Jennifer Granholm: Big Three Woes Not Their Fault

Research

Find out how many man hours it takes to make a homda or toyota. I think you know where I'm going with this. I've worked in the Auto industry and the attitude of many workers would not be tolerated in a non-union environment. It's only one factor. This was a house of cards that was eventually blown down by the wind of economics.

I believe Darwins theory of evolution rings true with industry as well. Times will be tuff, yes. But this is necessary. We need proper work ethics, efficient design and management, and top quality vehicles. A bailout will not give us this.

If I can find the link showing Man-hours per vehicle, I'll post it.

In the end if you can sell me a QUALITY, Dependable, well engineered car for a competitive price,...I'll buy it. Until then, I will drive a BMW or a Honda. They are almost the sane price when you consider all the factors. (Not the High end models of coarse).

The Big 3 are not just to provide jobs, thy are to provide a product that's marketable. THEY FAILED!

Brent Durette @ Dec 16, 2008 00:25:30 AM

Granholm`s Stupidity

O.K. That`s it I am mad! The "Big Three" are in Washington begging for MONEY. Our dear Governor decides to raise TAXES, yes I said RAISE TAXES! She is increasing property taxes in Macomb County on homes worth over one hundred thousand dollars. Can you believe this? The economy is in shambles, people are losing their jobs, our car companies are in BIG trouble, Michigan residents are struggling and SHE had the nerve to raise taxes? She has got to be kidding! Is that all this woman knows is to keep raising taxes? Doesn`t she know the Tech Center in Warren, is in Macomb County and probably alot of the employees there own homes in Macomb County. Get your head on straight lady, we are in a recession! I can`t wait for the election for Governor, THIS WOMAN HAS TO GO!

Fran, Screaming mad! of MI @ Dec 11, 2008 09:25:55 AM

and by the way I know for a fact that GM spent millions on this hydrogen technology hysteria that has now been replaced by hybrid hysteria. Hysteria never did any good for the environment but surely is fueling Toyotas bottom line. If it wasn't for that damn prius ya'll have nothing to say. Prediction: yr 2020 great lakes water is undrinkable because of the high levels of heavy metals primarily due to Prius batteries sitting in michigan landfills. Just a thought. Here should be the one condition of the loan. NO LAYOFFS! thats it.

of @ Dec 03, 2008 15:06:10 PM

Oh yeah in the late 90s gm was making RECORD profits quarter after quarter primarily because of those SUVs flying off the lot. Not an unreasonable time to upgrade the corporate headquarters. Notice how quiet Japan is in all of this? Why because they desparately need gms market share to offset other elements in their own poor decision making and quality control not to mention it is kinda hard right now to get a car loan for any type of car.

of @ Dec 03, 2008 15:01:27 PM

Yeah unions are terrible. My grandfather told me how bad like when he left is anti-union shop to a union one in the 50s and doubled his pay to almost $6 hr as a highly skilled machine repairman. He even got health insurance from day one something that is virtually impossible for an aspiring autoworker today. Terrible because they are not doing enough for workers in the face of wall street deregulation and our eroding social safety net which after 30 years amounts to unemployment benefits that we will all soon see isn't funded well enough. Since banks won't loan money the govt has to this is simply another case but go ahead and destroy one of the last bastions of worker protections the UAW. I am no fan of many of the UAWs policies and decisions over the years. That does not make collective bargaining a bad thing. Were they simply counting on a govt loan if the Banks Failed Us. The banks failed you not the UAW. Let the big three fail see you in the new depression.

of @ Dec 03, 2008 14:57:02 PM

Rhymes With 'Bubble Standard'

The double standard that the top half of this country is blind to will destroy it. Why is it that when a gang of thieves 'organizes' into a corporation to exploit, stash, and not be held responsible for any and all actions in pursuit of a buck, we call it the ultimate expression of freedom and democracy – but when a group of exploited, dashed, and scapegoated workers organize for their rightful taste of the pie they planted, picked, prepared, and served, it's called "shumions" by a bunch of armchair CEOs and former Jeopardy! champions?

You want to deregulate? How 'bout we remove those confining rules, regulations and restrictions from the U.S. Labor Market? If you thought Sarbens-Oxly made it hard to breath, you should try on Taft-Hartley, Libertarian hypocrites.

Make your lame jokes and brownie points while you can. Each and every day, more and more good-hearted desk-dwellers are realizing – miracle of miracles – that they too are working class. Welcome to the labor market, brothers! Allow me to introduce Mr. Taft, Mr. Hartley:

http://lpa.igc.org/lpv26/lp05.htm

of MI @ Dec 01, 2008 17:48:07 PM

unions are a problem

"The unions have been asking the gov. to put a limit on the foreign cars coming in the USA"

That statement shows why unions are a problem.

Max of WI @ Nov 16, 2008 23:02:50 PM

Big 3

#1 to PS of IL,you said you did consulting work for the not so big 3,well maybe you were 1 of the weak links? Do you think? #2 I am not in favor of bailing out the uaw wihout them giving up a whole lot.My mother since past away was one of the first women to be eleced a uaw local president and I can assure you she would make ALL the effort to use common sense and re-negotiate all the "gravy'to safe jobs.$14 an hr is better than $0.#3How stupid are GM & Ford? In Seally,TX a British Company has just bought a truck building facility and landed a multi Billion $ contract to build military trucks for us the tax payers,you talk about the combined greed of both the uaw/gm-ford blinding theirselves while south of the mason/dixon things look pretty good.One last comment in 1977 I was lucky enough to get a summer job at chevy-truck in Flint,I will never forget being asked by a "lifer" where by loaf of bread was? I said what the hell do you mean,his reply was this is Generous-Motors and you need the bread to lap up the gravy,go figure?

Mike of TX @ Nov 15, 2008 11:02:03 AM