My choices were DUMB or DUMBER, jts… What was I supposed to do?
Actually,FWIW, my congressman voted against “the bail-out.”
We do have a history of buying financial strapped businesses and having a controlling interest. Then, allowing the company to go public and divesting ownership; with good results.
There are companies that do very well under govt. control. The Electric Boat Comp. in Groton, Conn. and others. When national security is involved, everything is on the table. GM can be saved by issuance of military contracts under strict regulations alone.
“GM can be saved by issuance of military contracts under strict regulations alone.”
Do you suggest that they buy 1,000,000 Aveos or G6s for the troops?
How dare you slight that wonderful Taiwanese built compact…the yellow ones make great target practice.
The Aveo is built in Korea and is a Deawoo design left over from the days when GM bought the assets of then bankrupt Daewoo cars. It sells well in Asia and other foreign countries, but is too fragile for North America.
Oops.
As pointed out. the idea is to save jobs, not a company. GM is international and will still retain a market world wide if it goes under in North America.
I believe that from the mid management level down, it can be innovative and just as progressive and successful as Toyota. As I’ve stated before in other posts. Hybrids and electrics decrease the profit of auto companies that depend upon parts and service to balance their sheets.
What I don’t want to see, is the companies propose “restructuring” and laying off the thousands of workers they may propose to do to get the bail out money. Now we are paying unemployment to those thousands who are no longer making anything.
I still say…tie the bail out to state aid by agreeing to purchase with federal funds…GM, Ford and Chrysler products to be turned over for local and state use. Heavey use vehicles for infrastructure construction benefits all. No easy answers.
To those of you who don’t like the socialism aspect; remember that we are presently funding “unemployment benefits” for over 100,000+ in Iraq, to keep them from fighting.
Many state and local companies already buy GM, Ford, and Chrysler cars and trucks. All the state and local police cars are Fords or Chryslers around here. I don’t recall seeing any state or county trucks except GM, Ford and Chrysler. Unless there is a traditional USA-only clause, the vehicles are all purchased on a lowest-cost basis that meet other specifications. How is your plan any different than what is done now?
I hear what you say, but the purchases are not being made…you make my one of my points point…it would not be a stretch to purchase these vehicles. Our state govt… as well as the National Guard units are still using very old civilian vehicles (medical, transportation and emergency vehicles…) because of budget constraints.
Roads and bridges on public by ways in our state were funded at close to 90% levels by the Fed prior to Reagan admin. Now it is at 15%. The state has been in a “backwards” posture ever since. My guess is that most states are in a similar situation as nearly 40 of them have a mandatory balanced budget amendment.
I feel…buy their products. They still have to compete with one another with vehicles that are profitable for them. Not many hybrid dump, plow trucks and ambulances out there yet.
Our state police was recently denied the opportunity to replace their one antiquated plane with confiscated drug money by the legislature. The purchase that could have been made if Fed funds help purchase their police crusers.
It’s not a gift…it’s our tax money and we want it back. If it comes back through the auto workers and parts suppliers, it could be a win. win.