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Freeze-Frame Radio -> Freeze-Frame Radio Lounge -> Automakers... Please kiss my butt!
Post Info TOPIC: Automakers... Please kiss my butt!
Jeremy Riggs


2011 Super Bowl Champions!

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Automakers... Please kiss my butt!
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I just finished reading a long story about the third quarter losses at Ford & GM.

Their spokespeople are talking about what a catastrophic situation they find themselves in, how layoffs are imminent, the future is uncertain, help is needed, blah blah blah.

What I DON'T hear any of them saying is that they put themselves in this position!

For how many years were they raking in big profits on SUVS getting 12 MPG?  Then when gas prices went up, in large part due to the added demand their gas guzzling vehicles sucked up, people stopped buying SUVS, which were the automakers highest profit margin vehicles.

They scramble to FINALLY get on board with fuel efficient vehicles but are too far behind the curve and now with the economy in the toilet no one can afford to buy new cars.

Add to that the credit crunch and surprise surprise, the auto industry is hurting.

I just don't get it.  These CEO's, CFO's and all the brainiacs on the board of directors are college educated, well respected business men.  Yet time and time again the regular joes like the people on this forum see things coming years before they do.

Or maybe they see it coming but just don't care, because in the end they'll all just resurface somewhere else.  Only the bottom of the totem pole workers will REALLY be hurt by their incompetance.

So, I suppose we should start preparing our auto-makers bailout package soon.  no.gif

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Mad Mema


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Reps from Ford, Chrysler, and GM met with Nancy Pelosi yesterday to ask "mother may I?". It really sucks. My brother in law works for Chrysler and my sister works for a steel company who's main customers are the auto manufacturers. I hate to see them both out of work, but it could happen.

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That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable.
Jeremy Riggs


2011 Super Bowl Champions!

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Yeah, it could happen because of HORRENDOUS management with a dash of bad luck.

We really need to start holding these CEO's responsible for running companies into the ground. Too many people's livelihoods depend upon these businesses for them to be allowed to continue to make decisions based on greed and desire to satisfy shareholders.

I'm sure there's a lot of parts of the story we don't know, and I'm not saying that these collapses could necessarily have been avoided. But it seems to me that the auto industry just dove in so deep to the bigger, badder vehicles in the late 90's and early 00's, with no regard to what it meant long term.

We as consumers are to blame too. We gobbled up the vehicles when gas was at $1.50 a gallon. When it hit $4.00 a gallon we finally started questioning the logic of getting crappy mileage from our vehicle when most of the time we're just driving alone and NOT hauling stuff.

I just pray there's no bail out for them too. I'm sick and tired of hearing that we're going to pay to fix these mistakes made by big business.

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Ruby


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I JUST read an article that GM says Congress needs to step in within weeks to save the industry or it will fail. They are almost out of cash.

JR your points are very intelligent and educated and just common sense. I guess their greed adds blinders to that huh!

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Mad Mema


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If I remember right, the bailout started last quarter. Seems like there was a very little reported news blip about the government giving a cash injection to the auto makers. That story gave way to the collapse of all those banks. My guess is that the bailout will continue, but since they made such a news item about the meeting with Pelosi yesterday it will be a bit more reported on.

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JD The Jazz Doctor


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last one out of detroit, turn off the lights...

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ghostdancer


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Better revise that to say "Last one out of MI turn off the lights."  Michigan's economy has relied far too long on the the big 3 automakers and this is why the economy in my state tanked long before it did anywhere else. 

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Mad Mema


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"Last one out of MI turn off the lights." 

My sister says that one all the time! smile.gif

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disco strangler


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Ford and GM have both been going down the toilet for years. Too hard to compete with the quality of Japaneese engineering...
I wonder how many companies will jump on the bailout wagon before someone says "enough already!"
It's all so pathetically shamefull...

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darleneapd


Cuff 'Em N' Stuff 'Em

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Kaisha just got laid off from Toyota..... they can kiss my butt too.
Twice this week we agree on something JR!! Oh my that's an all time record!

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Jeremy Riggs


2011 Super Bowl Champions!

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Unemployment is gonna skyrocket this winter hmm.gif

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disco strangler


Smiles everyone, smiles!

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... and when unemployment goes up, so does crime...


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You should fear anything that can bleed for seven days without dying...  (as told to Mr. DS on 3-12-10)
Jeremy Riggs


2011 Super Bowl Champions!

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I swear we're already seeing that here.

I have NEVER noticed so many bank robberies, and they're everywhere, not just bad areas. In fact, besides banks and gas stations, little stores like Radio Shack and stuff are getting robbed a lot lately.

One day alone last week three banks were robbed.

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disco strangler


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ya... here too. now, we're seeing females asaulting and robbing people in parking lots. as a rule, we're more suspicious of men than women, so an attack by a female is more likely to catch us off guard...

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You should fear anything that can bleed for seven days without dying...  (as told to Mr. DS on 3-12-10)
Jeremy Riggs


2011 Super Bowl Champions!

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They must of learned that tactic from Al Qaida no.gif

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ghostdancer


Ghost In The Machine

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Which is why I never, ever carry a purse with me when I'm out somewhere.  I carry my cash in two different pockets....a little bit in one so if someone approaches me to rob me, I'll give them whatever's in that pocket which is usually $20 or less....enough to hopefully keep me from getting shot or beat up. 




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Jeremy Riggs


2011 Super Bowl Champions!

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Note to self, when robbing Ghost remember to tell her to empty ALL her pockets nod.gif

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ghostdancer


Ghost In The Machine

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If it was you robbing me, I'd just knock you down and take off running.  Everyone knows penguins can't run.  giggle.gif  wink

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MzHartz


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I do that too Ghost. Although I've been carrying my purse, I almost always have some cash in a pocket. I figure a mugger wants my cash, not my purse, so I'd throw the cash in the air and run.

This reminds me of a time where I just had to laugh at myself. I was going to tai chi club on a Wednesday night after it got dark out. To avoid dealing with IU parking, I parked in a nearby parking lot and walked. I'm always on the lookout for anything suspicious, especially when I'm walking alone, when I saw this guy walking down the sidewalk facing me. I started planning what I would do if he attacked me. (Not that I really thought he would, it's just something I think of. Being prepared I guess.) Then I realized, I was going to tai chi, I was carrying my bag and my SWORD! Sure, I'm a girl and the sword is wooden, but it would take a stupid mugger to decide to attack someone who's obviously carrying a sword.

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ghostdancer


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Ooooo, I like that......don't mess with a girl carrying a sword!  biggrin

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Mad Mema


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Kansas has concealed handgun carry, consequently not much in the way of purse snatchers or muggings. It does pick up a little around the holidays at the shopping malls, but still not much.

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That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable.
Mad Mema


Bad Biker Granny



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Hey Riggs... Here is an excerpt from President Elect Obama's statement he read before his press conference today. I believe it sums up his intent:

"The news coming out of the auto industry this week reminds us of the hardship it faces - hardship that goes far beyond individual auto companies to the countless suppliers, small businesses and communities throughout our nation who depend on a vibrant American auto industry. The auto industry is the backbone of American manufacturing and a critical part of our attempt to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I would like to see the Administration do everything they can to accelerate the retooling assistance that Congress has already enacted. In addition, I have made it a high priority for my transition team to work on additional policy options to help the auto industry adjust, weather the financial crisis, and succeed in producing fuel-efficient cars here in the United States. I have asked my team to explore what we can do under current law and whether additional legislation will be needed for this purpose."

The "retooling assistance that Congress has already enacted..." is the money they received a few months back.

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That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable.
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