“Why should UAW workers finance their own destruction??”
Why should we finance their low productivity? If we do, it’s like Japan has been for 20 or more years. Their economy was in a funk for many years because they refused to let market forces determine who would manufacture goods most efficiently. I am not in favor of straight laissez faire economics, but at some point market forces need to guide our decisions. In 1998 I bought a Buick Regal instead of a Honda Accord because the extra cost of the Honda was not justifiable. In 2005 I bought a Honda Accord instead of a Buick LaCrosse because the extra cost of the Buick was not justifiable. In both cases, the cost difference was $2000-$3000. I’m sure that’s not chump change to you, either. And that matters, too. BTW, you may recall that I just bought a Cobalt, despite the shaky ground under GM headquarters. Yes, I got a good deal, but I do like GM products. I currently own 3 of them.
Based on many of your responses, I would guess that you do. I think that when the Union suggests something at the bargaining table, they own it.
I NEVER EVER said the Unions aren’t partly to blame…
But managements past structure and bonus program are the MAJOR problems GM has had…Giving huge bonuses for short term achievements without out regard for long term consequences. They’ve demonstrated it nicely in the past 3 months.
#2…10 years ago when GM made RECORD PROFITS…they had the money then to shore up their retirement benefits…they choose NOT to…many people who keep watch over GM knew it would hurt them in the long run…and sure enough…it did. Management took MILLIONS in bonuses…and paid BILLIONS out to stock holders and buried their heads in the sand hoping the retirement benefits problem would go away…IT DIDN’T…And now they company is failing…
I am afraid I don’t understand the question. Was “Then Came Bronson” a movie?
I don’t have the wallet on the chain or the hair. My look when riding says “please don’t kill me” with the crash jacket and full face helmet. I have a leather jacket and chaps, but they don’t get worn very much since they offer less protection than my crash jacket and Areostich riding pants.
I am just making a comment on the sterotype image of the HD rider. There is so much commonality in dress and the desire to be in a group. “Then Came Bronson” was a late 60’s early 70’s TV show. The lonely confused individual toured America on his HD Sportster, all alone just looking for freedom. It was grand.
IM NEW TO THIS AND IV BEEN TRYING TO READ THE ONGOING COMMENTS, ALL SEAM TO HAVE VALID POINTS / THE PROBLEM IS BOTH MANAGMENT AND UNION BOTH GETTING GREADY AND LAZZY. IN THE PAST UNIONS WERE VERY MUCH NEEDED IN THE AUTO INDUSTRIES AND MANY OTHERS, THEY WERE STRONG AND SELF DIRECTED MADE SURE THE UNION MEMBERS WERE DOING THE JOBS WELL OR THEY WOULD TAKE STEPS / OWNERS HAD HIGH INTREST AND PARTICIPATION IN BUILDING THE COMPANY AND IN MANY CASES THEY TOOK MUCH INTEREST IN THE EMPLOYEE FAMILY WELL BEING.
NOT THE CASE ANYMORE! OWNERS STAY TO FAR AWAY FROM THE BUSISNESS THEY OWN AND LEAVE IT UP TO CORRUPT AND GREADY MANAGERS TO STEAL AWAY BILLIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND THE UNIONS ONLY PROTECT THE LAZZEST WORKERS WHILE HOLDING THE GOOD WORKERS DOWN. GOD FORBID IF YOU DO AN EXTRA GOOD JOB OR TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING BETTER YOU WILL BE CHASTIZED WITH THE NORMAL LAZY EXCUSE (IF YOU DO THAT THEY WILL EXPECT ALL OF US TO DO THAT)I KNOW IV BEEN IN BOTH POSITIONS AND FOUGHT VERY HARD TO GET PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER
IN EVERY CASE THE MANAGMENT WILL BE GREADY, NOT VERY EXPERIENCED (JUST OUT OF COLLAGE) AND HATEFUL OR THE UNION WORKERS WILL WANT TO LITERALLY SLEEP ON THE JOB THROWING AWAY THOUSANDS IN A DAY WHILE THE UNION DEFENDS THEM.
WHEN I WAS A KID I WAS TOLD THAT AMARICA WILL BE WHAT WE (WE)MAKE OF IT / AND IT IS
ONLY WE ( WE ) CAN CHANGE IT
jt; sometime in the past, a prominent Chinese leader (forgot who) fell in love with Buicks, and was lucky to have really good ones. The Chinese follow their leaders, and in Asia in general, Buick means “good cars”! GM makes different cars in China but most of them are called Buicks. The preferred car for a Chinese bureaucrat is a black 4 door Regal-size Buick!
Volkswagen has been in China the longest (over 20 years), but in spite of all their early suffering, they are still not the leader. The Chinese do not identify VW with either prestige, value, or best quality.
Every driver makes at least a crude business-like decision. If you drive a great deal, a premium priced Prius, diesel or electric car with an extended range makes some sense. Otherwise, the initial cost is the overriding factor.
I have many retired friends who still drive gas guzzlers; they drive so little that fuel mileage means nothing. Their cars are now cheaper to insure, and why get rid of something you really like? For an aging person with a bad back, it’s easier to get into the back seat of a Crown Victoria or Buick Roadmaster than a VW GTI.