Video: South Park Episode Not A Good Exit Strategy For GM

Posted May 29th, 2009 at 4.20pm in Enterprise and Free Markets, Ongoing Priorities.

On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal’s Bret Stephens noticed that President Obama’s policy initiatives resemble a 1998 South Park episode in which grand plans are formulated with a beginning and a successful ending, yet without the requisite how-to in the middle.

When it comes to the handling of GM, we couldn’t agree more. It’s clear the administration had no idea what it was getting itself into when they relented to the UAW’s powerful lobby and lent taxpayer money to the struggling carmaker. Nevermind that the UAW is one of the main reasons that GM found itself in a ditch.

For months now, Heritage’s James Gattuso has been detailing why this is a bad idea. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, may not be as eloquent but they make a good point nonetheless:

Author: Gerrit Lansing
Interact: Sphere
Share This

6 Comments

May 30, 2009 Dave McDuffie,Laguna Niguel, Ca writes:

Thanks GM! You have given us a perfect, real time example of how well socialism works…or rather how it does NOT work! Everyone making the same amount of money regardless of job title, NO MERIT increases, keep your mouth shut and do as little as possible so more workers will be hired, and by the way, who’s name was on the paychecks, the UAW or GM’s??? Unions=socialism=less work=no creativity=no-place-to-go=boredom=going postal! And you wondered where the term came from.

May 31, 2009 Paul Aubert writes:

We often hear the pundits talk about the lack of details regarding any adminstration’s plans or policy decisions. If one wants to know and understand the details, they can be found. The problem generally is not with a plan or policy, but more with sound-bite reporting of the major news outlets. Seek and yee shall find…

May 31, 2009 Barb -mn writes:

Hmm… the president may have “south park syndrome?” Uh oh.

June 2, 2009 Kevin South Lyon, MI writes:

It’s interesting to note that during Obama’s acceptance speech for the nomination for the Democrat’s presidential candidate that he spelled out, one item at a time, exactly what he planned to fix around the country. He never said how he would pay for it.

Kevin

June 2, 2009 Lynn B. DeSpain writes:

The problem with Socialism is that you have everyone doing the least they can for the most they want.
Hozro

June 2, 2009 Mark, West Richland, WA writes:

“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessing; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” Winston Churchill

The Heritage Foundation - Leadership for America

The Foundry