that’s my gig around here

an if you keep writin well thought out comments that make several relevant points, yer gonna screw up my gig

if yer gonna claim to be a member of the idgit chorus around here, stop writin such smart posts

(wink)

this is a REALLY GOOD question to ask the brainiacs here:

I guess the larger question is whether the amount of money we pumped into these two companies was worth it to have them go under in the Spring instead of the Fall.

let’s try an find an answer

BK here is reorganization to eliminate the competitive disadvantages that the Big 2.5 have been fighting for years. Whether you acknowledge the changes taht GM has already made or not (I agree that Chrysler was a dog), the reasons for the continued difficulties (and inability to explain to people that their product has gotten better) are largely those competitive disadvantages. And boneheaded management, though GM at least has/had turned that largely around too.

Look, as I’ve mentioned, I’m an idiot. Back in November, when the Bushies were throwing around the initial bailout Detroit plans I told my co-workers that the money the government was throwing at Detroit was a waste because, like the banks, if they didn’t change their core business practices to deal with the modern economy they would be bankrupt in six months regardless (June 2009).

And come June 2009 both companies have filed for bankruptcy. I don’t posses an MBA, in fact, my first year of college after I got out of the Army I was an accounting major and squeaked out a measly 2.2 GPA before changing majors. So if someone with my business acumen could see this coming I would have to think, even in the Bush administration, someone would see it as well.

My thoughts on this is that the Bush administration was just playing kick the can with the auto bailout. Get them through January and let the next guy deal with it. I think the Obama’s knew both these companies were failed enterprises but didn’t think the economy, Wall Street, my parents, etc. could deal with more bad news, kind of a straw and a camel’s back deal.

It seems to me they decided to float Chrysler and GM till the spring, hoping the stimulus package would be perking the economy up somewhat. The gamble seems to be paying off, Wall Street numbers are up, retail sales seem to be glacially improving, unemployment is still a drag but we’re not hemorrhaging like we were, oil prices are up but we’re all use to our summer fleecing by the oil companies and OPEC and we just shrug it off as part of being American, and who isn’t optimistic when flowers are blooming and baby birds tweeting.

Perfect time to roll these two pigs over. Sure, GM an Chrysler will be back, albeit different companies, but a lot of workers are going to be permanently out of jobs and a lot of suppliers might not be able to make it through a restructuring period.

I guess the larger question is whether the amount of money we pumped into these two companies was worth it to have them go under in the Spring instead of the Fall.

Of course, their idea of ‘relating’ to those folks wasn’t kind…to say the least. Couldn’t they at least have offered tea with sugar-free cookies?

“Can’t we all just get along?” — King

You don’t think the Repubs have eyes in the Onion offices do you? Man that would be really bizarre.