U.S. Carmakers to Candidates: Bail Us Out

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  stonewalla09/08/08 Report as spam
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  RE: U.S. Carmakers to Candidates: Bail Us Out

  Excuse me... Clear signs of an energy crunch came in the 1970's. This is what initially opened the door for the Asian car makers in the U.S. The mandated mpg rate should have been slated for 1980 instead of 2020. Bail 'em out? I say let 'em go down for being stupid and greedy! We got fat and happy after WWII and let quality and common sense dissipate. A gentleman by the name of W. Edwards Deming tried to encourage American companies to implement quality management principles, but no one listened. In 1950 he visited Japan and they listened. Twenty years later their products were flooding our markets, which was the beginning of the end for American industries. In 1980, NBC broadcast Deming's story, "If Japan Can, Why Can't We?". Only then did American companies consider quality... too little, too late. That should be the new American Motto!

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  sbrennaman35409/08/08 Report as spam
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  RE: U.S. Carmakers to Candidates: Bail Us Out

  Let?s face it. The problems at the big three are real and need to be addressed quickly. Unfortunately tough decisions have to be made and I am afraid the leadership in these firms, the unions and congress are unwilling or unable to make the hard decisions. Decades of entrenched union and Congressional leadership focused not on the labor union membership or congressional constituency, but focused on their own position within their hegemony. It is easy for a union president to say strike when his salary is untouched or diminished as a result of the strike. The senator/congressman panders to that portion of the constituency that will best assure his/her continued position in the legislature. Neither of these groups really wants change especially if that change diminishes or negates their influence (power). Someone needs to make the tough decisions. The corporate management groups have the money and prestige and do not want to lose it. Maybe we need more people like Mike Lockhart (Armstrong) who can and will make the tough decisions even if it means a legacy giant goes under. After all, we do live in a capitalistic form of economy where only the fit SHOULD survive.

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  pgaluszka09/08/08 Report as spam
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  RE: U.S. Carmakers to Candidates: Bail Us Out

  Sbrennerman raises good points. The old mode of handling benefits,including health care for retirees, is a crucial factor in the weakness in the U.S. car industry. It is pointless to bash the unions over this, since they were acting in what was appropriate for the time and place.
  One problem is that other countries, such as Japan, have entirely different forms of health care. Ours is a for-profit, managed care system that is highly expensive and does not cover everything or everybody. Yet, any challenge to it is mashed by vested interests.
  No, it's not a level playing field. I blame management, however, for not realizing the dangers and not changing fast enough.
  Now we have enother big bailout-Freddie and Fannie. I'll blog on that soon.
  
  Peter Galuszka

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  sbrennaman35409/08/08 Report as spam
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  RE: U.S. Carmakers to Candidates: Bail Us Out

  Pete is correct. Union leaders are representing the unions memebers as best as they can, albeit to their detriment at times. Managemtn (Boeing currently) almost always yields so the problem gets bigger and more difficult to solve without paina cross hte board. God helps us if Congress actually tries to fix it.

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  KarenCaren10/03/08 Report as spam
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  RE: U.S. Carmakers to Candidates: Bail Us Out

  With the US economic crisis right now. Candidates should help car makers to get more productions. Also I think all business should be help out. Auto parts sellers are suffering from this problem. I'm also suffering from this problem since I want to get a engine performance chips for my car.