When Daniel Howes was a European correspondent, I had nothing but respect for his work. Since relocating to Detroit, my former main man has lost the fearless objectivity he displayed in his e-missive from across the pond. Lately, Howes’ column has blended piercing glimpses into the obvious, recaps of well-known events and a newfound ability to not say anything much. Today, like yesterday’s AutoExtremism, Danny finds his inner TTAC. Only one problem: “Jobs bank end won’t halt D.C. bias” channels Howes’ anger at Washington’s hypocritical bailout minders. Sigh. Moral relativism—those evil bankers got their money without a public humiliation and strings made of piano wire—may give hope to the hometown crowd, but it’s an old, moldy, shoddy shibboleth. Danny should know better. How many times does one have to say that two wrongs don’t make a right? I mean, he’s WAY off target. Again.
“The people writing the checks to those who gorged on easy money in a consumption-crazy economy reserve the right to hold whoever they want accountable even as they give others a pass.
“How do we know the dough (notwithstanding legitimate unemployment and food stamp benefits) will be well-spent? We don’t, which can’t so easily be said about automakers that have used the past few months refining—and making public—their plans for using taxpayer loans (not grants).”
Loans, my ass. We’ll never see that money again. Transparency, my ass. We still don’t know who really owns Chrysler, and I don’t hear The Detroit News clamoring for this information. And Chrysler’s public relations assault on their viability plan is insane: trucks for Nissan, Chinese imports, EVs, a tie-up with FIAT (or someone else, now, according to Jim Press), etc.
If there is a moral high ground here, none of the recipients of what Howes rightly calls “Bailout Nation” are on it. In fact, the ground belongs to the media, if they would but occupy it. It’s a shame that one of the journalists best qualified to seize that territory seems content to sip brandy with the generals while the guys in the trenches are looking at the business end of wholesale slaughter.
“…piercing glimpses into the obvious, recaps of well-known events and a newfound ability to not say anything much.”
Are you saying the bloke is now an American politician?
It must be something in the water around Detroit. You have to believe that some of the most qualified people to spot a public sham are the ones that most often promote public shams – yes, the “duly elected” scum on the hill.
So, in order to avoid yet another public humiliation, you would think that the auto makers would suck it up and make a real attempt at reform. Unless they already know that the fix is in (or not).
I realize that having your own captive “peoples representatives” (ie, Lansing) can skew your perspective on what is “sufficient” public posturing, but the far larger group on that hill aren’t beholden to the whims of Detroit. That is what the Debt 3 and the UAW do not seem to understand. Particular when said group has already shot your tin-cup trick down not once, but twice.
Had not the lame duck been obsessing about his “legacy” thrown a $15 billion shaped table scrap the Debt 3 way, they would not be able to posture for more public largess today. And, a poll at the time indicated that 80% of those polled had a “…and don’t come back later looking for more.” attitude.
So, you would think that the local paper would have some sense of duty to point out to the local bully boys that their level of preparation is inadequate, rather that mindlessly continue to cheer the locals on.
Bruce
the bailouts were a bad idea.
Now it is a Catch 22 siutation.
You would need to be very brave to write against the Big 3 in the Detroit News. The union is ver powerful and they don’t play nice.
Union this union that geeze Bluecon if there were no UAW in Detroit it would make no difference to the Detroit newspapers asskissing. Do you think Orlando’s newspapers don’t kiss Disney’s ass.
Do you think Orlando’s newspapers don’t kiss Disney’s ass.
Just as the LATimes covers the movie industry with kid gloves. The New York Times rarely is critical of Wall Street.
You would need to be very brave to write against the Big 3 in the Detroit News. The union is ver powerful and they don’t play nice.
Howes and other writers at the Freep and DetNews have been openly critical of both management and labor at the Detroit automakers. Since that doesn’t fit the standard narrative in these parts it’s ignored. The only time that Howes is likely to appear on sites critical of Detroit is when he can be painted as a Detroit cheerleader.
It doesn’t matter if it’s John McElroy, Pete DeLorenzo or Daniel Howes. The fact that they’ve been consistent critics of the way business is done in Detroit is disregarded just because they don’t want to see their neighbors in bread lines.
Ronnie Schreiber:
Examples? Links?
Robert,
I can’t find it at the DetNews site but Howes had a long “no more business as usual in Detroit” piece in December. McElroy’s done a radio commentary for years on WJR or WWJ and has frequently taken the Big 3 to task for various stupidities.