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posts about #garyackerman more → Congressman Urges Automaker CEOs To "Jetpool" When Heading To DC Begging For Money
Detroit, 11:20 AM
Sat Nov 14
25 posts in the last 24 hours
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Congressman Urges Automaker CEOs To "Jetpool" When Heading To DC Begging For Money |
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11/20/08
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11/19/08
There is no way these earnings can be justified, and the only way to limit them is by imposing a law. It's what the world needs right now.
11/19/08
Amusingly, there's a moron on right now talking about _something_ (irrelevant) who just said, and I quote, "It's like 'Ghostbusters'; Where you gonna go?"
Yeah, these people are extraordinarily out of touch.
Back to the automakers: News Hour showed bits of an interview with Wagoner as well, and asked him pointedly how they were planning to cut costs. Now, I'm normally a pretty smart guy, but I've had about 3 beers so far tonight; thusly, my intelligence is probably about on par with the average American's. And I found myself thinking "You know, if these guys had all piled into a Sebring/Cobalt/Fusion, drove down to D.C. in jeans and polo shirts, and offered to take $1/year salaries like Iacocca did back in the 80's, you know, I might just feel compelled to hear their story." But no, fancy-pants Wagoner in his 4-figure suit, flown down on a private jet, tin cup in hand- it just doesn't sit well with me. I know all the old arguments about sunk costs, CEO time being valuable, yadda yadda yadda. But in the end, a lot does really come down to perception.
Interestingly, the most convincing argument in support of the "bridge loan", in my mind anyway, is the national security concern. The Big Three represent a huge manufacturing base not just for consumer goods, but also for things like HumVees and other stuff that might be important if we ever find ourselves in another scuffle. You can't have a decent military, IMHO, if you can't make your own freaking tanks. How embarrassing would it be for US troops to show up in Afghanistan riding on tanks bearing the label "Made in France"? Not to mention, the first time we try to fire a shell out of one, more likely than not the ashtray door will flip open. ;-)
Note: I'm not a neo-con, I don't favor warfare except when absolutely necessary. But sometimes, as history has shown, it is.
11/19/08
11/19/08
To my original point, which may have been lost in my verbosity, Iacocca showed he clearly cared about making cars, about the US, and about Chrysler, when he secured their loans back in the 80's. I just don't see that sort of passion, espirit de corps, if you will, in the current crop of automaker CEOs.
11/19/08
Chop 'em up! The Big Three have been poorly managed for years now, time to let them know that the American taxpayers aren't going to bail their stupid mistakes out without HUGE concessions. (That means you, UAW)
11/19/08
They won't question your transportation choices then!
11/19/08
[www.govtrack.us]
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