[jkarolyi]

I think the Detroit analogy is right on the money. In the 60s, American auto workers were the top paid in the industry, and they negotiated generous pensions and lifetime health benefits, etc. American cars were also competitve and in many cases superior to those from Europe, and especially Japan. Much the same as VW today.

Bring on the Japanese (70s) and later the Korean (80s) cars. Low cost/high quality labor produced cars people want to buy. Detroit cannot afford R&D to compete with them due to their workforce being coddled with pay and benefits which are not sustainable. Most GM cars still use evolved versions of platforms developed in the 80s.

I think the point of the Detroit analogy is that German workers should travel there to see the long-term results of anti-business unions, work rules, and government. Empty skyscrapers and poverty everywhere. When a company is losing money by the bucketfull like VW is right now, the employees should be volunteering for a 40 hour workweek at the least!