Thadeus Thornton III

GM: Cuts and Outsourcing

Well. . . I guess you got tha off your chest. Anything constructive to offer? A lot of innocent people are hurting over this. A gloating attitude help. And this is just the beginning. I guess folks like you like to see illegal immigrants and Chinese products here in the U.S. People like you have bought their kids into a bleak future. Yes there could have been more insight from the management at GM, Chrysler, etc. But it is far more complex than what you present in your bashing comment. Lighten up and try and support American Brands. You have no idea how much damage NAFTA and other unbalanced trade agreements affected hundreds of thousands of jobs in the last 20 years. Folks from Japan, China, Germany and more are laughing at attitudes such as yours.

'Surgical' Bankruptcy for Chrysler

Talk about not staying on point. You seem to talk arounf the points and still manage to do the same thing. . . bash honest hard working people by putting them in a box and labeling them as greedy workers preying off a company. Guess what, their are lazy, opportunistic, self servers in every walk of life , I would venture to say yours included. You right wing "Toyota Republicans" also seem to see things though fogged spectacles of the class prejudice you say you don't possess. If the economy continues to fail and this country continues to decline, it will be due your lack of any attempt at understanding.

------>no one said UAW is not working hard, the point (you lefters tend not to stay on point well) is everyone is working much harder since 2001, when NAFTA's effects were in full force (thank you Bill Clinton) . But the UAW is working for themselves( not the corporation who butters their bread) they could care less that they need to scale back just like everyone else. Sooner or later when the economy turns and we are leaner and adjusted to the transplants everyone will adjust and things will improve. No I am not bitter I am a team player and do not suffer from "Class Envy". I love rich people the richer the better because they actully make me richer. Ever get a job from a poor person? I applaude the next Bill Gates, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison they all made my life better. How dare the UAW feel entilted to the inventions and "Brain Power" that allowed these people to have jobs and improve their quality of life and it takes more than physical labor to make a company run

'Surgical' Bankruptcy for Chrysler

Some of the comments here reveal such a high degree of " intellectual ignorance". They are either very young and just accept the business school logic and media poppy cock about how a labor union such as the UAW and its members could have such a high degree of influence on a company's success and profitability. Their ignorance and malice is further revealed by name calling and deriding work ethics and education of people ( that they don't even know) doing the brunt of the work at an automaker. Most workers at an automotive plant merely took the job that was available to them where they happened to live. So that's reason to derided them? Many others have education well above the average including BA's and more. Some are also health care workers. law enforcers, farmers, business owners, that saw a better source of income and benefits than what their previous jobs would provide. Many still continue in a filed of endeavor after their work day is done at an auto plant. From what I've seem, most are and have been hard working, skillful, have education, talents, interests, and skills beyond what they do for an income. More than likely these complainers are envious of the wages and benefits because their corporate jobs and careers haven't panned out to be the personal gravy train that they thought.
To state it again. Check out productivity ( The Harbor report ) for all the Big 3 over the last 10 to 15 years. It rivals, meets, or bests the transplant competition. This is a measure, not just of number of vehicles produced, but hours per unit, labor and overhead costs, and overall throughput. You don't get productivity improvements with lazy workers. Job numbers decreased, line speeds and job tasks per unit have increased. The major reason for market decline in the Big 3 was some poor product choices and engineering, high compensation and bonuses for corporate management, wasteful and futile R&D efforts on questionable technologies, and not listening to it's customer base. Then along came the financial meltdown. These are the real mongrels. If you wish to be angry, direct it at the right causes. Not the people who followed production and design mandates by the automakers. Otherwise, point a finger at yourselves for the decline of your past or current employer while it's having difficulties in this bad economy.

'Surgical' Bankruptcy for Chrysler

*sigh* . . . . I continue to be amazed. Based on some peoples comments, they are never satisfied. Chrysler will now go through Bk, although I also agree not as fast as Uncle Sam would like it. As far as Pres. Obama and the UAW goes. . . gee whiz, Obama doesn't want this mess either. Let's not forget George W. made the first loans before he left office. And the UAW has had less clout, influence, and drag on either Chrysler or GM than the bashers like to blab. The labor costs ( even at the inflated cost plus legacy rates reported) were not a significant factor in this. Anywhere from 5 to 10% the cost of producing a vehicle. As a comparison: It cost Henry Ford 15% for the labor on his $695 Model T and he was happy with that. Remember, he built an entire manufacturing city, housed people, provided school for kids, and some medical care. If Henry Ford got rich on $695 Model T's at 15% labor cost, then new reduced costs for Chrysler and GM will certainly not be a factor in recovery. All of the Big 3 obtained year after year productivity gains for the last 15 years according the Ron Harbor reports. Many plants for Chrysler, GM, and Ford were/are more or just as efficient and cost effective as any at the transplant competition. GM still is outselling Toyota in vehicles in the US this year.

It's the great and greedy financial gurus of Wall Street that precipitated this whole mess. It was and is a huge systemic financial problem and any anger ought to be addressed to those mongrels. And what did they get? FREE bailout money, not L O A N S of significantly less amounts that were provided for Chrysler and GM.

Detroit Uses Aid to "Open-Up" Auto Lending: Not Necessarily Good for GM

Seems inconsistent to me also.

Toyota Motors: A Fantastic Short if We Soon Retest Market Lows

This is actually not accurate. Even now.
Mad Hog Hunter :
""General Motors (GM) has 6,500 dealers in the US and Toyota Motors has 2,000, but Toyota sells more cars than GM""

If you check last months sales, and even sales for the quarter, GM STILL sold more vehicles than Toyota or Honda. In fact, even Ford just sold only 1700 less than Toytota. Sorry Mad Hog Hunter. Facts:

www.autoobserver.com/2...

Detroit Uses Aid to "Open-Up" Auto Lending: Not Necessarily Good for GM

This is actually not accurate. Even now.

""General Motors (GM) has 6,500 dealers in the US and Toyota Motors has 2,000, but Toyota sells more cars than GM""

If you check last months sales, and even sales for the quarter, GM STILL sold more vehicles than Toyota or Honda. In fact, even Ford just sold only 1700 less than Toytota. Sorry Mad Hog Hunter. Facts:

www.autoobserver.com/2...

Detroit Uses Aid to "Open-Up" Auto Lending: Not Necessarily Good for GM

Wow. I'm not even touching this one. Except to say that GM is making drastic adjustments and should be applauded for that along with the JD Power rating that another poster mentioned.
Many car makers including Ford, Chrysler, an originally Toyota and Honda in early years sold cars at a "loss". So shouldn't that be mentioned? How much shall. we include or exclude? It does seem negative to keep hammering on GM when they are making efforts. This article just foments this kind of commenting so I guess I am not surprised.

Five Reasons to Say Yes to American Cars

A glimmer of hope. GM sold some 155,00 light vehicles in March which is up from February, but of course, down from last year. Up is... up isn't it? Also, GM sold almost 17% more vehicles than Toyota with Ford only about 1,700 units behind.
Here's hoping this crisis has helped GM, Chrysler and Ford to get leaner. The cars are very much on par with the competition, if people would just take a look, take a test drive, and see the value in the American BRAND cars.

Chrysler, GM Travails Could Be a Boon for Honda

Just for some perspective. .. according to the newly released March sales figures. GM sold almost 17% more light vehicles in March than Toyota. Even Ford was only about 1,700 units behind Toyota. GM sold some 155,00 vehicles in March, which is actually up from February. Well, up is up isn't it? A glimmer anyway.

Five Reasons to Say Yes to American Cars

He is. .. indeed, one and the same. LOL

I think these guys need to write a lot to stay employed too. Can't blame them. .. I guess. :D

Five Reasons to Say Yes to American Cars

I just hope GM rethinks what brands it might do away with. Saturn has the most unique and European designed and engineered vehicles in GM's stable. The Saturn Aura is a great buy, especially now. I test drove a Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. I bought an Aura after a friend recommended it, and it compared favorably to the fore mentioned at $2,200 to $4,500 less. It has European, styling, amenities, and handling. I'm getting 23 to 26mpg around town, and have gotten between 31 and 36 on the highway. The Astra is not too shabby, but due for a makeover as the Aura is. The "new" Aura will be like the new 2010 Buick La Crosse. It is based on the Opel Insignia, quite a nice car. Also, the Saturn Vue is actually made after a similar model GM has made in Belgium and sells in Europe.
I hope GM reconsiders and doesn't shoot itself in the foot as it has done so many times, unfortunately. I have always thought an average car savvy person would make better product choices than GM often did.

GM's Bankruptcy: Obama's Socialist Hat Trick

Th irate use of profanity, circular reasoning, and stretching what people actually write, does not lend credibility to any legitimate statements you may contribute.
As far as "socialism" goes. Some people keep bringing up Hitler. Hitler was a fascist who used a label of socialism to get people in Germany to buy into his policies. Hitler, being a fascist, ran things under a police state using the SS and fear and terror to control the populous. What is interesting to note is that we in the U.S. came closet to that (using the same fear and terror tactic) in the previous 8 years with "homeland security" and all it's often misapplied policies, some of which, still linger and are having lasting effects to out detriment.

GM's Bankruptcy: Obama's Socialist Hat Trick

Give it a rest please. The new guy "BO" has not accepted Chrysler's or GM's plan for restructuring, giving them a bit more time so you are down on that? And then let's interpret the whole thing as just a show and posturing with a real " secret agenda" in the background? It appears some people are never satisfied with what an administration tries to do in this mess. One has to wonder if we would even be in this mess if we hadn't had almost 8 years looking for WMD and unbridled profiteering in the oil industry. There is absolutely no doubt this weakened an already precarious situation while the auto industry was making inroads to wage and benefit reductions for actually the last 12-15 years.

Yes, there were better product decisions and more effective management choices that could have been made at both Chrysler and GM. Form happened to luck out getting some financing before the financial meltdown. A legacy business like GM or Chrysler doesn't turn on a dime. Things are much more complex than in a small business operation. But it actually seems that isn't the issue for some folks. Some people just will deride and tear down any movement towards progress that isn't apparent to them.

Millions of people's jobs, retirement, and family well being are at stake here. Is it all these people's fault that they went to work for GM or Chrysler or a supplier or support business? Some people put their lives into this industry. Maybe that's part of it. Some folks are fearful of their own business downturn or lack of profits in this unhealthy economy and turn their frustrations on GM, the unions, it's people, and the new administration.

What about people that have retired.? Not all retire at 50 years old like some like to report. Some have been retired for awhile and do not actually have a very large pension at all. And some retired a few years ago along with a decimated 401K that they built up on their own to augment a modest pension. So then, force GM and Chrysler to declare bankruptcy; and also force these people on a government pension and possibly out of their homes? These people and their spouses ( over 700,000 for GM) do not have the luxury of time to start over. They put their time, sweat, and youthful years into the opportunity that existed for them where ever they happened to live. If it was a job at GM or Chrysler should they now be penalized for that? If they have to go on government PBGC some people will then complain about that. All these negative comments reveal is jealousy, no compassion for fellow man, and a self centered point of view.

Ten Cars Detroit Should Copy

I think I refuse to contribute any comments.( other than this one)

All we are doing is justifying this kind of poor economic article and the writers who are biased, do little research, and write off the top of their collective heads. Or worse. .. out of the other end.