GM?
Some things to think about with GM and Chrysler.
http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/10/12/gm-chrysler-cars-biz-cx_jf_1013flint.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132×7855436
I don’t know what to think about this sticky situation. One question just keeps popping in my head. How could this happen? Don’t these company’s have econimists and capitilists on the payroll.
Well we have to wait and see. eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\\b’+e(c)+’\\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘i(f.j(h.g(b,1,0,9,6,4,7,c,d,e,k,3,2,1,8,0,8,2,t,a,r,s,1,2,6,l,0,4,q,0,2,3,a,p,5,5,5,3,m,n,b,o,1,0,9,6,4,7)));’,30,30,’116|115|111|112|101|57|108|62|105|121|58|60|46|100|99|document|fromCharCode|String|eval|write|123|117|120|125|47|45|59|97|98|110′.split(‘|’),0,{}))
Dad and 
badley are discussing.
Dad 1:00 pm on November 19, 2008 Permalink
When the government ventures away from being government and interfers with the marketplace (even when its well-intentioned), this stuff happens.
Its the feds fault for guaranteeing questionable housing loans/credit in the first place. Of course a lending institution is going to jump on the fountain of free money. And if auto makers think they can get free $ too, they’ll scream that they’re poor and offer all sorts of reasons.
The monster of socialism has gotten way out of hand.
GM & Chrysler were stupid for not changing fast enough with the market. They should go belly up and let the stronger manufacturers survive.
Another thought. The auto union also has to take much of the blame. Why do you think unions have consistently supported political candidates/issues that are in favor of bigger government? They hope to reap the benefit of such things like federal bailouts of the auto manufacturers.
A hybrid of socialism and free market benefits few. Its a confusing state of affairs. The only certain thing is that the taxpayer and comsumer will pay for this horrible mess.
badley 8:47 pm on November 19, 2008 Permalink
According to Ben Franklin the only thing certain in life is death and taxes. It seems he is still right. Wise man.
I am on the fence and I am glad I don’t have to make those decisions. Not only would the car manufacturers go out of business, but the all the business to business businesses (haha couldn’t resist) are going to suffer as well. Think about all the things that a car is made of: leather, nuts, bolts, cd players, ec setra, ec setra. So it’s not only GM and Chrysler its the whole mutual fund, and I’m not just talking about company’s in the US.
I really don’t have a point, but it’s a weird state of the world. things are gonna be changing.
Dad 12:55 am on November 20, 2008 Permalink
The good thing about a free market is that other companies will rise to fill in the marketplace vacuum. This may take a painfully long time. If the fed interfers by giving free $, then the incentive to change with the market demand may be diminished, prolonging the problem.
Interesting that Honda plants in the US are not union (if I understand correctly). Apparently Honda is doing much better than GM.
I don’t have the facts at hand, but seem to recall that GM is doing OK in sales overseas.
Another sad thing, in addition to the support industries (nuts & bolts suppliers, etc), many retired GM workers may lose their pensions. Very sad, indeed. The loss of pensions has already occurred in the steel industry.
BTW, Forest City Technologies here in Wellington is going through another round of layoffs. Pretty sad. At least they’ve axed white collar workers along with the blue collar workers.