I am in agreement with Swampy. If money is just given or loaned it will not improve the problem and just hurt taxpayers. Big changes are required and if the airlines did it, the automotive makers can too. The only thing to watch for is to ensure that proper operating lines of credits are made available not just to the automakers but to all the feeder industries. Canada is waiting to help until the US does their thing and I really hope a good plan is put in place.
I completely agree and couldn't have said it better!
I don't know all the details, but I haven't been for any of the bail outs. I live near Detroit and it's all over the news and in the papers. I think they should restructure, fix their problems and run like a responsible company should run. It won't happen unless they fall flat on their faces and it's coming to that hopefully. I worry about the job losses. My community is one that is still staying afloat for the most part around hear and still there are several people right in my neighborhood (and family) who are good people (not drinkers or drugies) that get permantly laid off from an auto industry job after spending a lifetime and building a life based on that job. And some are loosing their homes. As a business owner, I worry about our customer base as this area's economy tanks with the auto industry. I don't want to go down with their boat, but I wouldn't want to give them money either.
There you make a good point especially in understanding the situation from a personal perspective. I agree with what you said as my particular concern was that the workers keep their jobs because the last thing we need is more unemployment and I think the way you put it could work. My stepfather when he was alive worked for the airline industry and they saw a lot of hard times there but sadly when there were pay cuts it was the average worker that got shafted at the expense of the corporate c.e.o.'s and to me that's not how America is supposed to work. He grew up in Pittsburgh and years later all the steel companies had left and relocated the jobs overseas which was a bad deal for all concerned. I don't think any of that is fair but I'd rather hear how it should be settled from the framework of someone who has experienced it as an everyday American citizen than a politician who may just have their own best interest in mind.
Burrpatch! SORRY - I didn't mean to ruin your night!
MJ - that comic is unbelievably funny!
Rach
This comic came to my mind:
http://www.arcamax.com/nonsequitur/s-452575-810646
It's the Non Sequitur Comic for December 3rd.
I am right behind ya Sarah.
Letting the companies go into bankruptcy and reorganize is not letting them fail. The airlines that went bankrupt continued to operate and employ large numbers.
These companies are going to have to make huge changes to survive, and the question really is how best to do that.
Give 'em a "Bridge loan" & they'll be back fer more. Whats wrong with reorganization under "Chapter 11" ? About time they restructured. I'm from Detroit. I know folks on the line that tell me of massive drug and alcohol abuse on the job. You ever been at a party store across the street or near a plant when the lunch horn sounds ? I have. There's a line out the door of guys getting their pints and fifths for a good liquid lunch ! Drug dealing, sleeping though an 8 hour shift while getting double time, etc., etc. Been going on for decades. --- I know guys that are high school drop outs that got the nice home in the suburbs, the cottage up north and all the ATV, Snowmobiles and fancy toys that money can buy. Excuse me if I don't feel sorry for them if they got to take a pay cut under a chapter 11 reorganization plan !! Not to mention all CEO'S and union "Fat Cats" !! Bankruptcy under Ch. 11 is the ONLY way to stop an out of control money train. Why do you think all the money grubbing hands are so afraid of the word "Bankruptcy" ? Ahhhh, were all gonna die if you let us go bankrupt !! BULLSHEET !! I'm with Sarah, Brennd's and Helpin Utah !! No more Handouts !! Unfortunately our duly elected are going to do JUST THAT !! Tax YOU, give it to them and stuff their own pockets with kickbacks while there at it !! Over and over again ! Dang question just ruined my night !! grrrrr !! Burrrrrrrpatch.
you better hope that umbrella is real magical sara.. remmeber we are just one of the masses we have to bail ourselves out
Think i am going to go to Washington and see if they will give me some money and bail me out too. Wish me luck!!!!
agree with Margy n Brian we are in trouble, lets see the ceos take a tremendous pay cut though.
Agree with jollyman we need to do this and quickly I see a deal has been cut and they get 17 billion not 34 billion,
thye CANNOT let the car companys go under.. in Novemeber alone we lost 530,000 jobs.. if the big 3 go under we will loose some 2 to 3 milliuon jobs.. i like others stated no one knows the answere but leting them go under isnt the answere either one thing they should e made to do is change there business module because it has failed for the last 20 years, and the union will have to make some big consessions, but that would be better then all the workers loosing thir jobs
I agree and I certainly wasn't happen when they bailed out the major banks as the directors and ceo's of the banks really weren't hurting for money. The problem is if all of them went bankrupt our money and investments would be gone. I say this knowing relatives who live through the depression when it happenned for real. I'm not sure how to solve the problem. They need some form of bailout that allows the companies to stay afloat so average Americans (in the 1,000's probably) don't lose their jobs but the ceo's and executives don't get what is basically a corporate welfare check. I don't know how this balance could be made. Its complex. I try to understand the economy but it puzzles me but all I know is that in the last 8 years we've gone from a surplus to a massive deficit. Clearly something was done wrong and we've got to figure out how to solve it. But if you go back to the depression many of the regulations to prevent it from happenning again enacted by F.D.R. were overturned in recent years. I see no reason why they should not be put back into place and this might stop another crisis but we've still got to solve this one and it won't be easy.
Well if the government goes ahead and bails out the auto industry, I can just imagine all the other industries getting in line wanting their bailout too... That can't be good. Besides I thought I heard that the bail out is really a loan. That means somehow the industries will have to fork up the money to pay it back at a later time.
To me that seems like MORE debt in the making... I know next to nothing about the Economy, but still these words come to mind; Bail-out everyone = Epic Fail!
I could care less about the CEO's but the average people who are solid harding working blue collar Americans will lose their jobs. They don't deserve it. On the other hand if they are bailed out the CEO's will recieve their needed funds and that doesn't stop them from downsizing many of the workers so its lose, lose. You could see the documentary "Roger and Me" for a better perspective. Perhaps my perspective could be taken as "left wing" but I don't think of myself that way. Its what will help your average American, regardless of politics. And if the 3 major auto companies went bankrupt it certainly would but if the CEO's in charge were bailed out at the expense of your average taxpayer it wouldn't either. If they did it right, then yes it could work but keeping in mind that all the hard working people there keep their jobs and the people in charge of the corporations, the CEO's, the board of directors may have to take a salary cut. One less yacht or mansion for them. I don't think it would hurt them.
I agree completely! That's what I have felt all along. This is what bankruptcy is for - and it can help them reorganize. The bailout is only a bandaid for a gaping wound!!
If government helps bail out the auto agency, then what next? The government can't bail out every company... Perhaps bankruptcy would be the better of the evils to choose.
The government should help the auto industry, but not in the way they are asking.
The help should start with a bankruptcy filing. They should be given more time under protection than most businesses get, and the government should work to underpin DIP funding.
The PBGC would then take the pensions, and the retirees would lose their health plan to Medicare. The UAW would need to negotiate a new slimmed down contract.
It wouldn't be pretty, but it would work with minimal taxpayer funding.
this is a tough question..before i got sick i worked in the car idustry for close to 10years...there are so many other jobs effected by the car companys thaqt in a year over 2 million people would loose their job if the big 3 fail..there biggest problems i they got away from letting car guys run the company..back in the 90's general motors went and hired the ceo of baush and lomb to run the car company, after they got rid of him Rick wagoner who is ceo now was a cpa, worked his way up but doesnt know carsthats the problem
The fact that the CEOs took separate private planes to travel to make the request is upsetting to me. If they wanted to make a strong point and appeal to us, they should have shown up driving (car pooling, too) in the very cars they produce!
Hey did you guys see where the CEO of GM drove a hybrid Malibu this time instead of the private jet? I bet he bit*hed the whole way - wouldn't you think? I drive a Taurus everyday and it doesn't bother me, but you know that's a new experience for him!
I don't know what they are going to do - if they don't bail them out - the people in the plants will lose their jobs - if they do - we have to pay for it in some way. It's amazing to me that Honda and Toyota aren't having these problems. We have a Toyota plant in Huntsville, so we can't say they are all built overseas, but they seemed to be managed at least a little better.
During the banking thing and this one, I wonder why they aren't bringing in successful business owners to give advice on their management policies that got them here (example: Bill Gates, etc., or in the auto industry - the Toyota or Honda manufacturers).
Rach