Comments on: Saving the Big 3

By: The Daily Times

The Daily Times — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:44:22 +0000

An interesting view of the automotive industry. Where do you see the future of the industry, will it ever recover or will there be major casulties?

By: Great Printing Site

Great Printing Site — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:22:07 +0000

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By: Peter Pasterz

Peter Pasterz — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:14:48 +0000

I’m not sure you do fully understand the economic impacts of letting the big 3 fail…in fact, I’m not sure any of us do–but the estimated ripple effects of this is at least another 3 MILLION lost manufacturing jobs. $15 BILLION proposed in loans is about $5,000 per lost job…much less than unemployment, welfare, and crime costs sure to accompany such massive job losses even if they are never paid back. And, according to Toyota USA, they may be forced to close here, as they get most of their parts from the same US-based suppliers as the big 3 and who would likely also not survive the big 3′s downfall. It is certain that these companies have been out of touch with the social and environmental needs of our country and planet, but our system has demanded from them to maximize profit…at all costs, which they have done spectacularly at in various waves over their 80-100 year history. What is needed is a government-labor-industry partnership as the auto industry has in Europe and Japan, which has allowed for innovation and customer responsiveness, while addressing social and planet needs. This does NOT come through bankruptcy, but CAN come through conditions made by the federal government in providing loans. It also means relieving from them the additional $28/hr. in labor cost they carry which currently supports the retirees and their widows who rely on their $800/month pensions and Medicare part B coverage by taking over these costs, as the foreign makers do for their industries.

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:34:54 +0000

Eric, stop beating around the bush and tell us how you really feel!

To add more fuel to the fire, US manufacturers actually have global production where they make excellent, fuel efficient, fun cars that they refuse to sell in North America. So do BMW and Audi, amongst others, yet their diesels have yet to reach our shores. (Though the 335d will be here shortly, the 320d would have been better to send across IMHO.)

Best line: “In a capitalist system, you do not get to capitalize your profits, but socialize your losses.”

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:53:20 +0000

Thanks for the article!

Watch the movie “Who Killed The Electric Car?” and then tell me bailing out the Big Three is a wise decision. They, the CEOs and the oil companies, are only interested in money. I watched this movie today, and I am amazed at how blind and stupid we have been. It has to stop and we, the American people, are the only ones who can make that happen.

By: RAH

RAH — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:13:31 +0000

Thank you Eric!

I agree 100%. Everyone else that’s been paying attention, even a little bit, should as well.