Being a conservative means different things to different people and on the topic of ‘free market’ it becomes a source for argument. Specifically I’m talking about recent bailouts with with TARP and the upcoming decision with the US Automakers. Believing in free market is easy, until consideration has to be made for lost jobs, time to recover, etc and then it gets easy to start thinking with your heart. As a conservative putting feelings aside and focusing on the long term good is what separates us from liberals.
Discussions with family members lately have been frustrating as our views mesh and then separate when discussing free market. Particularly when this discussion turns to the unions impact on the domestic auto manufacturers the older members of the family dig their heals in. Personally I feel unions have a time and a place, but it’s not now, and it’s not in the immediate US future. Their strangle hold on the automotive industry is proof positive of a group that got too powerful and greedy. The cost per hour, per employee, to produce a car is hemoraging automakers funds.
Truth will be told come February when the bailout money has been used up and we are in the same situation. The problems are not being addressed, money is being thrown at the byproduct of a failed business model, and the American taxpayer is left holding the check. I would expect more of the same once Obama finally takes office tomorrow, so how many more years before the US economy starts making a comeback?