Gov't wants to bail out the big three.

[Z]

Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
Where is the US version? You will be able to see the new version in the upcoming Bond film, Quantum of Solace.

The last of the Ford-influenced Aston Martins? Sweet! :biggrin:

[rgG]

Somebody bought all those big gas guzzlers that the big 3 put out. If the American populace had not bought the trucks and SUVs, the big 3 would have been forced long ago to start producing smaller more fuel efficient vehicles, but the masses wanted bigger and bigger and that is what they got.

They produce a high mileage car for Europe because Europeans have been paying high gas prices for years and that is the car they will buy. When gas was cheap, how many people bought a Prius? Only when the masses have been forced to pay something similar to Europe's price for gas did fuel efficiency become important.

Waste, greed and excess by the vast majority of America is responsible for this mess we are in. Fault can be attributed to the CEOs and law makers on down to the general populace. Most are liable and all will suffer.

[simonm]

Both GM (Opel aka Vauxhall) and Ford make lots of really nice cars in Europe most of which are far more fuel efficient than what they sell in the US so its not as if they can't target a market driven by fuel cost.

[SDGuy]

It's Deja Vu all over again

"The United States Congress reluctantly passed the "Chrysler Corporation Loan Guarantee Act of 1979" (Public Law 96-185) on December 20, 1979...prodded by Chrysler workers and dealers in every congressional district who feared the loss of their livelihoods."

[decocritter]

No one wants or needs what the Big 3 are selling, and will attempt to continue to sell. They are the biggest part of our energy problem. The American public as a whole is too ignorant to see what they do by driving SUV's and gas guzzlers. Many of the ones that do see, don't give a damn.

I went to Toyota for an oil change this week, and hung out with my salesman. They had waiting lists on Hybrid Camry and Prius. No other cars were selling. Can't give away the Tundra.

I am more than sick of these bailouts. It is time for big 3 to die, or get with it.


They ought to be bailing all Americans out of the Healthcare crisis, instead. We are all suffering with this.

[BigGuynRusty]

rgG wrote:
Somebody bought all those big gas guzzlers that the big 3 put out. If the American populace had not bought the trucks and SUVs, the big 3 would have been forced long ago to start producing smaller more fuel efficient vehicles, but the masses wanted bigger and bigger and that is what they got.

They produce a high mileage car for Europe because Europeans have been paying high gas prices for years and that is the car they will buy. When gas was cheap, how many people bought a Prius? Only when the masses have been forced to pay something similar to Europe's price for gas did fuel efficiency become important.

Waste, greed and excess by the vast majority of America is responsible for this mess we are in. Fault can be attributed to the CEOs and law makers on down to the general populace. Most are liable and all will suffer.

The Truth Is Here!!
Thanks for the words rgG!!
It is the American Consumers making these decisions.
Within weeks of a national tragedy (9/11) GM was stacking cash on the hoods of their huge trucks and offering 0% down finance deals. The big truck/SVU market was essentially dead.
GM sales skyrocketed, Ford had to follow to stay alive, Chrysler had no choice.
Nobody put a gun to these folks head.
There are incredible cars that get great fuel economy, but the american consumer wants a living room on wheels.
Just like the folks that have to buy a 4,000 SqFt home, for a family of four.
As the late, great George Carlin said, more room for our stuff.
Don't blame the big three for the american consumers inability to control their urges.
A friend called me yesterday and said, now that gas is cheap again, he is gonna buy a Cadillac Escalade, and GM is offering "Incentives"!!

BGnR

[dad@home]

the Chrysler bailout of 1979 was denounced far and wide......many on the right felt the poorly run corporation should be allowed to fail and an equally vocal group on the left were outraged that public money was used to "benefit" a private corporation.

As is usually the case both the right/free traders and the left/labor union toadies were wrong. The bailout cost the US treasury nothing....the loan was repaid early with interest!

Sill one of my favorite Tom Paxton songs (a good leftist like me) lampooned the deal:

Edit: Here's a link of Arlo Guthrie singing a version of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daBx_PBrvSE


I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler
by Tom Paxton

Oh the price of gold is rising out of sight
And the dollar is in sorry shape tonight
What the dollar used to get us
Now won't buy a head of lettuce
No the economic forecast isn't right
But amidst the clouds I spot a shining ray

I can even glimpse a new and better way
And I've demised a plan of action
Worked it down to the last fraction
And I'm going into action here today

CHORUS:
I am changing my name to Chrysler
I am going down to Washington D.C.
I will tell some power broker
What they did for Iacocca
Will be perfectly acceptable to me
I am changing my name to Chrysler
I am headed for that great receiving line
So when they hand a million grand out
I'll be standing with my hand out
Yes sire I'll get mine

When my creditors are screaming for their dough
I'll be proud to tell them all where they can all go
They won't have to scream and holler
They'll be paid to the last dollar
Where the endless streams of money seem to flow
I'll be glad to tell them what they can do
It's a matter of a simple form or two
It's not just renumeration it's a liberal education
Ain't you kind of glad that I'm in debt to you

CHORUS

Since the first amphibians crawled out of the slime
We've been struggling in an unrelenting climb
We were hardly up and walking before money started talking
And it's sad that failure is an awful crime
Well it's been that way for a millenium or two
But now it seems that there's a different point of view
If you're a corporate titanic and your failure is gigantic
Down to congress there's a safety net for you

CHORUS

©1980 Accabonac Music (ASCAP)

Dad

[$tevie]

Seacrest wrote: Also, by answering your question I am in no way, shape or form insinuating that I am smarter than you. ;-)

Insinuate away. I won't take offense.

:bunny:

[karsen]

decocritter wrote:
I am more than sick of these bailouts. It is time for big 3 to die, or get with it.

There's more coming. I heard today there's another 300 Billion dollar bailout planned when/if Obama takes office.

incognegro wrote: Stop the foreclosures first. Screw the big 3.

Screw the big three and screw foreclosures.

Why stop foreclosures? Isn't there any personal responsibility anymore? Most of these foreclosures are people who took on a second mortgage in hopes of flipping a home and making a profit. That's a gamble they took and it didn't work out, too bad. Should I get a government handout if I lose my life savings in Vegas?

Yes, there are some mortgages out there by so called "predatory lenders" but this is not the majority of forsclosures. If you signed on the dotted line take responsibility for it. The terms of your shitty mortgage were clearly written in that paperwork you chose not to read. It's not the government's place to coddle grown ups like babies.

Why is it the government's place to bail out every person and corporation that behaves irresponsibly? For every handout and bailout our government gives, there will be 5 more entities lined up asking for help. We're weakening the entire system every time this takes place.

[BigGuynRusty]

Just recently my brother sent me a box of old magazines that I left in my Mothers storage shed when I did my final move to SoCal.
The newest is dated 1981, what a informational rush!!
The late 1970's magazines are the best, gas crisis very weak dollar, the Big Three duking it out with the "Rising Tide" from the east.
Amazing, we didn't learn then, we didn't learn now.

BGnR