GM's Wagoner Asked to Step Aside

[LeBuick]

I think this is scapegoating. Investing in hybrids wouldn't have changed what has happened.

True, but hybrids would help them meet the government emission etc.. standards.

Of course. Two words: CUT SPENDING. The problem isn't that the government doesn't have enough money. They have as much as they have ever had. The problem is that there is no spending control.

When my Dad was a boy, he and my grandma could go get breakfast with a quarter. Try that today. I agree spending will eventually need to be cut, I just don't think this minute is the time to cut it. We'll have time to reel in the deficit once this crises is over.

That would certainly be a step in the right direction. This bad leadership has to stop. There is no excuse for this.

I disagree, I think we finally have a leader who is out front leading. In less than three months he has passed major legislation, put out an outstanding and well received plan for the wars he inherited and is currently meeting with foreign leaders to discuss the global economy. He's accomplished more in 3 months than some presidents accomplish their entire administration.

 

[LeBuick]

Then there are others that will justify every action he takes, no matter what it does to our country. (you got a mirror handy, LeBuick?)

What about raising taxes on the rich is so bad for the country? I don't see this nation coming to an end because the rich has to pay another 3 or 4% on taxes. They've paid waaaay more than that in the past and we survived.

 

[rbell]

True, but hybrids would help them meet the government emission etc.. standards.

When gas was $1.50 a gallon (pre-spike), few were buying hybrids. The demands of the market...and a substandard product...led to the problems. All regulation did was hasten the demise.

I disagree, I think we finally have a leader who is out front leading. In less than three months he has passed major legislation, put out an outstanding and well received plan for the wars he inherited and is currently meeting with foreign leaders to discuss the global economy. He's accomplished more in 3 months than some presidents accomplish their entire administration.

Translation: It doesn't matter how monumentally stupid his actions are...as long as he's doing something.

Example: "Quick! My house is on fire! Someone go and stop my mail at the post office!"

 

[swaimj]

Ultimately, GM has to declare bankruptcy. Here is why: 18 months ago, the selling rate for automobiles in the US for all manufacturers was 17 million cars +. In the last three months, the selling rate has been under 9 million. When a market drops that quickly and by such a large percentage, the largest participants in the market are the ones who get hurt most because it is impossible for them, because of their size, to cut their production, their workforce, their overhead, etc. quickly enough to adjust to the change in the market. No product line-up, whether it was hybrids, gas guzzlers, or whatever else would have changed the reality for GM. They had to cut production beyond what they were contractually able to do. If the government would have gone ahead and let them and Chrysler declare bankruptcy, the viable parts of the companies would have been sold and would have re-emerged as smaller, stronger companies, while the non-viable parts would have been liquidated. This is what will ultimately happen anyway. Our politicians, in their wisdom, have to waste billions to try to stop the inevitable before the inevitable happens.

 

[Revmitchell]

What about raising taxes on the rich is so bad for the country? I don't see this nation coming to an end because the rich has to pay another 3 or 4% on taxes. They've paid waaaay more than that in the past and we survived.

I find it hard to believe you believe this. Everyone will be paying more through energy costs, taxes ie charity donations will be less tax deductible. Why should the rich pay a higher percentage? They already pay more than anyone else. And when all this fails to pay off the deficit the tax thresh hold will be lowered and or back doored so as not to call it a tax hike.

 

[windcatcher]

Ultimately, GM has to declare bankruptcy. Here is why: 18 months ago, the selling rate for automobiles in the US for all manufacturers was 17 million cars +. In the last three months, the selling rate has been under 9 million. When a market drops that quickly and by such a large percentage, the largest participants in the market are the ones who get hurt most because it is impossible for them, because of their size, to cut their production, their workforce, their overhead, etc. quickly enough to adjust to the change in the market. No product line-up, whether it was hybrids, gas guzzlers, or whatever else would have changed the reality for GM. They had to cut production beyond what they were contractually able to do. If the government would have gone ahead and let them and Chrysler declare bankruptcy, the viable parts of the companies would have been sold and would have re-emerged as smaller, stronger companies, while the non-viable parts would have been liquidated. This is what will ultimately happen anyway. Our politicians, in their wisdom, have to waste billions to try to stop the inevitable before the inevitable happens.

Ah........ you're just making too much sense!:thumbs:

 

[just-want-peace]

When your credit cards are maxed out, the stupidest "cure" is to apply for another card and borrow on it to pay the others.

Just how long do you think it will take for the chickens to come home to roost with this ploy?

Yet this is exactly what all this "bailout", "stimulus", etc is doing.

Either we get some common sense back in the government real soon, or Haiti is gonna look like paradise!

Pessimistic??? Darn right I'm pessimistic! What with Ted Mack's "Amateur Hour" being played live in the White House, what do you expect??

 

[LeBuick]

taxes ie charity donations will be less tax deductible.

Only for those making more than $250K

Why should the rich pay a higher percentage?

They will still be paying less than you and I. Why is their donated dollar worth more than ours?

They already pay more than anyone else. And when all this fails to pay off the deficit the tax thresh hold will be lowered and or back doored so as not to call it a tax hike.

We fully expect taxes to go up once this storm has passed. That has never been a secret from where I sit. The hope is more American's will be working which means more taxes can be paid which means we can work on our deficit.