Comments on: Is an Auto Industry Bailout Inevitable? http://www.bloggernews.net/118600 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:04:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: ffny http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-769936 ffny Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:22:36 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-769936 First for whymrhymer: I agree, there is a lot of blame to go around. It's just that when people start looking for villains, unions seem to be first on the list. I suggest we start looking at high ranking management, their inability to accept constructive criticism, their inflexibility, their personal greed. Take a look at Friday's Detroit Free Press article about executive compensation guarantees at Chrysler. If any of them give up a dime during this crisis I will be very surprised. And we're not even talking about Nardelli. As to the job bank, ideally it is meant to be temporary, during times of layoff and shutdowns. The problem has become, the layoffs and shutdowns have become permanent in some cases. Transfers to different plants are part of the solution, but what's happening in one plant is probably happening in another. The real solution is to get this industry healthy again. Sound business practice? Maybe not. But no worse than some others. Golden parachutes? American sweatshops? False advertising? There are plenty of bad business practices, at least job banks keep food on the table, roofs overhead, kids in college... To drkrk9: Actually, I have a degree. I busted my ass, also, and continue to. I guess that in your ideal world, only the educated elite should be able to succeed? I thought the "American Dream" was a little more inclusive. Thanks to both for replying. First for whymrhymer:

I agree, there is a lot of blame to go around. It’s just that when people start looking for villains, unions seem to be first on the list. I suggest we start looking at high ranking management, their inability to accept constructive criticism, their inflexibility, their personal greed. Take a look at Friday’s Detroit Free Press article about executive compensation guarantees at Chrysler. If any of them give up a dime during this crisis I will be very surprised. And we’re not even talking about Nardelli.

As to the job bank, ideally it is meant to be temporary, during times of layoff and shutdowns. The problem has become, the layoffs and shutdowns have become permanent in some cases. Transfers to different plants are part of the solution, but what’s happening in one plant is probably happening in another. The real solution is to get this industry healthy again. Sound business practice? Maybe not. But no worse than some others. Golden parachutes? American sweatshops? False advertising? There are plenty of bad business practices, at least job banks keep food on the table, roofs overhead, kids in college…

To drkrk9:

Actually, I have a degree. I busted my ass, also, and continue to. I guess that in your ideal world, only the educated elite should be able to succeed? I thought the “American Dream” was a little more inclusive.

Thanks to both for replying.

]]> By: drkrk9 http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-768201 drkrk9 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:02:24 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-768201 62,000 $/yr!!! Unless you have a graduate degree of some sort (which at 20 it is extremely unlikely) you are way above what people with lower credentials are entitled to. It is immoral that people that had busted their asses off going through college and graduate school are making the same amount of money you are when your qualifications are in extremely high supply in the labor market. Unbelievable and unfair! 62,000 $/yr!!! Unless you have a graduate degree of some sort (which at 20 it is extremely unlikely) you are way above what people with lower credentials are entitled to.

It is immoral that people that had busted their asses off going through college and graduate school are making the same amount of money you are when your qualifications are in extremely high supply in the labor market.

Unbelievable and unfair!

]]> By: whymrhymer http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-766243 whymrhymer Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:12:11 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-766243 To ffny: No one is mad with the UAW members, its the union itself that raises so much bloodpressure. They have taken the automakers to the laundry and bare a large part of the blame for the current situation; a blame shared with the automakers management and with the U.S. Government itself. You seem to feel that the job bank concept is justified. Are there any other industries that lay people off and then continue to pay them? Doesn't sound like a sound business practice to me. To ffny:

No one is mad with the UAW members, its the union itself that raises so much bloodpressure. They have taken the automakers to the laundry and bare a large part of the blame for the current situation; a blame shared with the automakers management and with the U.S. Government itself.

You seem to feel that the job bank concept is justified. Are there any other industries that lay people off and then continue to pay them? Doesn’t sound like a sound business practice to me.

]]> By: BenG http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-763632 BenG Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:35:29 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-763632 The generous protection granted by Chapter 11 is more stable and predictable than depending upon government. When the government goes broke from bailing out private industry, who will be left to bail out the taxpayer? Car markets in rich countries are saturated. The last thing we need is to subsidize cars. Please help to make the anti car subsidy group on Facebook grow and join now! The generous protection granted by Chapter 11 is more stable and predictable than depending upon government. When the government goes broke from bailing out private industry, who will be left to bail out the taxpayer?
Car markets in rich countries are saturated. The last thing we need is to subsidize cars. Please help to make the anti car subsidy group on Facebook grow and join now!

]]> By: ffny http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-759016 ffny Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:18:27 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/118600#comment-759016 I am 20 year UAW member, I gross about $62,000/year and I have health insurance including dental and vision care. I make a good living, but I am obviously not wealthy. What is it that makes people like this writer so angry at me? Isn't a comfortable living what we all strive for? Some security from the worries of health problems. The ability to go into retirement with some hope that I will not have to slave until the end of my days. What is it about this that infuriates so many? Job bankers are there due to layoffs and plant shutdowns, not because they want to be. As for people threatening Neil Bortz, there are plenty of morons everywhere. The insinuating comment about drawing conclusions is a poor ploy and cheapens this writer's credibility. I am 20 year UAW member, I gross about $62,000/year and I have health insurance including dental and vision care. I make a good living, but I am obviously not wealthy. What is it that makes people like this writer so angry at me? Isn’t a comfortable living what we all strive for? Some security from the worries of health problems. The ability to go into retirement with some hope that I will not have to slave until the end of my days. What is it about this that infuriates so many?

Job bankers are there due to layoffs and plant shutdowns, not because they want to be.

As for people threatening Neil Bortz, there are plenty of morons everywhere. The insinuating comment about drawing conclusions is a poor ploy and cheapens this writer’s credibility.

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