Comments on: Auto Bailout: The Mood in Lansing, Michigan

By: Michael S

Michael S — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:23:23 +0000

First, tax money shouldnt be used for ANY business unless its to benefit the majority of tax payers. So far all bailouts have helped CEO’s and execs. not a thing for tax payers.

Second, like many Americans, we quit buying american cars, compared to German, and Japan, etc. they are subpar, not a nice, not a finished, and poor resale. They just dont compare! I heard some one say, that the only people buying American cars are the ones that have never bought or driven anything but. Those that drive a forien car, will in most cases never buy another American car! Which is why their market share drops year after year after year.

Third, GM is in such bad shape, they send Christmas bonuses to their retirees. A widow in my town who is living off of her dead husbands pension got a nice bonus this month from GM. ???????? They are trying to lose money to make the bailout look more like the only option?

Fourth, the ONLY vehicle GM has that is a possible major turning point for the company in coming years, they shut down the plant building it?? Hello? Why did they shut the Volt plant? This is thier future lifeline!

Many years of BAD management and many years of HORRID union contracts and demands and many years of OVERPAYING CEO’s and Execs. Not to mention many years of building inferrior vehicles compared to forien companies have caused the problems. Now we expect them to change all that by taking tax dollars out of taxpayers pockets??

Good Grief!

By: AL. A.

AL. A. — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:30:00 +0000

EVERYONE HAS AN IDEA WHAT SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAPPEN,HOWEVER LETS NOT FORGET THE THOUSANDS OF RETIREES WHO HAVE 401K AND LIFE SAVINGS TIED UP IN GM OR FORD OR CHRYSLER

By: Joey Chaulklin

Joey Chaulklin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:48:30 +0000

Stop this stupidity in Washington ! The Big 3 made this bed now let them figure it out for themselfs, or be replaced just like anyother company. The UAW must be desolved to strat with they are on longer an asset, on the otherhand rather a deturant. Di not waste our time with giving these Big 3 PIGS money that they will squander. Then who will pick up the pieces yet again ! Power to small business

By: RETIRED MAJOR CHARLES REDDIG

RETIRED MAJOR CHARLES REDDIG — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:24:24 +0000

When I was an electrical engineer for RCA company in LANCASTER PA. If I failed to properly design a working product I was in danger of a reduction in my pay or in danger of getting fired. Why not fire executives that could not see what was happening to their sales & not being SMART ENOUGH to correct what was very obvious for many months before the sales really declined? IN my opinion the union employees & the CEO,s are receiving much more money than they deserve.Wowever being a poor forgotten TAXPAYERE ,I,m sure that the rich will always bail out the rich.I hope I,m wrong but when my tax dollars are concerned I am sure that the people that fail miserably will always be bailed out even though the majority of us think that bankrupcy is the best solution for such GREEDY people in charge of large companies. I can hardly wait for the results but my bets are as stated-the rich ALWAYS BAIL OUT THE RICH FAILURES.

By: Larry Whitlock

Larry Whitlock — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:03:08 +0000

One of the major problems in reaching a successful conclusion to the bail out of the big three Auto companies is the agreement with the UAW for some consessions such as payroll and benefit
reduction. The solution is simple. Congress would agree to except an equal percentage reduction of their (Congress) salary and benefits. So Simple. Why didn’t I think of it before.

By: Larry Whitlock

Larry Whitlock — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:44:07 +0000

One of the major stepping stones to a successful end to this bail-out is the willingness of the UAW to agree to wage and benefit reductions. I believe I have found the key to this problem:

First: Congress would agree that they (Congress) would agree to an equal percentage reduction of thier salery and benfits. So simple. I don’t know why Congress didnt think of it themselves.

By: Diane Gregg

Diane Gregg — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:19:00 +0000

No buyout. Who is going to be next? We are passing all this debt on to our grandchildren and Americans are not having all that many children to pass it on to. We barely have the birthrate to sustain our quasi-socialist economy now. If it wasn’t for immigration and high birth rates among immigrants, we would not have it. We are so greedy that we don’t want to take the trouble to have and raise kids. Some of the ones we do conceive we abort and throw in dumptsters. Then we saddle the ones we do have with our debt so we can buy more wide-screen tvs and other junk. Most American homes are overflowing with junk. The Native Americans sold America for trinkets too! We need to return to our American roots where we value life, thrift, simple living, family, hard work, small government and freedom, freedom, freedom. The more you depend on that government check or bailout, the less freedom you have. That goes for individuals, companies, churches, private schools, everone. If the churches would give up their tax free status they could preach what they want! Watch out private schools if you start taking vouchers. If someone is financing you, then they get to tell you how to live. Independence is the cornerstone of the American system. We fought the American Revolution to get away from a big, oppressive government. Would you all like to repeat that?

By: John W Fullerton

John W Fullerton — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:21:02 +0000

Sen. Dodd calling for a resignation? Another example of the arrogance of our politicians. The same man who took a sweet loan deal that is part of the financial problem we are currently experiencing. Once again our Congress is taking the easy way out by throwing money at the problem. There will be no accountability and the loan will not solve the problem. The industry needs to declare bankruptcy and restructure across the board.

By: NO BAILOUT

NO BAILOUT — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:38:06 +0000

I am braced because I know they are going to get their bailout. It makes me sick!!!!!!

By: Charlene

Charlene — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:50:09 +0000

If my tax dollars have to bailout these bozo’s I will never buy a Ford, GM or Chrysler ever again. I blame Pelosi for starting this whole bailout thing. First it was Fannie & Freddie who were too big to fail. We had to rush rush rush and hurry to sign that $700 billion bailout bill. Then it was AIG & now the auto industry. I beg to differ with Mr. Gettlefinger when he said “for the Big 3, bankruptcy is not an option”. I’m sorry, but before the geniuses in Congress ever mentioned the infamous “B” (bailout) word, wouldn’t bankruptcy be their ONLY option? Bankrupty doesn’t mean they go out of business. They cut back & restructure the company.
I have no sympathy for any of them. Our company pension plan lost $530,000 and my husband lost $40,000 in his. How about bailing out all the taxpayers who lost thousands in their pension plans…
Well, Nancy………………. I’m waiting!!!!!!

By: Steve Cunio

Steve Cunio — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:53:27 +0000

Why aren’t the executives being prosecuted for treason? The banks, insurance companies, wall street, and the big 3 executives have brought this nation to its knees by destroying its economy while making backroom deals to line their pockets. I say, arrest them, take away their wealth, and throw them under the jail. Let the people that really run those companies; the blue collar workers, designers, floor supervisors, and the office managers, take over and make them profitable once again…without the dishonest unions being involved!

By: Ken Byrd

Ken Byrd — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:13:59 +0000

I think the bail out of the big 3 is a discrace, there is a reason for Chapter 11.

By: Rose

Rose — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:41:26 +0000

Why should we the people be responsible for their error in judgement when they could just as easily declare chapter 11 bakruptcy and get rid of the $75/hr union workers. It is the UAW that has held these companies hostage too long. Why else are the foreign industries of Honda, Nissan etc, here in the USA doing just fine, thank you very much. I am sick and tired of bailing out people that I can’t afford to keep in business. President elect Obama needs to tell these people and Nancy Pelosi to get off the backs of the American people and fend for themselves. At the same time, government needs to get out of the way of business and let them compete and do their jobs.

By: Len

Len — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:26:02 +0000

Well here’s an idea, I’ll try to make it simple, why doesn’t the Fed create a Federal mortgage refinance program that would allow existing homeowners to refi thier loans with federal dollars (yes our taxes) at a rate of 2%, this would help homeowners that our struggling, infuse money back in to the lending sector, and give the Fed a better return on its money over the current rates they loan to the banks. As for the auto industry create a bottom dollar pricing system, charge the consumer cost to build plus 2%(small profit margin), make financing at 0%, and give the auto makers a 3 year timetable to remove the old barter system and put in to place a fixed price system.

By: Ken Byrd

Ken Byrd — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:36:52 +0000

Bail out loan-I feel it is a disgrace on the part of our government to reward failure of the big 3 Auto Makers, there is a reason for Chapter 11.

By: Gary Ebbs

Gary Ebbs — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:08:43 +0000

Hi FOX

Great fan of fox news. You have been my savior since my wife recently died. Im a young totally disabled GM/UAW worker (retied). My small pension was cut by my comp. award. I still have a dependent and no longer my wifes incmome. I am a true rebublican and do not like all the bailouts. What you do not know is how many lump sum yearly pay increases we gave up for years to protect our retire health care. Now I have to pay into a VEBA trust and pay up to 800.00 dollars a year for my health care. All your talkinking heads do not know the give backs the UAW has made. They need to be much better educated. I can not work like a 30 and out worker to supplement my healthcare.
Hope those uneducated talkinking heads never have to lose thier healthcare with no way to make it up.

Please keep it fair and balanced.

Love Fox News.

Gary Ebbs in cold NY

By: getalife

getalife — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 10:48:19 +0000

Comment to Darlene,

All those workers you are so worried about can get a new job building all the roads and bridges for 9 bucks an hour. Hope they like the pay doing that.

By: dwight

dwight — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:39:50 +0000

The bail out will not help. There is no future for these companys with a uaw work force.
That and goverment mandates for cars theres no way out. Gm is paying 6000 + guys 85% of there 60,000 dollar a year to sit a home. Just burn the money. At least you will be warm. By the way I have a 2008 dodge with a lifetime warranty one month old.

By: Steve Lynch

Steve Lynch — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:06:23 +0000

This is not a bailout. You have to have a viable business to qualify for a bailout. The economic collapse did not cause the big 3 problems. 40 years of making substandard products is the reason for the big 3’s problems. I used to buy american cars until the seventies. After the ford pinto and seeing the paint come off a two or three year old car convinced me. Also just ask a car dealer who sells both american and foreign which is most realiable, and they will tell you every time it’s the foreign car.

No bail out unless the whole management resigns. No bailout without changing the labor contracts. No bail out unless their whole attitude toward quality changes. No bailout if congress (pelosi, reid, franks) gets to tell them what to produce.

Justifying this because of what was done for the banks is no justification. That should not have happened the way it did. Using bad behavior to justify bad behavior is stupid and is no justification at all.

By: Roderick Craney

Roderick Craney — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:51:34 +0000

Taxation, Taxation, Socialim ,Socialim, What is wrong with these poeple satan is working his magic hard and heavy WAKE UP WAKE UP!!!!

By: james conway

james conway — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:51:04 +0000

I can’t believe the american people are raising heck about helping blue collar workers,but they were just a wimper when the banks came a knockin for 700 billion.The senators from ala. & geo. are just against unions plus they have the foriegn cars being made down there and the profits go over seas,i hope all the blue collar workers write down all the senators that are against this loan thats right america a loan that will be paid back and put them out of office in the next election.By the way i drive a 2008 Avenger that gets over 31 mpg on the hwy. and over 26 in the city and the car is a great drive and ride if you can’t drive american move overseas that’s where your money is going anyway.

By: Jack Wayda

Jack Wayda — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:24:51 +0000

I have another idea. Let’s get government out of big business and stick to governing. Government contributed to this mess. What makes us believe government will get us out. Want a bailout for the automakers? Let big business take care of big business. Let those monstrous oil companies pony up and bail out the Big Three automakers. One quarter’s worth of profits would more than take care of the tab. Detroit has been fueling (pun intended) the huge oil profits for years by building gas guzzling beasts. The oil companies should be thankful for the gifts from Detroit. They should now return the favor.

By: John

John — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:56:11 +0000

If this “bail out loan” is such a good idea, then how come no one, and I mean no one, world wide has stepped in to lend them the money. Although times are tough, there are still plenty of high roller investors out there that will jump at the chance to make a profit. Why then have no such investors stepped forward? Reason: putting money into the American automobile industry right now is like putting into a black hole. What goes in will never come out.
Until they go into Chapter 11 and re-organize and start producing products that are competitive within the market place, the big three are destined to failure and deserve no assistance whatsoever.

By: Jack Wayda

Jack Wayda — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:40:19 +0000

Bailout–too much a part of our vernacular these days. Rescue?? Maybe. But a rescue implies safety from failure or death and that too is a pipe dream. It is inevitable that some one, or all, l of the Big 3 will fail regardless of how much money we throw at their struggles—our money at that. They did it to themselves with arrogance and lack of foresight to the needs of the market. I drive a Toyota. Why? Because Detroit has been making less desirable vehicles for years and is only now starting to see the light. It’s too late. I feel no guilt about driving a foreign “brand” as long as it was built by an American labor force without the influence of dominating unions. I don’t feel any sympathy for the white collar guys but do feel for all the blue collar folks who were led to their doom by management and the greedy unions. Rescue should start at the bottom, not at the top. Fire everybody that wears a tie to work. Let the unions make huge concessions too.

By: jake the snake

jake the snake — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:57:28 +0000

Having been in the automobile industry for several years I found that many times, not always, foriegn car owners ridicule domestic quality, to allay thier guilt. I recall that back in the sixties the worst cars on the road were Japanese, rust buckets, and they would not run. Now why can’t people believe that the domestics can turn it around. Pretty soon our history books will exclude the Japanese rape on Nanking, China just as the Japanese do.

PS and December 7th, 1941