[Healeys] Car Related - Ford Volvo Sale

[WILLIAM B LAWRENCE]

Not too much to disagree with in this post except that I don't think the
current, or even recent management of the big 3 is as much at fault as
previous generations of management AND the UAW.
Over the last thirty years the unions, with management acquiescence, have
systematically turned GM and Chrysler into enormous insurance and retirement
plans that also just happen to build a few cars. They essentially killed the
golden goose and then they forced their elected lackeys to bail them out using
our money. The bail-outs, while nominally intended to benefit the automobile
industry, were actually targeted to save the UAW. (The cow may die, but the
tapeworm is saved!)
Also not helpful to GM was the liability of their huge financial arm which was
heavily invested in the housing market. The Fannie/Freddie fiasco did them a
lot of harm.
Ford had the same problems but made some smarter management decisions in the
last few years putting them into the position to be able to ride out the storm
without government interference. Instead of taking the Obama buck Ford
declared they would rather declare bankruptcy and suddenly the UAW was willing
to negotiate. Imagine that!
We still have a very healthy automobile manufacturing base in the US, but it
goes under names like Honda, Toyota, Nissan and BMW. They are successful
because they are non-union. So let's see... The Japanese and Germans are
successfully using american labor and materials to build hugely profitable
product lines in this country while GM, Ford and Chrysler are on the brink of
destruction? Tell me... Who won that war again?
Bill Lawrence

> Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:23:10 -0600
> From: 63ahbj7 at comcast.net
> To: Healeys at autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Car Related - Ford Volvo Sale
>
> Agreed Alan ['61 444 saved my life] BUT.....
>
> << Ford should be ashamed of itself. >>
>
> At least Ford didn't use TARP money ?!?
>
> And even Ford is NOT as bad as some of the
> "management" in the financial 'area' that STILL
> think they are "worth" [ @ ] $60 MILLION bucks
> a year [even tho it WAS their decisions that put
> their Co.(s) in the dumper(s) to start with ?!?!?!?
>
> Just curious,  have any List Members figured out
> HOW to run their [and families'] budget at a
> NEGATIVE balance year after year AND live like
> the "financial guys" ?!?!?
>
> I   **AM**   in dire need of knowing how to do so !?!?
>
> Ed
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