Comments on: Another Bailout- The more the merrier http://charliechampion.com/new-articles/another-bailout-the-more-the-merrier/ News and Views, Rants and Opinions, From the Mind of Charlie Champion Sat, 19 May 2012 16:59:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: champion http://charliechampion.com/new-articles/another-bailout-the-more-the-merrier/comment-page-1/#comment-248 champion Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:32:04 +0000 http://charliechampion.com/new-articles/another-bailout-the-more-the-merrier/#comment-248 Letting the companies file chapter 11 bankrupcy in order to reorganize does not mean they go out of business. They get the protetion from the courts against their creditors and gives them a chance to renegotiate with the labor unions and get rid of the bloated labor contracts and perks which have made US auto makers non competitive. Letting the companies file chapter 11 bankrupcy in order to reorganize does not mean they go out of business.
They get the protetion from the courts against their creditors and gives them a chance to renegotiate with the labor unions and get rid of the bloated labor contracts and perks which have made US auto makers non competitive.

]]> By: Drew http://charliechampion.com/new-articles/another-bailout-the-more-the-merrier/comment-page-1/#comment-247 Drew Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:48:37 +0000 http://charliechampion.com/new-articles/another-bailout-the-more-the-merrier/#comment-247 I'm not quite sure where the facts are coming from, but I can't really imagine the selling of trucks in recent years being more profitable than selling fuel efficient hybrids. Hybrids are actually pretty expensive, and I believe I could buy a gas guzzling suv for less money, depending on the brand of course. And come to think of it, I'm not quite sure that any Detroit manufacturer has a competitive hybrid or fuel efficient model anyway. I believe that's part of the problem. They have not proven that they are moving forward with their technology. In all fairness, I have a Ford, and it has an awesome plugin for my ipod to hook up with my stereo, and that's awesome. Oh, and I can change the station from my steering wheel. I don't even have to move my hand over! But if that's the best they're offering, then it's not competitive enough to compete with a car that gets 40 mpg. And it's not pushing forward towards creating a car that gets 60 or 100 mpg. As far as labor unions making companies non-competitive, I've got to say that I'm torn, and perhaps that's because I work in an industry with no union. I think pensions are awesome if you're getting them, but I can't imagine the costs for the company paying those out. Health benefits are pretty important, since without them, many people probably couldn't afford it. However, I think one of, if not THE biggest problem with the auto industry, as well as many other industries in America, is that they have outsourced their manufacturing to other countries. While it may make things cheaper to produce, it is that move that has taken jobs away from Americans more than probably anything. All of Michigan and pretty much any industrial city in the nation has been suffering for years because of this, decades before the current financial crisis. Living in upstate NY for several years, you see it wherever you go. Lots of problems, lots of issues to point out. Got any solutions? I’m not quite sure where the facts are coming from, but I can’t really imagine the selling of trucks in recent years being more profitable than selling fuel efficient hybrids. Hybrids are actually pretty expensive, and I believe I could buy a gas guzzling suv for less money, depending on the brand of course. And come to think of it, I’m not quite sure that any Detroit manufacturer has a competitive hybrid or fuel efficient model anyway. I believe that’s part of the problem. They have not proven that they are moving forward with their technology. In all fairness, I have a Ford, and it has an awesome plugin for my ipod to hook up with my stereo, and that’s awesome. Oh, and I can change the station from my steering wheel. I don’t even have to move my hand over! But if that’s the best they’re offering, then it’s not competitive enough to compete with a car that gets 40 mpg. And it’s not pushing forward towards creating a car that gets 60 or 100 mpg.

As far as labor unions making companies non-competitive, I’ve got to say that I’m torn, and perhaps that’s because I work in an industry with no union. I think pensions are awesome if you’re getting them, but I can’t imagine the costs for the company paying those out. Health benefits are pretty important, since without them, many people probably couldn’t afford it. However, I think one of, if not THE biggest problem with the auto industry, as well as many other industries in America, is that they have outsourced their manufacturing to other countries. While it may make things cheaper to produce, it is that move that has taken jobs away from Americans more than probably anything. All of Michigan and pretty much any industrial city in the nation has been suffering for years because of this, decades before the current financial crisis. Living in upstate NY for several years, you see it wherever you go.

Lots of problems, lots of issues to point out. Got any solutions?

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