Author Topic: GM's broke and I don't feel so good myself. (Read 1202 times)

mechanic · « **on:** June 01, 2009, 06:08:42 AM »

Just got the word that we are going to week on week off. Bad enough that its happening, but if it was gonna' come, it would have been better in hunting season.

Many of our industries around here are in trouble. The new Kia plant is on schedule, but if it doesn't do well, this area is dead for jobs.

I was in TX. last week, and its still seems fairly vibrant there in oil country. I may have to move.

Ben

Davemuzz · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2009, 08:41:53 AM »

I hate to hear that your on that kind of time schedule.

I also hate to hear that Kia is coming to town. I don't know anything about it....but I wonder how many $ Ga. gave in tax breaks for Kia to build a plant there?

I could be flat out wrong but my guess is it's in the millions.

I'm sorry if I sound a bit sour on the idea. But living here in S.W. Pa. I've watched our State Government as they gave away millions of State dollars to Volkswagen of America 30 some years ago.....and just as those tax breaks were to expire, VW closed up shop and took their money back to Germany. Oh....and left everyone unemployed in the wake.

Then about 10 years or so ago....another big Asian company called Sony came in....took over the plant and began making big screen TV's there. Then, as the TV market changed....so did their "vision" of making TV.s.

Yeah....now those TV's are being made in Mexico and the 2000 and some labor force is.....oh yeah....the same place VW left their workforce 30 some years ago.

Oh yeah.....I don't want to discuss the millions of tax dollars Pa. gave to Sony either.

I guess I'm not a big fan of foreign investors. Those who control the labor force also control our Congress and our Senate. They control our Government. And our Government gives them our money to let them build plants to employ us....so then they can dictate to our Government how it's gonna be.

But, that's just my opinion. It's like a dog chasing it's tail. I'll just go fishing....it's easier and my head doesn't hurt.

Dave

burntmuch · « **Reply #2 on:** June 01, 2009, 09:46:31 AM »

We,re giving our country away. Guys. I just dont understand . Buy Made in USA products, eventually it will work. I know its hard sometimes, But if we dont what are our kids gonna do. Ben good luck with your job

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #3 on:** June 01, 2009, 09:56:35 AM »

We aren't giving America away we are selling it away .

teddy12b · « **Reply #4 on:** June 01, 2009, 10:29:51 AM »

It'd be interesting to know what the current figures are now, but I'd be curious as to how many KIA is employing to GM these days. What's happening at GM isn't a happy thing, but hopefully they'll get through this and survive.

I try to buy american, but I also have to buy what I can afford. Let's face it, Toyota builds a better truck than GM or Ford, and KIA has a warranty that people would be crazy not to take. GM & Ford have only been focusing on competing against each other and not the world. Now it seems they're getting their head out of their rears and trying to do the right thing.

The writing was on the wall when GM was still pumping out trailblazers getting 14mpg while the foreign guys were building comparable vehicles in the U.S. with better gas mileage for less money.

We can try to buy American all we want and I hope we all try our best at it, but the foreign guys were'nt showing up in Washington, DC in private jets asking for money.

GM was a bad kid, got spanked, and now has to try to learn it's lesson. When it does, I'll buy another GM.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2009, 10:35:29 AM »

I have a chevy 2500 diesel . The engine is Sabaru , with Bosch ignition ( yep ignition / control on a diesel) . My Dodge diesel came from mexico .
Someone explain buy American to me , Please ! Oh yea the Ford Diesel i got rid of had electrics from Mexico ! American , yea right .

mirage1988 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2009, 10:57:37 AM »

Ok Ill explain buy american to you. When you are at the store, look at the label-if it says made in usa, then buy it, if it says anything else, then don't! Just because you feel that you must buy a foreign brand vehicle, at least take the effort to help american manufacturing in other ways. I am a cabinetmaker and a carpenter that buys and uses american tools (except for bosch drills).

BUY AMERICAN, THE JOB YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN!

burntmuch · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2009, 11:05:06 AM »

I understand alot of the parts on cars are from somewhere else. But at lest the majority of the vehicle is made in USA. Trust me I know the KIAs are tempting. like whats been said before, at least try to buy American made products. Do you think there are a bunch of chinese walking around using american products. No. I understand the global economy concept, but it isnt working.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2009, 11:05:51 AM »

read my post real slow , I bought a Chevy , a Dodge and a fORD all billed as American made , all either made south of the border or from forgin parts . Whats American about that ?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #9 on:** June 01, 2009, 11:07:05 AM »

There are a bunch of Chineese using American steel, lumber and smokes !

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2009, 11:08:43 AM »

BTW I do buy American when i can , Ruger comes to mind they compete in a world market and have fair prices !

burntmuch · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2009, 11:19:22 AM »

Im not trying to argue with you Im just sayin g at least try. At least the profits went to an American company. Now what that company did with the profit is a shame. I just bought a Ruger p90 cause its about the only handgun :in my price range" thats Made in USA Made by a guy like you or me by a company in the USA. Now theres still guys making guns in America. If everyone was to buy Springfield XD or Glocks, Americans would be losing jobs.

mechanic · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2009, 11:24:51 AM »

Kia is out nothing if their venture fails. The state built the building and site, and leased it to them for ten years, (amount undisclosed), so they will not have to pay property tax for those ten years.

Along the interstate corridor, building after building is going up with Korean names to supply Kia.

They deal with Koreans first, Americans if they can't.

They only hire those under 40, and usually well under 40.

The promised pay schedules they announced at first have been downgraded. They are offering about $13.00 per hour jobs, not the $20.00 + everyone thought.

The sad thing is, so many industries have closed here to go offshore, that Kia is all we have locally to look forward to. Our textiles which were a mainstay are gone. We had a mfg. that made detonators for auto airbags....gone to Mexico.

We had a defense contractor that made guidance systems. Gone overseas. Altogether 40 or so industries in the last 5 years, gone over seas to China or Mexico.....I told my kids 2 years ago, get your money out of the stock market, buy something you can hold or touch. Stocks are based on "air" not reality.

Oh, and by the way....Kia is screwing the contractors b withholding payment until they are desperate, then demanding a discount....Welcome to the USA, 2009.

Thanks, I just needed to vent a little.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2009, 11:53:50 AM »

Maybe what the Kia factory needs is to have a third party come in and tell them how many employees they must have. Then the third party can tell the employees how little they need to do for each shift, when that work is done they can do whatever.... Then the third party can tell the employees that they need to give the third party some of their paycheck and make every one think they are getting a great deal!

mechanic · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2009, 12:01:54 PM »

Quote from: Hairtrigger on June 01, 2009, 11:53:50 AM

Maybe what the Kia factory needs is to have a third party come in and tell them how many employees they must have. Then the third party can tell the employees how little they need to do for each shift, when that work is done they can do whatever.... Then the third party can tell the employees that they need to give the third party some of their paycheck and make every one think they are getting a great deal!

Now you know that only works for American companies........

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2009, 12:25:30 PM »

More than anything I MEANT to explain is I have worked for a machinery manufacturer for the last 17 years. the last 10 I have done the warranty expediting. I can say for a fact that when the assembly line is slow I see a drop in the quality of the product. Instead of concentrating on the job at hand the employees are trying to look busy and the quality suffers. Now, I apply that to hearing my friends that work in the local GM foundry talk about finishing their quota in less than 3 hours and spending the remaining 5 hours playing cards... sounds like too many employees to me.

mechanic · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2009, 12:32:01 PM »

The price of an American car has increased all out of proportion to people's salaries. I remember when a full size full dress car was well under $3000.00 and a cheap one under $2000.00

On another note: American cars have increased dramatically in quality. There is no comparison to the quality now and 20 yrs ago. They definately make a better car.

The problem is, as was noted above, we need to build the same car at a better price. Some of the costs are the result of the government meddling.

In 1965 I had a 6cyl. auto that was of course carbureted, and would get 30mpg. and run like a scalded dog.

There is no reason we can't have that kind of economy and better now, if market forces were the only thing at work. By adding emission controls, we caused less mileage not more. IMHO we would produce less emissions if the cars were unencumbered and got better mileage.

One thing for sure, 20 or more years ago, you didn't see many engines go 300,000 miles. Now its common.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2009, 01:49:17 PM »

I wonder since Kia is getting indirect government funding (Via "tax forgivness" and not paying for their facility) if that means our Pres. can walk in and fire the Pres. of Kia?

What the hey???....He did it to the Pres. of GM. Back in college when I took a course in Economics 101, I think that was called the Socialism form of government. But then....that was when books were printed on a press. Maybe things have changed since then?

Dave

mechanic · « **Reply #18 on:** June 01, 2009, 03:13:01 PM »

If you are present when the CEO of Kia arrives, you are not even supposed to look directly at him. They consider him some kind of lesser god......a whole different culture....sure to clash with these good old boys around here.

Sorry, but I've been raised that I am as good as any man, rich or poor.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2009, 03:53:48 PM »

Quote from: mechanic on June 01, 2009, 03:13:01 PM

If you are present when the CEO of Kia arrives, you are not even supposed to look directly at him.

Yeah.....that will go over real big here.