I'm Worried and I'm Pissed

[Justin Bimmer]

I consider myself to be somebody who is pretty educated. I have a BA in Political Science and Communications. Was 2 classes away from a BA in US History and ended up with a minor in it. I am in law school right now and I cannot understand what the hell is going on in America right now.

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but school and working has been very time consuming for me and I apologize to all the C&G fans for not being able to read all the posts here.

But really, how is it evil or wrong to bailout an industry that provides 30 million jobs and is only a victim of the American system of the NYSE and instant gratification and rewards?

I am tired of everybody thinking that the banking industry is in need of saving. One thing that is great about banks is that they are always willing to buy each other out and consolidate. The auto industry is a bit different.

Why do you penalize an industry that has supported America for 50 years with living wages, retirement benefits, and medical insurance with "you made your bed, it's time to fail?"

The automotive industry as a whole in America is in trouble. Suppliers, and basic auto parts manufacturers are in dire need of help too.

It's time for America to realize that the world is not a pure capitalist world where the failed notion of "trickle down economics" is a successful notion. The major competitors to the "Big 3" are greatly influenced by socialist nations where the costs of health care, retirement, and research and technology are covered by the government.

It's time for America to scrap the false concept of the "free market system" and realize that there is an unlevel playing field that requires assistance from the United States and from the American people.

I love GM and I think Ford and Chrysler deserve to live on as well. Screw the banks. The FDIC is there to take care of that.

Rant over. . .

Justin

[Croc]

Look at whom has the power, and look at whom bankrolls the power. Trace the lines of money and power in this country, and it makes a lot of sense. Doesn't make it right, but the "logic" makes sense.

[balthazar]

The way I see it is, there's 2 POVs on the matter - the 'textbook' side that likes to fall back on theory & idealogy, and the 'reality' side that is able to visualize consequences.

I support the theory of free markets, but the reality of the present is: we don't have global free markets, because of the inherant wealth in the U.S., our open market wealth has been getting strip-mined, and vital key industries have already fallen into the roadside ditch while those in policy spout theory with their noses in the air. How much longer are we going to watch reality put the smackdown on theory ???

[CARBIZ]

The way I see it is, there's 2 POVs on the matter - the 'textbook' side that likes to fall back on theory & idealogy, and the 'reality' side that is able to visualize consequences.

I support the theory of free markets, but the reality of the present is: we don't have global free markets, because of the inherant wealth in the U.S., our open market wealth has been getting strip-mined, and vital key industries have already fallen into the roadside ditch while those in policy spout theory with their noses in the air. How much longer are we going to watch reality put the smackdown on theory ???

+ 1

I would add that too much of business theory is about quantifying or pigeon-holing everthing, and that would include customers.

It's easy for an accountant to say that if you sell X,000 cars and the cost on each is X0,000 to build, then the profit will be X billion per year. However, somewhere along the line the brainiacs at various colleges decided ALL aspects of business can be categorized that way. Absent owners (another problem in the global village) want to be able to run their empires by remote control; ie., while sitting on the dock at their cottage. Middle management feels powerless, so all they can do is pepper-spray their managers with charts, emails and reports to show that they are doing something to justify their existence.

I see this more and more: middle-managers rushing around giving the appearance of doing something during a crisis when, in fact, there are too many things out of their control. This could be one of the biggest challenges in huge companies like GM and Ford.

Sales is emotion driven (Lutz gets it), so how can you expect to quantify everything that goes through a customer's head? But that is the thinking in marketing circles these days. Customers can be 'managed,' brands can be 'managed,' etc.

[regfootball]

the sheer fact is that other countries prop up their auto industries.

we don't seem to want to.

seems to be a double standard. pump 700B into failing banks for spa parties. But 25B to let real people's lives go down the drain.

we seem to be willing to let our auto companies fail and cede our spots as major players in one of the world's biggest product markets.

Edited November 17, 2008 by regfootball

[Justin Bimmer]

GM has set up a site so you can send letters to congress:

http://www.capitolconnect.com/gmfactsandfi...ze/default.aspx

[daves87rs]

the sheer fact is that other countries prop up their auto industries.

we don't seem to want to.

seems to be a double standard. pump 700B into failing banks for spa parties. But 25B to let real people's lives go down the drain.

we seem to be willing to let our auto companies fail and cede our spots as major players in one of the world's biggest product markets.

+1

And think of all the credit the government could take in this.....

[daves87rs]

GM has set up a site so you can send letters to congress:

http://www.capitolconnect.com/gmfactsandfi...ze/default.aspx

Working on that tonight.....