US owning GM. I just don't get it.

[Questor]

How can US ownership of GM be a good thing? It seems like the only thing that can happen is that GM becomes a pet project for the government, and that there will be no limit to the funds available to keep it operating.

[ncsurveyor]

Think of how many votes they can buy, simply by creating high paying jobs for low productivity workers.

At least there shouldn't be too much transition period involved.

[Dee]

How can US ownership of GM be a good thing? It seems like the only thing that can happen is that GM becomes a pet project for the government, and that there will be no limit to the funds available to keep it operating.

Hey, look at it this way. They can build cars and trucks for that money making business call the U.S. POST OFFICE.

ncsurveyor, isn't it more like financing the UAW MAFIA? They are ALREADY IN BED with the UAW, all I see is, they are going to simply CHANGE THE SHEETS. And as far as them buying votes, don't you think the UAW, ALREADY OWNS CONGRESS AND THE SENATE? So who's really buying who? JMO

[slim rem 7]

gov goal for socialist is gov owns everthing..even if it happens
kinda as an emergency save effort.. somebody needs get american
car builders to act like they care that there is an end to whats down there.. what bothers me is what happens when those empty chambers,way down there start cave in or whatever.. but back to thread subject..first cup..watched americas top 10 sniper rifles on tv until 2 am..see yall after this cup.. slim

[Chilachuck]

This puts the federal government in competition with private enterprise. Very double plus ungood.

Will we see the auto industry taxed and regulated to the point that they are forced to close their doors while GM is subsidized and required to produce an American Yugo?

[ncsurveyor]

ncsurveyor, isn't it more like financing the UAW MAFIA? They are ALREADY IN BED with the UAW, all I see is, they are going to simply CHANGE THE SHEETS. And as far as them buying votes, don't you think the UAW, ALREADY OWNS CONGRESS AND THE SENATE? So who's really buying who? JMO

I figure they will take out of work non union workers (from the current economic downturn) and set them up in a cushy break room in Detroit, getting paid oodles of my money to be on call to push a button.

Think of how gracious they will be to be back to work, thanks to the Chairman.

Part of my tax dollars turned salary will be used for their future union dues.

[Dee]

This puts the federal government in competition with private enterprise. Very double plus ungood.

Will we see the auto industry taxed and regulated to the point that they are forced to close their doors while GM is subsidized and required to produce an American Yugo?

By subsidized Chilachuck, do you mean that HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL U.S. Postal Service I spoke of, or that EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL AmTrac operation, OR PERHAPS YOU MEAN, all those FARM SUBSIDIES that have been thrown out by the billions for years. You know, those poor ole farmers that have IN GROUND SWIMMING POOLS, European vacations, and "KING RANCH EDITION FARM TRUCKS" WITH LEATHER ENTERIOR.
The farmer is REGULATED to what he can and cannot plant, what he can and cannot hold for seed, BUT! The subsidy checks are good, and HE HABITUALLY VOTES DEMOCRAT! I have had several tell me, that THE DEMOCRAT TREATS THE FARMER BETTER than the Republican.
Now before some of you blast me for the farmer analogy, I know LOTS OF FARMERS, from all over Texas and SOME DON'T VOTE DEMOCRAT, BUT! Most do. Just stand outside the polling places and watch which book they sign, and drink coffee with them at the cafe. ITS' CALLED "SELF INTEREST".

[magooch]

At this point, it's hard for me to see how any entity, even some government political hack to do a worse job of running car companies into the ground than what the recent private managers have done.  Yes, they've had some help in that regard, due to government regulations, but it isn't just GM and Chrysler that have had to deal with that problem.

I also can't see how the UAW has been the main cause for the present condition that U.S. auto makers find themselves.  When the economy was percolating along in relatively good shape, the managers should have been planning for leaner times.  The job of running these huge corporations has to be daunting to the extreme, but it would seem to me that prudent management would think a little further than the next quarterly report.

I am manure enough to remember that a lot of auto manufacturers have gone down for the count in the past and it is foolish to believe that it won't happen again.  There might be something about size that eventually leads to anything falling from its own weight.  Government should take a lesson from these businesses failing and understand that when government hits the size limits, there'll be no one to bail it out.  This massive foray into business bailout is just the impetus that could put us out of business.

Prepare to meet the dictator, because I think that is the next step--after the "government" fails.

[ncsurveyor]

....................
I am manure enough to remember .............

Darn the spell check! 

point taken magooch.  Who bails out the government?

[slim rem 7]

 wait a minute now i agree the ceo s an such were way overpaid,..but
they competing with the asian labor marget an one huge absolute power, china... how the heck they gonna be able to compete on a
 cost per basis with a labor force like that.. i think it should be management that takes the first pay cut but the workers would love to go back to work now at half pay ,im betting..what ever they could get more likely..jmo. slim
 i got a union organiser an negotiater, friend of long ago thats rolling over in his grave as i post probably..

[nomosendero]

This puts the federal government in competition with private enterprise. Very double plus ungood.

Will we see the auto industry taxed and regulated to the point that they are forced to close their doors while GM is subsidized and required to produce an American Yugo?

By subsidized Chilachuck, do you mean that HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL U.S. Postal Service I spoke of, or that EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL AmTrac operation, OR PERHAPS YOU MEAN, all those FARM SUBSIDIES that have been thrown out by the billions for years. You know, those poor ole farmers that have IN GROUND SWIMMING POOLS, European vacations, and "KING RANCH EDITION FARM TRUCKS" WITH LEATHER ENTERIOR.
The farmer is REGULATED to what he can and cannot plant, what he can and cannot hold for seed, BUT! The subsidy checks are good, and HE HABITUALLY VOTES DEMOCRAT! I have had several tell me, that THE DEMOCRAT TREATS THE FARMER BETTER than the Republican.
Now before some of you blast me for the farmer analogy, I know LOTS OF FARMERS, from all over Texas and SOME DON'T VOTE DEMOCRAT, BUT! Most do. Just stand outside the polling places and watch which book they sign, and drink coffee with them at the cafe. ITS' CALLED "SELF INTEREST".

Yes, it's called self interest & the more people we have with this mentality the faster we collaspe.