Confederate rump Republicans would rather let the whole manufacturing sector of America go down the tubes. Lets get rid of the only group to defend the working class and their working conditions. It does not hurt that Japanese automakers are located in Tennessee either!

There are 3 parallel downward curves starting in 1981: Union membership, education levels and the US ranking by WHO. Not a coincidence.
Henry Ford knew a thing or two when he decided to pay his workers enough so they could afford a Model T.
But in a last salvo, a band of republican dinosaurs is unabashedly trying to hurt the working man and his unions to win a last one for the Gipper.
Bravo Mitch the Grinch. Remember Scrooge and look out for a few ghosts.

From Silicon Valley to Africa

Last week, I added a few miles to my account. For the cognoscenti, I flew to the following airports between Nov. 30 and Dec.11. : TPA-JFK-LGA-DCA-IAD-OAK-IAD-DAK-IAD.
The first week was dedicated to compare the French way of raising funds to the new `Venture Philanthropy`` in the US. A new way to raise funds for the neediest. In France and in the US, we are faced with Public authorities who can no longer finance basic needs in terms of health and education. The logical end of a long running policy of No New Taxes.
This week, I was in Africa, where the world was discussing its successes in fighting TB and malaria. For AIDS, the record is not quite as good. Overall, the situation in Africa is not good, with a steady deterioration aggravated by the financial crisis.
The contrast in one week between the Stanford campus and the streets of Dakar was sobering. It is true, if you it is like riding a bike. If you stop pedalling you will fall. They have started to fall.