"The question is why do those on this board (not all but some) hate American Auto manufacturing and delight when people lose their jobs. Frankly it's sickening."
It is sickening. There are a few groups who cheer the loss of American jobs:
1 - Extreme capitalists. They view the world from the standpoint of "pure capitalism", (I'm not sure that exists). They have a very narrow view, a view that will one day bite them. They worry only about profits this quarter, and are the folks who are behind our current problems with corporations not innovating because R&D takes from quarterly profits. These folks aren't Americans first, they're capitalists first and foremost. They cling to the flag when they need Americans to die for their corporate interests.
2 - Business owners who have had employee troubles, (most business owners). These folks are disgusted by the unions. They don't care that the companies agreed to these deals, they just hate unions. So, anything that hurts a union, is good, in their eyes. Even if it requires one of the biggest American companies going down the tubes. If it hurts a union, it's good.
3 - Jealous people. Not all conservatives are wealthy. There are many who make less than union workers, and work harder. So, they too, hate unions. They delight in seeing the "prima donnas" get taken down.
What all of these "patriots" purposely ignore is that their countrymen are being put out of jobs. Also, that job losses at a manufacturer such as Ford are cascading, and that jobs will be lost at connected businesses. This will result in Americans losing many jobs, thus going on unemployment. This is all free, our taxes will not go up right? I know, not federal, they'll let the states do it. That way, the "conservatives" in states that aren't impacted won't see economic damage right away, and will continue to cheer. Also, these people who lose their jobs buy things. A lot of businesses will lose customer base. Our capitalist friends will scream then, because quaterly profits will be impacted.
Finally, republicans control the government, both houses, and the executive. Not all factory workers vote with the union, I know this for a fact. Not all will vote democrat because of losing their jobs, but more will. And it won't be restricted to the 70k laid off. It will be workers in related businesses, family and friends who will want to punish those in power.
Yeah, listen to them cheer, for now.
I think you raise a good point in your #3, however I might suggest it is resentment rather than jealousy because it is a largely protected class (unions) unlike small business owners who often work doggedly for a lot less. And oh, they create jobs rather than cost them.
4 - Those who have been stung by the quality of cars from the big three (or now big two). Are American cars much better than they used to be? Yes, but other manufacturers have improved too. People are often bitter for a long time after owning a rolling money pit.
Try reading the details of the exit package being offered. For example, four years at $27,000 per year and college education being completely paid for. This "patriot" thinks this option is better for America than paying $130,000 per year to sweep floors or paying "jobs bank" participants to do nothing.
The loss of jobs in the states only to be outsourced outside of the country is a major symptom of this problem. Only by escaping such restrictive and profit-prohibitve legislation can a corporation hope to function properly. Ford hasn't helped itself by destroying itself via incompetence. OTOH, the government has had a big hand in bringing Ford to it's knees in the first place. OHSA, WC, HC, AWDA and other restrictions forced upon companies stifle their ability to perform and grow traumatically. It just so happens that America is strong enough to survive under such restrictions and flourish economically. That's a testament to the people, certainly not the government.
And I think just about everyone on this board wants GM and Ford to survive and continue to manufacture in the U.S. of A.