I want to reiterate that I don’t think the workers are bad, or that American car companies are worse than foreign automakers. I wouldn’t have bought one if i thought that. I just happen to think that some of the things that unions have done have hamstrung what the car companies can do, and mean that they can’t be as competitive as foreign automakers.

I’ve been a union member at one time in my life, and I can’t say I was very impressed with them. I think they were necessary at one point in our history, but for many workers nowadays they aren’t really out for the best interests of the workers – but for the interests of the union officials. They help to bankrupt companies – which in the end isn’t good for anybody cause no one has jobs.

Should the benefits that the workers get be factored into what they make? For sure. The rest of us have to pay for those benefits, or have it factored into our pay as well.

I also think the companies are largely to blame when they are compensating executives for poor performance, and not doing things that are fiscally responsible.

So there you go, there’s enough blame to go around. The unions, the car companies, and Washington. Did I leave anyone out?

I have heard so many people talk about how the American manufacturers made cars no one wants (yet Ford has the number one selling car in North America); consumers buy these cars to improve their status; and now the employees make $80/hour! So, first of all these magic numbers that are put out there probably include the employees benefits. Propoganda spewers seem to stretch the truth to make others agree with them. Secondly, I am a proud owner of a beautiful Chrysler Aspen. I buy suvs because I like big, safe cars. AND my car has a lifetime warranty……yes….LIFETIME! who can offer that? I do not buy big, gas guzzlers for improved status. I want to be able to protect my precious cargo. I am a “brother’s” (union member) wife and we try tp buy everything American but we can’t even find the products anymore!!
One of the biggest things I have noticed, aside from people being mis-informed about unions, is that those that are complaining the most buy foreign cars. How about taking pride in our american made products? How about buying American made cars, thus contributing to the solution not the problem.

Oh, and the foreign auto industry is struggling too. Not as bad as the American, yet. If people don’t have the money to buy cars they can’t buy cars. But, what will the reasoning be when the Foreign manufacturers are going under? -Oh, it’ll probably be that they were not as educated as those over-paid American auto workers. That would be the day.

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We can’t sell GM/Ford/Chrysler vehicles oversees. The foreign governments prohibit it. Yet they can come over here and sell their vehicles to us.
Our corporate taxes and restrictions are making it difficult to for Detroit to compete on quality AND cost. But both aspects must be in place to sell cars.
This is needed in ADDITION to resolving the issues with the unions, as described above.

We restrict our own companies, and reduce them to mediocrity. When they start to stumble as a result, we punish them for it, and the government swoops in to “save the day” with MORE rules and regulations. Does this sound like a bad plan to anyone else?

I say get the government OUT of the auto industry. Let them be competitive on their own.
Long live capitalism!

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As far as government standards, I agree that many of them have hamstrung the companies. Relaxing standards and restrictions would be a good place to start.

Checked out and enjoyed your blog – keep up the great work!