An analysis by Heritage’s James Sherk demonstrates that United Auto Workers laborers cost the big three automakers over $70 per hour in salary plus benefits. With compensation like this, it’s no surprise that American car companies cannot be competitive with their foreign competitors, and as long as such wage rates persist, no bailout (or series of bailouts) will alter the long term trajectory of this domestic industry.

I find this especially relevant given that Democrats are eager to pass card check legislation, which would deny workers a secret vote on whether to unionize, thus allowing big labor to rapidly unionize through intimidation. If they have their way, the entire U.S. economy would function about as efficiently as the auto industry.