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Detroit, 6:57 AM
Mon Nov 23
11 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/17/09
Where's Unregular? #gm
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a person disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.
Conservatives have been instrumental in trying to stop progression, or to try and "turn back the clock" to anything even remotely progressive.
It is this particular cornerstone that limits a free thinking society, stymies inventiveness, and limits expression.
We no longer are at the forefront of new inventions, new ideas, or new product. You can lay all that on Conservatism. #gm
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OK: Lets take Passenger Airliners, just as an example. I can't deny that Boeing is a formidable competitor, but every Airbus model is far superior than the Boeing competing model. Yes the 787 is modern, but it has taken forever to get out of the gate.
The Brazilian Firm Embraer developed a line of E-Jets that really have no rival. We used to own the Aircraft Industry, and now we are merely a player.
Lets talk Large Trucks: We have two Truck Manufacturers left in the US, PACCAR (Peterbilt, Kenworth) and NAVISTAR (International). The Number one and Number two truck producers in North America is Freightliner (owned by Daimler), and Volvo (Still Swedish Owned, and not connected with the car division owned by Ford) and look at this, they own Mack Truck now! The European Trucks are far more modern and up-to-date than the American ones.
Lets talk Cell Phones for a minute. Motorola used to own the segment, but have been eclpised by Research in Motion (Blackberry), Apple, Nokia, Erickson, Samsung, Sony, with a host of smaller brands following close behind. It really is too little too late with the Droid.
We are no longer dominate in the PC world, what with the sale of IBM's PC business to Lenovo, and almost every other machine built in China. Semiconductor technology has been off loaded to the far east, Software Service has been offloaded to India, and we never did own the flat screen market.
From what I understand,
the Russian mathematicians are superior to almost anyone, The German and Swedish optics are superior to everyone, and the Swiss still make the best chocolate.
We were suppose to be the smartest as far as investment, but that theory got blown out of the water. We were suppose to have the best Insurance Companies (Ha!), and the best Banks (Pffft!). What have we got now? A whole lot of Nothing Special. #gm
11/17/09
We know it does, because you looked up the word "conservative" in the dictionary...
What limits free thinking and inventiveness is artificially rewarding failure and punishing success.
As to your later post about industries, most have some degree of labor issues. Truck and airplane manufacturing are both hammered in the US by unions. For cell phones, Motorola and Apple are US companies. RIM is Canadian. Nice job dismissing the Droid, though.
Same story with PC's and software "service". Intel and AMD are US companies. Their manufacturing is no longer done here. This is because it's too expensive. Same thing with call centers. Are you suggesting it's because conservatives have inflated the cost of labor in the US?? #gm
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These men only respected other property owners, but made no mention of women, or slaves as equal. Don't try an tell me that all of these men were for equal rights among the indigenous tribes that populated this land before we did. They also felt that the Women were somewhat second class citizens, and did nothing to stop the importation of slaves to work for nothing, while being the property of these same property owners.
My argument about free trade is that it has been free trade on a one way street. Japan, Korea, and to some extent most of the rest of the world do not practice our form of free trade, in which we invite anyone to take advantage of our policies, without any consequence to their own trade policies.
And do not bring up the tired argument about our Founding Fathers. If you wanted a government fashioned by the founding fathers, Women still wouldn't be able to vote, we would still have slaves, 1/2% of the population would control 99% of the wealth, and almost no one (besides the descendants of the wealthy white men) would own property.
The argument of out founding fathers holds abut as much water as an almighty god who created earth in seven days. It's time to evolve. #gm
11/17/09
Britain no longer produces things because they believe in free trade? That's your response to my claiming labor is a problem? You might look into the history of labor in the UK. It's labor problems and gov't intervention/bailouts in the US times a thousand.
And who is it that has chosen "not to fight" for the US worker the way, apparently, Korea has?
Your arguments all seem to be my arguments. I.e. Look at industry in Britain. Look at industry here in any unionized sector: autos, trucks, planes, etc. Yet you draw from them completely different, and somewhat baffling, conclusions. #gm
11/17/09
The slavery issue came up many times in the first decades of the new Republic, and was put off for nearly a century to disastrous results. Some of the founding fathers, however, had strong anti-slavery sentiments. From the Revolution to the Civil War, public opinion on the slavery issue did not so much change as become entrenched, on both sides. As for women, they were enfranchised for a time in New Jersey, but very few took the opportunity, nor was there any opposition to speak of when it was taken away with a subsequent state constitution. As for the Natives, simply look at Franklin's Narrative of the Late Massacres.
I'm inclined to agree with you on the fair trade issue. We have ourselves at a disadvantage. We ought have trade restrictions simply to negate support and subsidization of foreign industry by the same foreign governments.
The principles behind the founding of this nation were quite absolute: inalienable God-given rights, sovereignty from the consent of the governed, &t. The government set up by the founding fathers was a compromise. As society has improved and gotten more used to the radical concept of liberty, the compromise has been reduced.
As for God creating the Earth, I suggest you start learning Hebrew. I cringe every time I hear "seven days". (Besides, in the very poor translation that you Christians have, it's SIX days. The seventh is the sabbath, God's gift to us, which we were kind enough to share with you. And don't you forget it!) #gm
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Nanny state policies, handouts, entitlements, strict regulations and spreading the wealth around lead to a passive society.
You have to understand that traditional values aren't all Jeebus, most are building the American Dream, not handing it out. #gm
11/18/09
@Nitrous Oxide: You bet we're pretentious. Our leaders once outvoted God in a debate over cooking apparata!
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11/17/09
we just need to move imaginary money around in markets and tweet stuff. then, buy stuff that OTHER countries make with our fake money and call it Capitalism.
do that, and America will be great again! #gm
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good for them!
in Capitalism, only a few get all the money and then we take that money and redistribute it to the rest of the people. indeed, it is Capitalism defined. #gm
11/17/09
While I am all for restoring classics in general, this is one particular vehicle that should be left to moulder slowly in neglect.
Thank goodness that most people here are sophisticated enough to laugh at such facile xenophobia. Nevertheless, there appear to be substantial numbers of commentators who are enjoying a chance to roll in such excrement and get it all over them. Which is more evidence that the dogs inhabit Jalopnik, and the cats reside at Jezebel.
Well done, Matt! This has to help your hit count! Go Go Gadget Advert Revenue! #gm
11/17/09
11/17/09
Insult. Insult. Facts would go here if there were any. Insult."
Summarized for you. #gm
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@Matt Hardigree: @Matt Hardigree: "..Also, it's not xenophobia it's extreme nationalism, there's a difference..."
Umm... wait.. you're an 'extreme nationalist'?
Doesn't it give you pause, even just a little, to consider that such was exactly the platform of Hitler's National Socialist Party? Hmm?
Doesn't matter to me in the slightest, really. I am just totally grooving on VW taking over the world. As i said it would. Much to the derision of the assembled masses here. Remember 2 years ago when I told you to buy VW stock?
Did you do it? Heh.... #gm
11/17/09
@Shuke: "..You tell him, Matt..." #gm
11/18/09
11/18/09
"..You tell 'im Matthew!!"
11/17/09
Please, don't do it again. #gm
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11/17/09
The only thing that I'd add is it's ironic that the foreign automakers who would most benefit from the disappearance of GM and Chrysler have received a fair amount of support from their governments. One could even argue that the weakness of the Big Three is partly the result of "socialism" on the part of US economic competitors such as Germany, Japan and South Korea.
In a very real sense the bailouts are helping to level the international playing field.
Not that I'm a big fan of the bailouts in principle and how they have been implemented. But I do think it very strange that conservatives go nuclear over a policy decision approved by Bush that helps protect American interests against those foreign socialist interlopers. #gm
11/16/09
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Foreign manufacturers focused on niches that the Americans abandoned, on quality and reliability, on value.
The former Axis countries benefitted in part from the war, as when they rebuilt their industries, they had advanced modern plants. They also had highly skilled and dedicated, unionized workforces.
And their governments made sure that health care and retirement was paid when it was earned, rather than leaving it to the companies to carry on their books, and plunder.
I regret the bailout, but it was necessary - even if it simply buys a few more years for these companies. I also regret that the corporate management that brought us to this point has been richly rewarded and will not suffer in the least for the damage they created and the wreckage they leave behind.
The government showed up too late, has done too little, and has demanded too little in return for the bailouts. But without the government counterweight to the irresponsibility of the corporations, things would be immensely worse right now. #gm
11/16/09
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- I believe that non college educated workers should be able to make a decent wage to support their families.
- I think there should be caps on executive compensation.
- I think that decent, affordable health care is a right, with no caps on care, and no pre-existing conditions ever.
- I believe that no one in America should go hungry.
- Having said that, there should be a choice as to whether you want growth hormones or chemicals in your food.
- I think there should be MORE regulation needed in the Banking and Brokerage sectors.
- There should be sustainable growth, and by that I mean 1 or 2%; Double Digit Growth in the worth of your home, interest bearing accounts, or stock percentages are not sustainable.
- I think there should be only a 2 term Senator, Congressman, and a one term President.
- Scrap all the free trade accords, and renegotiate them so that they are not as one sided as they seem to be today.
- Penalize any American Corporation who relocates manufacturing abroad.
Hmmmm, and that's just the beginning. #gm
11/16/09
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I could agree on renegotiating trade, but limiting trade will only hurt our companies. And ultimately it is better for the world economy (which we benefit from) to trade goods and services, not artificially restrict trade. Government should only intervene in situations that present undue risk to parties not involved, and the government should govern corporations, not turn into a corporation. But I'm a Libertarian. #gm
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- I believe that anyone who is smart enough to pass college entrance exams and have the high school grades to make it into college should have their tuition paid for. You have one chance to make it. Flunk out once and the deal is off.
- I believe that health care should be available to anyone who's a citizen of this country or that are legally here. Universal health care coverage makes fiscal sense even if the conservatives disagree.
- There should be more regulation in the financial sector. Capitalism works when it's well regulated. That doesn't mean heavily regulated. Rules make for a level playing field, meaning you know what you're getting yourself into.
- I believe that all elections should be publicly funded and soft money should be banned. It's time to end the sweetheart deals that result from corporations funding candidates.
- Campaigns should not be run no longer than 3 months.
However I don't want to get rid of the two term limit for Presidents.
May the flaming begin, lol. #gm
11/16/09
Buffet is the only honest exception. He does not use tax havens like other Forbes 400 listers. I say, once you can afford to buy every person in your state a Ferrari California 2010... Maybe you should start to give back to the system that has made you so successful.
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[www.gacollege411.org]
I feel each state should have something like this. Georgia's program is considered a huge success. Meanwhile I went to Georgia myself but my priorities were a bit screwed up. Procrastinating is fun. I ended up getting a BS degree from another institution but I'm doing well for myself. #gm
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You see, its science really. Republicans can't drive. They suck at the art, and thus, they don't like cars. They mostly drive American, so the cars they don't like are (guess what!): American. So, they hate their cars. They hate Jalopnik (a car loving website) too. If I had a dollar for every time a GMT400-era Chevy Suburban with a faded "MCCAIN * PALIN" sticker on its maroon ass, I'd have enough money to bail out GM two times over. Yeah.
Oh, and Republicans HATE kittens as well. #gm
11/16/09
11/17/09
Those are just a few examples why Ford Tempo is one of America's most appealing, and best selling, four door sedans. But don't forget about the two doors! Get ready to shift into a sportier gear, with Ford Tempo GLS. Available also as a sedan, the Tempo GLS boasts a standard High Specific Output version of the 2.3L I-4. Rated at 100HP and 135lb-ft of torque, the HSO boasts of a revised intake system as well as an HSO-specific valve cover. Hemispherical combustion chambers also contribute to the extra punch packed by the Tempo GLS. On the outside, you'll find GLS-specific five spoke alloy rims, backed by Goodyear all season tires as standard. The Tempo's proud tri-bar chrome grill is replaced with a sporting monochromatic grill, colored in either black, white, or red, depending on the color of the GLS. You'll find that the chrome trim and brushed aluminum panels standard on other Tempo models, has also been replaced by body-color specific trim. This gives the Tempo a sleek, European look. All Ford Tempos are equipped with fully independent suspension, with coil springs all around and a Macpherson strut design, backed by nitrogen gas pressurized shocks. Specific to the GLS however, is dual torsion anti-roll bars front and rear. Revised bumpers and side molding give the GLS a lowered stance, adding to its aggressive appearance. A subtle decklid spoiler is also included in two door versions of the GLS. Inside, the GLS boasts all the luxuries of Tempo LX. With standard air conditioning, seat back map pockets, three separate map lights, illuminated glove compartment and ash tray, power windows and door locks, power trunk release, locking gas filler door, four way power driver's seat and lumbar support, four way adjustable head rest, Sport Gauge Cluster with standard tachometer and trip odometer, and Ford's Premium Sound System (which includes four speakers, digital clock display, AM/FM radio, cassette player with electronic Dolby noise reduction system, and a trunk mounted amplifier), its no wonder Ford Tempo GLS has become a sensation with today's American consumer.
Pick up the Tempo of your life! Drop down to your local Ford dealer today, and tell them to bring back a worthy successor to the Ford Tempo right now damn it!
P.S. The bailouts were a bad idea, I agree. Free market is great. Now if only we had a free market. Japan can build and sell a car far cheaper in America then America's own automakers. You see, Toyota doesn't have to deal with the UAW. Or any other regulations really. #gm
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Have you driven a Ford... Lately? #gm
11/16/09
I'm not saying what is right or wrong. It just makes for entertaining/aggravating/stupefying observation. #gm
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#gm
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