Comments on: Now We’re Bailing Out the Auto Companies? Who’s Next? http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:29:52 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Herb Thacker http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-146425 Herb Thacker Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:22:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-146425 Who started the bail outs? Sen. (Presidential Elect) Obama hasn't been in the Oval Office yet, so it must be the "chosen son of Texas" who started this BS. Once Bush is gone in 74 days he and Cheney can take their Phillips Stocks out of the trust fund they had to put them in and bail out a few companies they ruined with their economical plan to balance the budget, give everyone a tax break (money has to come from somewhere), de-regulate all the things they could and let them spend like was no tomorrow, driving the National Debt so far in the hole we ended up in China borrowing money. If China was to call in the debt we owe them right now, we couldn't pay it. I don't blame GM, Ford or any other Auto Company for getting in line for the next 74 days for a hand out. After that, Bank Closed!! Who started the bail outs? Sen. (Presidential Elect) Obama hasn’t been in the Oval Office yet, so it must be the “chosen son of Texas” who started this BS. Once Bush is gone in 74 days he and Cheney can take their Phillips Stocks out of the trust fund they had to put them in and bail out a few companies they ruined with their economical plan to balance the budget, give everyone a tax break (money has to come from somewhere), de-regulate all the things they could and let them spend like was no tomorrow, driving the National Debt so far in the hole we ended up in China borrowing money. If China was to call in the debt we owe them right now, we couldn’t pay it. I don’t blame GM, Ford or any other Auto Company for getting in line for the next 74 days for a hand out. After that, Bank Closed!!

]]> By: James Jardine http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-146358 James Jardine Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:57:32 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-146358 You are right on Ken. Also remeber that GM destroyed an earlier electric car than had some chance of success. I see the future for transport going back to the turn of the last century, with boutique builder supplying specialized vehicle which we drive longer. Comapnies such as Tesla Corp and their electric vehicle. American have wated the best years of their country. here in Australia, cars have always been expensive and we drive them longer. We have 2 Volvo's which have each done over 300,000 KMS and which will do at leat another 100,00 before we even think of replcacing them. My uncle had a 34 Chev which he drove up until the late 1960's. Dad had a chev 56 which he drove for 19years, so I can see people buying a boutique car which runs on hydrogen or similar fuel and driving it for a very long time. You are right on Ken. Also remeber that GM destroyed an earlier electric car than had some chance of success. I see the future for transport going back to the turn of the last century, with boutique builder supplying specialized vehicle which we drive longer. Comapnies such as Tesla Corp and their electric vehicle. American have wated the best years of their country. here in Australia, cars have always been expensive and we drive them longer. We have 2 Volvo’s which have each done over 300,000 KMS and which will do at leat another 100,00 before we even think of replcacing them.
My uncle had a 34 Chev which he drove up until the late 1960’s. Dad had a chev 56 which he drove for 19years, so I can see people buying a boutique car which runs on hydrogen or similar fuel and driving it for a very long time.

]]> By: Ken http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-145727 Ken Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:52:45 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-145727 The auto industry will get what they deserve. I watched the governor of Michigan on election night refer to “The Grand Bargain” between the Obama administration and the auto industry, and I have heard Obama make veiled references to the conditions that will be attached to any bailout. This “bargain” will be about the manufacture of the “right” kind of cars, mainly Hybrids, electric cars and of course a rise in the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards. The results of this government interference will leave consumers with poor choices for new vehicles and leave the auto industry needing another bailout. Here’s the nut shell version on why this is a bad idea. Hybrids are no more than “disposable vehicles“. The cost of replacing the batteries after three years far out weighs the value of the car. There are some that believe that the technology will catch up before they have to replace the batteries and that the increase demand will lower the price. This is the same logic that was used in the sub-prime housing debacle and we all know how that has turned out. Is America ready to purchase a vehicle that can travel only forty miles before it needs a recharge? Perhaps for some this is a viable alternative, but for most of us the limitations make this alternative unworkable. The unrealistic rise in the CAFÉ standards will leave us with plastic and tin cans on four wheels that no one will want to buy. So, the government will coerce the auto industry into making cars no one will buy and the auto industry will wind up bankrupt again. The auto industry will get what they deserve.
I watched the governor of Michigan on election night refer to “The Grand Bargain” between the Obama administration and the auto industry, and I have heard Obama make veiled references to the conditions that will be attached to any bailout. This “bargain” will be about the manufacture of the “right” kind of cars, mainly Hybrids, electric cars and of course a rise in the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards.
The results of this government interference will leave consumers with poor choices for new vehicles and leave the auto industry needing another bailout. Here’s the nut shell version on why this is a bad idea.
Hybrids are no more than “disposable vehicles“. The cost of replacing the batteries after three years far out weighs the value of the car. There are some that believe that the technology will catch up before they have to replace the batteries and that the increase demand will lower the price. This is the same logic that was used in the sub-prime housing debacle and we all know how that has turned out.
Is America ready to purchase a vehicle that can travel only forty miles before it needs a recharge? Perhaps for some this is a viable alternative, but for most of us the limitations make this alternative unworkable.
The unrealistic rise in the CAFÉ standards will leave us with plastic and tin cans on four wheels that no one will want to buy.
So, the government will coerce the auto industry into making cars no one will buy and the auto industry will wind up bankrupt again.

]]> By: jaw dropper http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-145593 jaw dropper Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:03:23 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-145593 seguin writes: "I’m buying GM stock to put weight behind my assertion, as well as a GM automobile as soon as I’m able." That qualifies you as the stupidest person in the room. GM stock is worthless and GM automobiles are worthlesser. seguin writes: “I’m buying GM stock to put weight behind my assertion, as well as a GM automobile as soon as I’m able.”

That qualifies you as the stupidest person in the room. GM stock is worthless and GM automobiles are worthlesser.

]]> By: Someone75 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-143715 Someone75 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:22:53 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-143715 Actually, every report I read said that we are NOT bailing out GM. Is this article just WAY behind in the news stream, or . . . well, I guess there's no excuse. The 700 billion dollars should not be like grant money that anyone can apply for. American auto companies had their chance, and they blew it. Actually, every report I read said that we are NOT bailing out GM. Is this article just WAY behind in the news stream, or . . . well, I guess there’s no excuse.

The 700 billion dollars should not be like grant money that anyone can apply for. American auto companies had their chance, and they blew it.

]]> By: TBoneJones http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-143509 TBoneJones Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:50:12 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-143509 Time is short. Only a few more Months for Bush and the bankers to suck the life blood out of us. Can you imagine how proud his Dad must be? (He only managed to centralize a few smaller banks) Also, a special thanks to the Republicans who voted for him. TWICE. And, the Republicans who backed him on all the ridicules laws/acts/bills he rammed through/signed. Time is short. Only a few more Months for Bush and the bankers to suck the life blood out of us. Can you imagine how proud his Dad must be? (He only managed to centralize a few smaller banks) Also, a special thanks to the Republicans who voted for him. TWICE. And, the Republicans who backed him on all the ridicules laws/acts/bills he rammed through/signed.

]]> By: seguin http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-143347 seguin Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:13:29 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-143347 I don't like it principle, but when you consider the regulatory crap that has been thrown at GM for years, as well as the ridiculous Union BS and assorted other issues that good governance could have ameliorated - for a recent example look at the increased CAFE standards. 35 mpg is insane for a company that does a brisk business in trucks and commercial vehicles. I'm not saying GM hasn't had some poor management over the years. Ed Cole rushed the Vega into production before the Nikasil process and rustproofing processes were ready and Rick Wagoner gave far too many concessions to the Unions when times were good in the nineties. But the government is far from blameless and I'm buying GM stock to put weight behind my assertion, as well as a GM automobile as soon as I'm able. I don’t like it principle, but when you consider the regulatory crap that has been thrown at GM for years, as well as the ridiculous Union BS and assorted other issues that good governance could have ameliorated – for a recent example look at the increased CAFE standards. 35 mpg is insane for a company that does a brisk business in trucks and commercial vehicles.

I’m not saying GM hasn’t had some poor management over the years. Ed Cole rushed the Vega into production before the Nikasil process and rustproofing processes were ready and Rick Wagoner gave far too many concessions to the Unions when times were good in the nineties.

But the government is far from blameless and I’m buying GM stock to put weight behind my assertion, as well as a GM automobile as soon as I’m able.

]]> By: Chuckt http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-143221 Chuckt Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:41:28 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-143221 Hey ex-fetus: when you get your bailout, book yourself a well-deserved $400K spa vacation and go get pampered. You failed, so you earned that bailout! Hey ex-fetus: when you get your bailout, book yourself a well-deserved $400K spa vacation and go get pampered. You failed, so you earned that bailout!

]]> By: Edward A. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-143101 Edward A. Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:53:27 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-143101 We can all thank G W Bush. Could he be responsible for a new UUSA? (United Socialist States of America) And, I smile when we hear McCain/Palin call Obama the socialist...what about their very own Bush? We can all thank G W Bush. Could he be responsible for a new UUSA? (United Socialist States of America) And, I smile when we hear McCain/Palin call Obama the socialist…what about their very own Bush?

]]> By: njcommuter http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/now-were-bailing-out-the-auto-companies-whos-next/comment-page-1/#comment-143093 njcommuter Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:42:08 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=37785#comment-143093 What's needed is a structural cure. Here it is: Make the unions responsible for health care and retirement benefits, and make them separate line items on the pay stub. What’s needed is a structural cure. Here it is: Make the unions responsible for health care and retirement benefits, and make them separate line items on the pay stub.

]]>