Comments on: Have the automakers learnt their lesson?

By: RJ in Washington

RJ in Washington — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:08:34 +0000

Can we resolve the big 3's issues and return them to profit?
I don't know but lets give it a try?

Please review my to do list.

By: Jim Berman

Jim Berman — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:33:35 +0000

1. The government should not loan money to the auto companies, but instead, should guarantee the debts of the big 3 to the auto parts and other key vendors, so that a bankruptcy of one of the big 3 will not cause the whole industry to collapse.

2. The failing companies that cannot pay their own debts should be allowed to go into bankruptcy.

3. The bankrupt auto companies should be broken up into individual models or "model groups" and into individual auto factories. The many small "model groups" would compete to design and market their cars. The auto factories would compete with each other as contract toll auto manufacturers that would build and assemble the cars designed by the individual model groups. Both the "model groups" and the factories would be able to differentiate themselves by their quality vs. price balance.

We would get a better mix of cars and better qualities.

By: George Jaeger

George Jaeger — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:57:39 +0000

The American car makers should travel round the world and see for themselves what cars are selling worldwide and why...You can find very few American cars in Asia and Europe. Don't try to be different. Accepting the needs of the masses like low fuel consumption vehicles, low maintenance, and affordability should be the main focus in the auto industry. Such an advance country should easily out-perform any country in this planet. And why build trucks like the fuel drinker Hummer??? Even Americans will think twice to own such a vehicle. It is time to take a paradigm shift for the Americans. And the first thing to do is to consolidate the auto industry, mergers and part asistance from the goverment funding. But those CEO's must leave and get the Japanese and Koreans to fix the mess.

By: s.j.wolf

s.j.wolf — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:38:05 +0000

eEveryone seems to forget about what the UAW contributed to this mess, over decades.
The big 3 should be allowed to dissapear with no bailout from the govt.

By: David Herman

David Herman — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:10:37 +0000

This controversy has fueled stereotype thinking and allowed vocal critics to demonize the US Auto industry without a careful examination of the CURRENT facts. That is ok for them as individual customers, althought many appear not to know which cars and other vehicles are winning comparison tests in the motor press. The foreign companies investing in the United States(with State support, mostly in Southern States) are not burdened by the health and benefits costs of an aging workforce and a growing number of retirees. I think you will find that about 11% of employed black people work in the auto industry and that they earn more than 20% of all that black people earn in the US. Most of them work for the BIG THREE, and of course this would not be true for those working in Southern states. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Whichever you like, I would say the BIG THREE have done a lot to create the kind of society in which we would like to live.

By: Sytze

Sytze — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:14:09 +0000

The big 3 were not able to adjust models from big & gas consuming to smaller & gas efficient. So they left plenty of room for e.g. Japanese co's. The problem is not from the last couple of weeks or months. This already since Chrysler fell (remember Lee Iacocca?). So what have they learned? US dominant highstrung is best to fall.

By: Charley Rasp

Charley Rasp — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:50:35 +0000

It would be very interesting to know how those Republican senators voted on the funding for the Iraq war. I would guess that each of them was voting in favor of the war funding and were willing to spend $10 Billion a month of taxpayer money on that sandpile called Iraq.

Then these same Republican senators have been unwilling to commit taxpayer funds to save a huge industry here in the United States - but can commit funds for the sandpile Iraq.

I hope these Republican senators will be willing to accept blame for sending our country into the next big depression. What a bunch of air-heads!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Tony Campbell

Tony Campbell — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:19:38 +0000

Im not happy right now im a supplier that does work for the Big Three now i hear that President Bush is over in Irag where were having issues here in the United States and were in a recession and the Big Three are looking for help and the U.S. Government is waiting to give a loan to the automakers but its ok to give it to the banks with the no strings attached and no drilling from congress we see how President Bush feels about the United States which isnt much and if the Big Three doesnt get the bailout 2.5 million people well be out of jobs so u can tell the 8 republicans that voted no can pay the bills of the 2.5 million people that well be with out a job after chrysler and GM go out of business and Senator Shellby is taking bribes from the foregin automakers also in the southern state

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:17:21 +0000

Do you realize all the money the southern states have given foreign
transplants along with land and roads built for them from tax money?
And I would imagine the foreign companies get help from their governments.

And we can't even give ours a LOAN. Canada has already voted to help
with little fanfare but WE sure would not want to help our own!!

Look at all the charity the companies gave after 911 and Katrina but
when they need help all people want to do is complain!

Disgraceful

By: mark

mark — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:23:23 +0000

I'm serious....why not give toyota the 15 billion in tarp funds and let them buy out the big three.... then....they could restructure the wage issue from start........all the wile preserving the union and saving the busines's from becoming part of the government......ask gettilfinger how that sounds......