Should the government bail-out include domestic automakers?

[Lenny]

Hey, the government is the answer for every problem you have. Didn`t you know that? Well, time to get with it friend, cause we`re all going socialist just as soon as possible. See, it takes something called personal responsiblity, and the belief that we`re a great nation because of the people not the government and those are two things not even considered these days. Read a little history, did the feds bail out San Francisco after the earthquake that leveled the place back 100 years ago? Hell no, or Chicago after the fire - nope. See back then, we weren`t a nation in want of assisted living. Ya`ll may think ol JB is going to get political - but I`m not, we`re in the mess we`re in because of too much government - from both parties. Don`t ya`ll get it? Just like the labor unions got those great pension plans and perks - worked good till the cash cow starved didn`t it - so too will Social Security end up sucking wind if something isn`t done. When you have a government that stays in power by buying the votes of the dumb masses at the expense of business and free enterprise - you`re doomed to end up like other socialist countries that consider our poverty level as their middle class.



Len - I feel for you, if I lost my job, I`d be pretty pissed off, but I would go out and get something even if it was at Wal Mart or changing oil at the Jiffy Lube. But that`s just me, I got it from my Dad, he retired from the Traveler`s, then worked 6 days a week at a local hardware store for a few years then worked 4-5 days a week at a liquor store before finally calling it quits at the tender age of 75.



The automakers don`t need a bail-out or a loan, they and other corporations need to have government off their backs and out of their business. I wish somebody could show me just where in the US Constitution - the government has the right to tell you how to run your business. Ya`ll we need to realize this even though we`re heading up sh!t creek with no paddles.

I spent two hours at the closest shopping mall to my home, just to apply for Christmas shopping help. Macy`s, Penney`s Sears, Radio Shack. Zip calls. Nada. And I was in line filling out applications with an experienced, degreed chemical engineer.



I`m going to try and avoid both anger and sarcasm, but it gets a bit hard when people assume that because you didn`t find something, that you aren`t considering everything. It`s a real bad assumption. I`ve tried EVERYTHING. Managers at three Home Depots, whom I`ve applied at least five times with, told me that locally in the Detroit area, they`re getting 700 applications for every opening. Lowe`s told me 500. Those numbers are exactly what the stores told me. And the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. That`s how high unemployment is in Michigan - over 9% according to the U.S. Department of Labor. 9.3% to be exact. That`s almost one of every ten people. Do you read that?



My consulting I`ve done on the side completely dried up. Graphic Design/Desktop Publishing/Web Site development - history. Detailing - lost those customers to. About 120 houses in my subdivision - all custom built, no spec homes, from 1996 to 1998, $190,000 to $215,000 range. Six foreclosed on in the last ten months, and the homeowners association just raised our annual dues. My $212,500 brick ranch, moved in ten years ago with a 20% down, 30 year fixed rate mortgage - worth today, because of the foreclosed homes, $165,000.



So please, don`t tell me about taking a job at Wal Mart or Jiffy Lube. There aren`t any, and when they see my twenty-five year professional background, they tell me "no way, `cause you`ll leave if something better comes along." And now my wife`s paralegal job is threatened.

[dave40co]

The silence from the White House is deafening.

He does realize he`s still President until next year right?

Your next President is also silent on this.



ABQjournal News: The Associated Press



Yes, lets blame this on Bush, just like global warming and hurricanes and any thing else you morons can say he did. The economy goes up and down in cycles. You can`t throw good money at a bad economy. Let the fail safe things that are in place handle the economy. Bankruptcy is not a good thing but it has worked for many companies.



Just a thought, is the change we need, that Obama wanted, include hiring all of the Clinton people to head up his administration? I guess the messiah that walked on water really doesn`t have any new ideas. I can`t wait for my free health care!



The typical Obama voter.



How Obama Got Elected



The liberal news media elected him and I think he is going to to ask the same question Robert Redford said in the movie "The Candidate." "What do we do now?"

[III]

Newsmax.com – Ten Reasons Why the Auto Bailout Is a Bad Idea



Auto Bailout Ignores Excessive Labor Costs

[III]

How Obama Got Elected



The liberal news media elected him.....

I`m not suprised by those poll results one bit. That poll showed what we knew all along. (the media refused to do their job) You`re exactly right about the media.

[imported_Yal]

Your next President is also silent on this.



ABQjournal News: The Associated Press



Yes, lets blame this on Bush, just like global warming and hurricanes and any thing else you morons can say he did. The economy goes up and down in cycles. You can`t throw good money at a bad economy. Let the fail safe things that are in place handle the economy. Bankruptcy is not a good thing but it has worked for many companies.



Just a thought, is the change we need, that Obama wanted, include hiring all of the Clinton people to head up his administration? I guess the messiah that walked on water really doesn`t have any new ideas. I can`t wait for my free health care!



The typical Obama voter.



How Obama Got Elected



The liberal news media elected him and I think he is going to to ask the same question Robert Redford said in the movie "The Candidate." "What do we do now?"

Isn`t Obama the president-elect? I really don`t give a damn who is in the white house. But who ever is in there should say or do something. Obama has no presidential power yet so for me he is a non-factor so far. That`ll probably change in January. Until then shouldn`t the guy thats in there now take action? Please take you partisan Obama hating blah blah to the Obama/McCain thread. Cheers

[Bunky]

Steve Forbes called Paulsen “the worst treasury secretary we’ve had in modern times�. I wonder why..he came from Wall Street.



I wish we could move up the inauguration...there seems to be no one really home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. At a time like this, lame duck is not what we need for Christmas.

[Lenny]

Steve Forbes called Paulsen “the worst treasury secretary we’ve had in modern times�. I wonder why..he came from Wall Street.



I wish we could move up the inauguration...there seems to be no one really home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. At a time like this, lame duck is not what we need for Christmas.

Pretty much what THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN @ The New York Times said yesterday:



http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/op...3friedman.html

[dave40co]

Isn`t Obama the president-elect? I really don`t give a damn who is in the white house. But who ever is in there should say or do something. Obama has no presidential power yet so for me he is a non-factor so far. That`ll probably change in January. Until then shouldn`t the guy thats in there now take action? Please take you partisan Obama hating blah blah to the Obama/McCain thread. Cheers

He is the President-elect. But he is not in favor of a bail-out either. I was just responding to your post with this. Neither one is in favor of this and if that offends you, so be it! If it hurt your sensitivities, then I am sorry! Just trying to point out some facts my friend.

[Lenny]

Bailing out Wall Street financial firms vs. Loan guarantees for the Big Three:



White collar vs. blue collar



When comparing the bailout for financial institutions to the bridge loans for the domestic auto industry, Steelworker President Leo Gerard made this comment:



"The people who take a shower before they go to work get bailed out. The people who must take a shower after work get thrown out."



Nice truthful quote!!

[Junebug]

Len, maybe you should consider moving. I`ve got friends in Michigan and they all say it pretty much sucks up there. Did you ever think about it, cut your losses, quit waiting around for the guv-ment .I worked in a machine shop years ago and it was full of out of work guys from Michigan. They were good machinists when they wanted to be. But the problem was (is) that union mental illness they brought with them. I moved on to another job and after a few years - the one plant in the area, maybe the state that had a union was closed. Does that tell you anything? My Dad was born in 1909, he lived through the Great Depression and joined the Marines at the age of 32 to go fight in WWII, he made it home with a shatterd left hand that was only partly functioning and that 1000 yard stare that was kinda creepy at times. But he wasn`t one to sit and let the ship go down with him in it. He told me he lived out of hotels rooms from Florida to New York for years before he found a job that he liked. He was almost 50 when I was born and had settled down with a good job. He lived to almost see his 93 birthday before pancreatic cancer took him. He was a fighter till the end. I share this with you and everybody else with time to read it in hopes that it will inspire you and others. Times have been worse, and people have had far greater hardships.

[Lenny]

Len, maybe you should consider moving. I`ve got friends in Michigan and they all say it pretty much sucks up there. Did you ever think about it, cut your losses, quit waiting around for the guv-ment .I worked in a machine shop years ago and it was full of out of work guys from Michigan. They were good machinists when they wanted to be. But the problem was (is) that union mental illness they brought with them. I moved on to another job and after a few years - the one plant in the area, maybe the state that had a union was closed. Does that tell you anything? My Dad was born in 1909, he lived through the Great Depression and joined the Marines at the age of 32 to go fight in WWII, he made it home with a shattered left hand that was only partly functioning and that 1000 yard stare that was kinda creepy at times. But he wasn`t one to sit and let the ship go down with him in it. He told me he lived out of hotels rooms from Florida to New York for years before he found a job that he liked. He was almost 50 when I was born and had settled down with a good job. He lived to almost see his 93 birthday before pancreatic cancer took him. He was a fighter till the end. I share this with you and everybody else with time to read it in hopes that it will inspire you and others. Times have been worse, and people have had far greater hardships.

Ya think I should consider moving?? Really? Ya think!!



Problem is, like I previously posted, we`re not just talking about cutting losses. If I could sell this house tomorrow, I`d break even - if the city would sign off on the occupancy permit. They won`t. All our homes in this subdivision are like 99% of any new construction in Michigan - they have basements with sump pumps. If those basements and the rest of the foundation settle and crack, and it shows any moisture, you have to bring in a basement waterproofing contractor like Insta-Dry Basements to correct it to prevent mold problems, or the city won`t approve the occupancy permits. And all the municipalities have dug their heels in on this.



Long story short - we have to spend money we won`t get back in the sale. We actually will lose money to move away, and we`re not flush with cash.



Let even one of the Big Three file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and property values tank even further.



Your Dad was one tough customer. I`m certain, from your post, that you`re proud of him. That 1000 yard stare of his - that`s combat. `Nuff said.



My wife & I have had it with this area. Believe me, all we want to do is survive long enough to bail out of this. In the meantime, I want these Three Stooges to survive, so they don`t cost me any more money than their problems have, not that all of their problems are all their fault. Just many of them.

[BigAl3]

in anycase Len A, i hope things get better for you and the family over time...

[Lenny]

in anycase Len A, i hope things get better for you and the family over time...

Me too! Thanks!! Much appreciated.

[Junebug]

Damn - is there anything you could do to that basement to get it to pass, I mean is there anything that can be done on the cheap? Most houses down here don`t have basements unless it`s one with a side open, like on a hill. Maybe one of those companies that do this work could give you a break, maybe they`re hurting for biz too. I don`t know, just thinking out loud. I really feel for you, I hope that you get that house sold and move to a better place. NC was full of opportunity - but the word got out and we`re experiencing some surplus of workers now. My company is so diversified that all we have is a hiring freeze and no raises this year, but I`m not complaining. I have 25+ years, but no degree -I had two years of general college and I quit to start working, and worked my way slowly up to a sales job. But, if i can make it 10 more, I`m out of here.



Take care Len. I wish you and your family the best.



JB

[Lumadar]

in anycase Len A, i hope things get better for you and the family over time...

Agreed. I hope you come through ok Len.



All I want and hope for is what is best for the nation as a whole, and all the honest hard workers out there.