hard to feel sorry for Detroit CEO's...

[RHTFISH]

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/WallStree ... 739&page=1

I say let them fold! From my perspective it's no different than "poor" folks driving Cads and Lincolns to get welfare checks and spend food stamps.
It's certainly not the AMERICAN WAY I believe in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TroutTrent]

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/WallStree ... 739&page=1

I say let them fold! From my perspective it's no different than "poor" folks driving Cads and Lincolns to get welfare checks and spend food stamps.
It's certainly not the AMERICAN WAY I believe in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen brother "Amen"!

[Tom Keels]

I watched most of the hearing yesterday and I was really proud of the Senators for grilling their asses as to why they should give them a dime.

[dolphinatic]

I watched most of the hearing yesterday and I was really proud of the Senators for grilling their asses as to why they should give them a dime.

Here Here

Haven't the "Big 3" already gotten a big chunch of the American tax payers dollars through that thing called a "car payment?" Why should business be rewarded for mismanagement??? Working in the "automotive industry" I have seen alot of things over the past few years that make you go "Hmmm?" Why do dealerships have to build big, fancy "state-of-art" buildings with concession areas, child playing areas and entertainment areas with flat screens for their customers? Not to mention paying as much as $3000 per vehicle to cover employee benefits such as pension and healthcare costs. Then turn around and tell you that they can't afford my services And now they say if they get a "bailout" the top Execs will take a salary of $1 Why didn't you do that a long time ago? I've never bought a new car, nor do I plan on doing it anytime in the near future in less I can pay $$$ for it. My business has been vastly affected by not doing ANY local dealership work over the past year. However, I have not asked for a bailout. Instead, I took on another part-time job to make up for the loss of work. You gotta always stay on the offensive. I say let 'em fail even though it has affected my business in the process....and if they do get a bailout, I expect to receive something in return since they're getting my $$$$. Lord knows the government will and that's the bigger issue

[jsuber]

Don't forget the autoworkers getting $78.00/hour and $31/hour even after they are laid off. Yes, after they are laid off, they still get paid! The UAW brought down Detroit, not America. And if you cannot supply what the people demand you will lose business. Toyota builds trucks in Georgetown, KY and they get $38.00/hour which is a fine wage. ANd Toyota can afford to put away money to keep afloat when times get slow, but GM,FORD, Chrysler made a bad deal with hte UAW and need to close down, move south, and start over.

What is hilarious is the UAW workers start bitching because the company's move to Mexico to build Lear Jets, and they actually think its politics. ITS MONEY! You get paid too much and they have to cut cost so they move their business to Mexico and get cheaper labor. Maybe you should compromise. I have lived in a Union town (Philly) and some of those guys treat the union as a religion. I had 45 electricians working for me and most made $68.oo and hour. Now thats just crazy.

[Tom Keels]

And now they say if they get a "bailout" the top Execs will take a salary of $1

The only guy who agreed to that deal was the CEO of Chrysler. I was very impressed with his candor on the issues. He's the only one of the 3 who seemed genuinely outraged at the fact his company had come hat in hand and ask. Ford and GM seemed to think it was duty of the taxpayers to save them.

Ford's CEO was quick to point out that they had already cut a lot of their costs and were in fine shape cash wise so long as the economy turned around by Q3 2009. However he was also quick to say him not getting paid a salary or bonuses would only be a "symbolic gesture" and not make any difference. Senator Dodd replied and I'm paraphrasing..."The people you are wanting money from are the American Taxpayers, a symbolic gesture is the least you can do to reassure them that you are not another AIG." Like I said, very impressed with all the Senators in the hearing. If you can find it online, I highly suggest you watch it. I just hope the House give them the same ration of shite!.

[Tom Keels]

Don't forget the autoworkers getting $78.00/hour and $31/hour even after they are laid off. Yes, after they are laid off, they still get paid! The UAW brought down Detroit, not America. And if you cannot supply what the people demand you will lose business. Toyota builds trucks in Georgetown, KY and they get $38.00/hour which is a fine wage. ANd Toyota can afford to put away money to keep afloat when times get slow, but GM,FORD, Chrysler made a bad deal with hte UAW and need to close down, move south, and start over.

What is hilarious is the UAW workers start bitching because the company's move to Mexico to build Lear Jets, and they actually think its politics. ITS MONEY! You get paid too much and they have to cut cost so they move their business to Mexico and get cheaper labor. Maybe you should compromise. I have lived in a Union town (Philly) and some of those guys treat the union as a religion. I had 45 electricians working for me and most made $68.oo and hour. Now thats just crazy.

Unions are a great idea if the economy is not global. It was very telling that even when a plant is closed and the workers laid off, UAW forces the automakers to provide 80-90% of wages and benefits to people WHO AREN'T WORKING. They are basically like lawyers on retainer, paying them to be there should the need arise. This was one area where the Dems and Reps diverged during the hearing. Dodd thought it was "commendable" to keep paying people.

[Barhopr]

Here comes the Change. Are you ready for what 53% of you voted for?

[dolphinatic]

Change is already boosting the economy......gun sales are up as much as 1000% in some places compared to 6 months ago New applicants for background checks are up 15% since last month Maybe these are the folks that are going to comprise our new 250,000 private citizen "army"

[Joe]

Last week, I was driving down smooth pavement in my 2006 GMC Sierra listening to bailout discussion on NPR. The Privacy light/sunglass holder fell down and was hanging from the wires. Thought it was pretty fitting.

Cheers!

[dolphinatic]

Last week, I was driving down smooth pavement in my 2006 GMC Sierra listening to bailout discussion on NPR. The Privacy light/sunglass holder fell down and was hanging from the wires. Thought it was pretty fitting.

Cheers!

One of my clients just spent about $80K 6 months ago on a Escalade ESV Platinum. The wood trim on both sides of the center console has already come off and the dye is coming off the dash & top of the console. The rear window wiper comes on at random. I love GM vehicles and have had a few over the years.....still got my '87 K-5 Blazer, but they sure don't make 'em like they used too compared to the cost

Don't even get me started on Ford

[jsuber]

I got a 141k on my 1997 Ford F250 and the Electric windows no longer work, and the only fuse they don't mention in any manuals is the Electric Windows. The rear window has leaked from day one and no one has ever been able to fix it, and the drivers mirror does not go up and down and the small spark plug distributors they use now are below a hose that leaks on it and makes it worthless every 35000 miles and its also the one that under the cab because of the cab forward design. But I love my paid off Ford bruiser. Reminds me of myself, gets the job done but not pretty at all.

[Reel Cowboy]

Here comes the Change. Are you ready for what 53% of you voted for?

A lady in the admissions office yesterday that her troubles wuz now over. She woouldn't have to keep paying that $3.00 co-pay to dat hospital, 'cause ya'll werkin' folk (that's me and you) was finally gonna hep out da community.
I asked her if I could go next so I could get back to work and keep her lights on. She said she ain't have a light bill.

[Good Times]

Just read the article posted above. Wow. They want the bailout so it can be business as usual. Doesn't sound like there would be many changes if they were bailed out.

In college I spent time researching and comparing Japanese and American business models among automakers. US automakers basically have a 5 year projected business plan while Japanese adopt a 20 year projected business plan. Japanese focus on "long run" 200,000 mile drive trains. US builds 100,000 mile "short run" drive trains. The attention given to quality is completely different on the assembly lines. US companies use the Japanese cars as the standard. For instance, I was in a Ford assembly plant for the Ford Taurus and the huge sign up on the wall was "Beat Camry!." Seems to me that they needed to forget about the Camry and build something better. What happened to good ol' American ingenuity?

My personal experience is from a loyal Domestic automaker family. When I started looking at the auto makers and comparing, we bought a Toyota Camry. I have to say, we paid more for the car but spent so much less on upkeep and repairs. My Camry also lasted me ten years until I bought a mini van for the growing family. I drive a 1995 Toyota T100 right now that is bullet proof and drives as good as the day it pulled off the lot. It's hard to beat a product and business model like that.

So, I hate to see people lose jobs. It actually affects my job because a lot of the people in our community work for companies that support the auto makers. But the US automakers need to learn some bare bones lessons like the rest of the country is doing right now. I've learned to live on less. They should too.

[Tom Keels]

the small spark plug distributors they use now are below a hose that leaks on it and makes it worthless every 35000 miles

Don't I know it. It's the one complaint I've had with my 2001 F-150 with 90k on it. I've replaced 3 of them so far.