THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume X, Issue # 322, December 8, 2008
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
U.S. GOVERNMENT BAILOUT OF THE BIG THREE U.S. AUTOMAKERS:
A PRESS RELEASE
By ATI-News
A NEW ATI-NEWS/ZOGBY POLL FINDS THAT 57.5 PERCENT OF LABOR UNION MEMBERS IN THE U.S.A. OPPOSE THE
PROPOSED U.S. GOVERNMENT BAILOUT OF THE BIG THREE U.S. AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.
THE POLL ALSO FINDS THAT 61.7 PERCENT OF AMERICAN VOTERS ARE AGAINST THE BAILOUT.
FULL STORY:
Washington, D.C.: As Congress mulls over whether or not to spend anywhere from $15 to $34 billion in taxpayer
money to bailout Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, a new ATI-News/Zogby poll shows a clear majority of Americans,
including union employees, oppose such a bailout.
The poll, which was conducted November 25 through December 1, 2008, and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus two
percentage points, asked likely voters:
“Congress is considering using tax dollars to give a total
of $25 billion to the Big Three U.S. auto manufacturers,
Ford, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler, in order to keep
the companies solvent. Some believe they should go
into bankruptcy so they can restructure to produce fewer
models, have less dealers, allow them to close
unnecessary manufacturing facilities, and have investors
demand management changes and reduced benefits for
all employees. Do you think Congress should approve
or deny a bailout for the Big Three?”
Surprisingly, 57.5 percent of self-declared union members think Congress should deny the Big Three a taxpayer-funded
bailout, while only 29.5 percent of union members approve of such a bailout (13 percent are not sure). Democrats are
roughly split on the issue, as 43 percent approve of a bailout, and 41 percent disapprove (16 percent are not sure).
Overall, the poll found that 61.7 percent of American voters are opposed to a bailout for the automakers, and only 25.7
percent approve of a bailout (12.5 percent are not sure).
“On this issue, common sense seems to be a shared trait across all segments of the voting public,” said ATI-News
President Brad O’Leary. “Americans don’t like the idea of Congress loading billions of their hard-earned tax dollars onto
a sinking ship.”
“At the rate the Big Three are burning through cash, this bailout would do nothing but buy them just a few months of
time and remove any incentive for them to restructure and reform their companies,” said O’Leary. “It would only foster
dependency and create incentive for Congress to deliver them future multibillion-dollar government handouts.”
A second question in the poll asked:
“If General Motors files for bankruptcy, instead of receiving
a government rescue, would you favor or oppose spending
$1 billion of previously approved bailout money to fund the
federal program that guarantees pensions for auto workers
affected by the bankruptcy, so their pensions would be
guaranteed up to $40,000 a year?”
A majority of likely voters (54 percent) say they would favor this plan to guarantee worker pensions in the event GM files
for bankruptcy, while only 33 percent say they oppose such a plan (13 percent are not sure).
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Political Economy -- Philosophies, Systems, & Public Policies:
Government, the Economy, & Economic Prosperity
Brad O’Leary serves as President of ATI-News (www.ati-news.com) and is Chairman of the Board of American Radio Free
Speech (www.AmericanRadioFreeSpeech.com). To interview Brad O’Leary, call Peyton Knight at 202-828-1202.
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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