Joe the Plumber vs. the auto workers, part II

The last post questioned why we seem to be picking on the autoworkers these days.  The question is even more relevant today as it looks like the auto industry bailout is in trouble. The AP reports the opponents of the bailout are demanding "major labor givebacks and debt restructuring at the companies, and (are) encourag(ing) them to declare bankruptcy."

A few weeks ago I heard a Congressman complaining about $75 hour autoworkers who should stop being selfish and who should "make concessions."  Today those concessions have been kicked up a notch to "major givebacks" and bankruptcy.  The problem is, I don't know where the $75 hour autoworkers are. If they ever existed, they are no more.  The overtime that contributed to large salaries is gone.  Medical benefits are being cut.  Employees are expected to contribute more to maintain quality benefits.  Workers are being laid off.  Retirement funds are in jeopardy.   In other words, the unions have been making concession so frequently I'm surprised there is anything left to consider.  But now they are, once again, being asked to give.

Are these workers greedy because they don't want to give anymore?  I suppose they are greedy...for a living wage, health insurance they can afford, a retirement package that actually allows them to retire.  A few years ago I got into an argument with a colleague over the news that one auto parts supplier was giving its employees a choice -- a massive pay cut or the closing of the plant.  The employees finally agreed to the paycut, a cut which took them to a salary of between $10 and $20 per hour.  Tell me, how do you support your family on $25,000 a year, especially when a few months ago you were making twice that?  My colleague argued they were lucky to still have a job.  Why?  Why were they lucky to work as hard or harder than before (since there were fewer workers) for less pay and fewer benefits?  The work wasn't any easier.  With fewer workers the stress level was higher.  And yet these workers were accused of being greedy and selfish for fighting the cuts.  Today some people have gone so far as to suggest the auto industry is largely responsible for the collapse of the economy.  By the "auto industry" they mean the autoworkers.  

On the other hand we have "Joe the Plumber."  Why is this blue-collar man a "true American hero" but my UAW neighbor is not?  Joe certainly may represent the "average American" but so does my friend's father who spent his lifetime coming to work everyday, working hard for the auto industry -- working hard to support his family.  What is the difference? We say we want our tax dollars to help "Main Street, not Wall Street" but when it comes to actually sending money to hard working taxpayers right here in middle America, we act as if wanting a decent salary and good medical benefits is a sin...unless you're a self-employed plumber, of course.

I truly don't understand.  Is it that as a society we are so individualistic that we feel that a person who has a union to fight for him or her is somehow "less" of an American than someone who doesn't?  Joe the Plumber vs.  Joe the Autoworker is Joe the individual vs. Joe a group member.  Is that what it is?  My friend suspects it's a class issue.  Certainly the difference in oversight standards between the banking bailout and the proposed auto industry bailout could be.  But plumbers vs. autoworkers a class issue?  It doesn't make sense.  Is there an explanation?  If you know, let me know.  As Rachel Maddow would say, "talk me down."  I need help.