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By RightMichigan.com Posted in American Axle | Breaking News | CAFE | Democrats | Gas Prices | Michigan | UAW | unions | www.RightMichigan.com — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Cross-posted on Right Michigan at www.RightMichigan.com.

Those out there advocating a brand-spanking new gas tax hike, whether it's today, tomorrow or during the lame duck legislative session after the November general election should consider themselves officially on notice this morning that their actions have consequences as news outlets report some awfully serious automotive related news that's been and will be directly affected by the price at the pump.  The stories are a part of a news cycle chock full of stories about cars, car makers, the people who drive them and the people who pick on the people who drive on them.

You'd think Michigan's economy had something to do with the production of the motor vehicle or something.  There's bitter news, bitter sweet news and even a quick hitter that's just plain sweet, depending on how you feel about big government.

Let's get the bitter out of the way.  The Detroit News reports this morning that more job cuts are coming here in Michigan as sales dramatically failed to meet expectations at Ford Motor Company.

After conceding that Ford won't meet its 2009 profit goal, Mulally outlined a plan to further slash truck production while boosting output of small cars and crossovers. He said more actions -- including hourly and salaried job cuts -- will be announced in July in a revised restructuring plan aimed at matching Ford's vehicle output to the new marketplace realities.

"The external pressures we face are significant," Mulally said in a memo to employees obtained by The Detroit News. "We will need to make additional reductions in U.S. automotive personnel and other salaried-related costs."

Let me translate that for you.  Today, "external pressures" equals skyrocketing gas prices.  Tomorrow, almost literally, "external pressures" equals skyrocketing gas prices and the introduction of new hyper-liberal federal fuel economy standards that are expected to add thousands to the production cost of the average American vehicle.  

And you can translate that one step further, too.  When someone or something, whether it's a gas pump, OPEC or the Congress of the United States of America picks on the automotive industry Michigan gets soaked.  But we're talking about raising the gas tax?  By as much as fifty cents a gallon, if we were to take the advice of the mainstream media?  

I only hope the House Democrats are paying attention.  No matter how things wind up during the November general election they're going to hold a majority for two months and there'll be no threat of retribution at the polls to keep their money-grubbing hands off our wallets.  We're going to have to hope and trust that good sense prevails and that they don't go and make things worse.  

Because even in the bitter-sweet we find evidence that external influences like the price at the pump directly affect employment here in Michigan.  The Ivory Tower reports this morning that American Axle workers have reached guaranteed contract ratification after the recent votes at several large plants in Michigan.  UAW workers are trading in the picket line for the assembly line but they might have landed their sooner if it wasn't for that pesky spike in gas prices:

The deal ends a strike that forced General Motors Corp. to shut or cut output at more than 30 plants, forcing the automaker -- and as a result, several suppliers -- to lay off thousands of workers. The lost production further weakened the nation's economy, and the layoffs ensured Michigan would continue to have one of the nation's highest unemployment rates...

The union lost its leverage, in part, because of the shift in U.S. vehicle sales toward small cars. The strike, took place just as production for American Axle's bread-and-butter products -- SUV and pickup axles -- is declining. Automakers are cutting production of those vehicles as consumers turn to more fuel-efficient cars.

There's a healthy debate to be had about the need for a mass move towards fuel efficient tin cans.  It looks more and more like the day of the SUV has passed permanently into the night and the Big 3 have unquestionably been slow to adapt.  They're down, beaten and broken and we've got a choice.  Kick them when they're writhing on the floor or let them work through their problems.

Congress delivered a giant roundhouse to the gut by approving a massive CAFE spike earlier this year.  What does the enviro-whacko controlled Dem caucus in the House and Senate care about Michigan?  Their Presidential contenders won't even step foot here.  We can and probably should expect the Democrats in DC to continue picking on us.  Which makes it all that much more important that we rally around our friends and loved ones here in the State of Michigan.  If we don't stick up for them... for ourselves... no one will.  First, best thing to do if we've got the backs of the largest job makers in the state?  Forget about this gas tax hike nonsense.  Please.

Oh, and I mentioned a quick auto-related hitter that's just plain sweet?  I think everyone here pretty much agrees that the Click-it or Ticket campaign is the coolest thing since sliced bread.  Well, Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma held a little newser to discuss the County's efforts and announced to the world what we already knew, that law enforcement officials would be profiling drivers and picking on young men.  

But as the Associated Press indicates, sometimes you find friends in strange places.

State Civil Rights Department Director Linda V. Parker issued a statement saying she was disturbed to learn of the plan. She says Michigan bans discrimination based on age or sex, so Stelma's plan "is a clear violation of the law."

Disturbed, got it?

I appreciated that Ms. Parker is concerned about my civil rights.  Whenever she wants to take things a step further and point out to her boss the ridiculousness of picking on free men or women because of their personal safety and / or comfort choices, that'd be fine by me too.