Auto Bailout.......

[MagsC]

Yeah, I saw a part of that on the news when they were being asked if they would work for $1 a day.
Now thats probably extreme, but they sure could take a pay cut to help out, as much as they make.
JMO.

 

[cockadoodlemom]

Quote:
Yes, mam. with benefits, healthcare costs and pension plans these guys are making this. The hourly wage may be 30 bucks and hour for your DH take home, BUT with health care, pension and other benefits the line workers are taking over 70 dollars an hours to sustain their interest in the auto industry. The other auto makers are making half this WITH benifits. This was negotiated by the unions that represent these particular workers at GM, FORD and CHYSLER. Filling for a chapter 11 bankruptcy may be the only option. This is why there are bankruptcy courts in this country. If a corparation is unviable, then they need to sustian a lower presence and work force and the work force needs to do the same. Oh, if is were in this postion YOU BET I would push the Loan and bailout. But, most Americans are just not that lucky.

I don't know where you get your info on the pay cause my Dad did not make that unless he put in overtime. They pay for their insurance. If you have a problem with the fact that the auto workers got "lucky" don't blame them-they needed a job and found one. My dad busted his tail working for 40 yrs and now his retirement is in jeporday. He and others worked to support their families just like you-they did not do it for greed.
Guitarist said it best .....there are no easy answers

 

[Rosalind]

I don't think it was the union negotiators who insisted that the auto manufacturers make ONLY SUVs even though it was well-known that this was a very shortsighted business strategy. Nor do I think it was the union negotiators who insisted that the white collar non-union engineers had to design their factories to be inflexible in their construction methods, as compared to the German auto makers who have long built flexible manufacturing lines where different body styles are built on a similar chassis platform. No, that was definitely 100% the decision-makin' skillz of the upper management, who decided they had no interest in efficiency by design.

Even members of Congress fly commercial with security guards! Only the Speaker of the House flies on military planes for security reasons! And these guys can't make one little measly outreach symbol by sipping a Coke back in the coach section of an elderly 747? They are NOT more important than a US Senator, fer cryin' out loud! They just do not get it and never have, and this foolishness is proof positive that they are terrible managers who need to be paid not a single nickel of any money at all. They should be thanking Mammon that they were allowed to leave the Congressional hearings with their heads still attached to their shoulders.

They have received repeated bailouts over the years, and every time they promise they will fix things, and every time, Congress says, "oh, that's OK honey, I still love you." It's time to stop being suckers, put Gloria Gaynor on the stereo, and tell these guys to bugger off.

Here's an idea, since we seem to have $25billion laying around extra </sarcasm>: Let's fund a program to build $25bil worth of public transportation in major cities. We can use all those steelworkers, plastics manufacturers, engineers and so forth to start building light rail, trolley, ferry and bus systems to provide efficient transportation for people so we won't be nearly so dependent on foreign energy. $25bil @ ~$60/hr yields 200,000 jobs/year.

 

[willheveland]

I think it was great for the Dodge CEO to offer to take $1. a year salary.Lee I. Acoca did the same thing back in the 80's,he was a great leader.
I can't believe Ford and GM CEO's were not willing to do the same.They would be willing to watch their companys hit bottom and have hard working people lose their jobs first.Shame on them,they should be replaced.Ford CEO made 9.5 million last year.That's $182,000 a week.No man is worth that.No wonder the other countries are kicking our butts.
The taxpayers in this country should not let our government bail them out.They are taking advantage of a bad situation.I hope Obama don't cower to them either.
Let the Unions bail them out,they all paid their dues all these years.After all,they are one of the reasons why it was hard to compete with other countries. Will

 

[spatcher]

Will, do you have any idea how many votes he got from union workers? I would like to think that if I were them I would say "hey, its been a great ride". Also have to think that without their union dues (after state and national UAW brass getting their cuts), their hourly wage would be close to non-union workers in the South making Japanese cars. Time to start filling out applications! This is gonna leave the new prez in a precarious position!

 

[freshegg]

I don't think we should bail them out. the quality of American cars is horrible nowadays. they want 110,000 for the new corvette z06 which will smoke the Ferrari and lamborghini and 110 is cheaper than those cars but I have to wonder how many miles they will last. we have a 2003 z06 and no probs yet but only has 30,000 miles the 07 is 75,000 and my 07 Honda was 28000 and the Honda has far superior interior. I doubt I will be buying any more American cars except the corvette. But if the American cars go bankrupt will the foreign makers raise there prices? right now foreign cars are generally more already but they are known to last longer. I think either way they will go under eventually so we should just save are money. the bank bailout was the equivalence of giving every US citizen 170,000, I think 170,000 a piece would have stimulated the economy and a lot of brand new cars would have been bought. just my uneducated oppinion lol.

 

[wendy]

Quote:
I would have loved to have had 170,000 dollars. We could be tottally debt free, buy both my dh and I new vehicles and other things and have money to spare for the future!!!
Thus helping the automakers and other businesses and our bank!

We are wanting to get the new GMC 09 truck it is going to be flex fuel. But with the automaker problems, will they make it?

I can not believe we are even in this mess

 

[leasmom]

I think alot of people are focusing on the CEO's whom we all know are spending way more than they should but I don't think alot of people outside of Michigan realize how much of our economy is built up on the auto industry. Not only that but how many jobs we have already lost and how many people we have lost...nearly everyone here has lost their jobs, their homes...everything. I had someone lose their home next door to me it sat for 3 yrs empty with no one buying it so they gave it to an elderly woman in some program to keep the home occupied-most of the homes just remain empty. And my other neighbor looks like he lost his home! And we're not even in Detroit where its really bad but we live where the plants are. And I have two family members already affected by the downturn of Detroit. One works for GM and the other makes the auto parts for all three and she gets laid off every two weeks right now, her future with this company is uncertain and they may just do like they've done many times to alot of people and do permanent layoffs.

Michigan is holding on by a thin string right now and this will be it for us if their isn't any help...schools have closed down in Detroit because people have moved away, that's how bad it is...I do have family and friend that live in Detroit and are affected by the lack of people and revenue that has created that situation. If there is no bailout, everyone here will be affected and in other states too. Its a scary thought to me...I know alot of people don't live here and don't know what its like and they are thinking that its just another handout and yes the CEO's are ridiculous but its the smaller people that are gonna suffer. Everything in the Detroit area is centered around the auto industry and without it our city and state will fold up. Its already happening...people are even giving away their belongings and even homes moving out of state...what is next for Michigan???

 

[willheveland]

If we bail them out,where does it end.It started with the banks now they are standing in line with their hand out.If we do this now this will happen over and over.The taxpayers can't keep eating this.Who will bail us out? Sorry for the hardships but that's business.
If Michigan wants to do something,go to the CEO's mansion and tell him about it.Maybe he'll give some of his $182,000 a week paycheck to help.Stop letting CEO"s use the working man as a sheild.
America needs auto's even if Ford and GM doesn't make them.Maybe a less greedy group will come in and will be looking for an experienced workforce. Will

 

[leasmom]

Thats not realistic! We're talking about people losing their homes and jobs even worst than now here in Michigan in reality...this is very real for us here. This isn't us talking from our living rooms far away from the situation, it is affecting our families, our communities...