General Motors Sparks a Variety of Grievances

I vaguely remember a small number of unrepentant cynics and skeptics who pooh-poohed General Motors’ recent assertions that unproductive workers, flat sales and generally feeble corporate heath are responsible for their massive layoffs of U.S. workers.

They suggested that these impressive demonstrations of GM’s waning loyalty were in fact motivated by the search for cheap labor and an unregulated, profit-friendly environment.

Well, these people can now pop the Champagne--they were right all along. We find that poor, impoverished GM has somehow come up with $30 million to invest in new plants in communist China, “GM Announces It Will Assemble Trucks In China” (Jan. 16).

If we also consider the astonishing $800 million GM has spent on new production facilities in Eastern Europe and the plants it has constructed in Mexico during the past decade, a pattern emerges that even the most fervent industry apologist would have a hard time blaming on poor U.S. workmanship.

GM is healthier than ever. Sure, American workers are getting the shaft, but what did they ever do for General Motors, anyway?

MATTHEW CLARK

San Diego