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Our society is economically troubled. Often I wonder about the source of our problems. Is it mortgage companies anxious to make marginal home loans then foreclose in hopes of financial gain? Is it government too bent upon avoiding responsibility while insuring personal gain? Is it the very rich too focused upon protecting their pot of gold? Or is it the working class too selfish by insisting that their children are sheltered, fed, and healthy?

Recently congressional republicans, stressed about a proposed “bailout” of American automobile companies, who led me to question. Essentially they ask: “who is worthy of a “bailout” and “under what conditions should society help?” Are giant financial companies who squandered investments on such gambles as sub prime loans and credit default swaps worthy of aid? Should small businesses who need operational loans to conduct operations, be helped? Could automobile manufacturers, whose executive management have avoided upgrading their product to compete with foreign imports, be rescued?

The only clear message I saw from congressional republicans was that any aid to automobile manufacturing should exact punishment upon the United Auto Workers union. Why target them? Are the republicans suggesting that the UAW caused the problems of GM, Chrysler, and Ford? The republicans do complain about UAW pay and benefits (healthcare, retirement), but they also are against government supported healthcare and retirement. The republicans tend to prefer “private” healthcare and retirement plans and say that people should invest in such plans. How?

If business limits workers to minimum wage (or less), how could they afford healthcare or retirement savings? If fact, at the recent cost of living in most of America, workers for police and firefighting agencies have trouble affording such luxuries. School teachers have experienced difficulty for decades.

So, congressional republicans, we know that your UAW objection is really a political move prompted by your big business supporters. Some “experts” contend that the demise of American automobile manufacturing could cost more than two million jobs. Please do not use the nation’s current crises to attack the UAW. Help us fix the economy and attack the UAW later. It is two different issues and at this time, we need the jobs.