It is a tragedy that GM Ford and Chrysler can't compete. The unions need to take a significant portion of the blame, as they have prevented the American auto industry from being competitive. I agree that its too late for the big 3 to ever return to their previous status. I don't know about the future of this country...
Hopefully there are a few promising start ups in the alternative energy vehicles -- Tesla, Fisker, Deka and others -- that may actually succeed with a new mainstream product. However, the window of opportunity is small as the Asian car manufacturers will quickly fill the void. KEN On Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 2:18 PM, Mark Cookson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > You've got a bigger spread for diesel than we have here in MN. > Americans do seem to have a short memory, and a short term focus, which I > think explains how we got here in the first place. If only Wall Street > rewarded companies that have a viable 10 year plan instead of a good 3 month > plan, I think the world would be a very different place. > I think at this point, it appears too late for GM, Ford, and Chrysler. A > (Socialist) bailout might keep them afloat for a while, but it won't fix the > fundamental problems they have or are facing, and letting them go > Chapter-11, while the Capitalist thing to do, is likely to leave things > totally destroyed for years to come. Without a large competitor that's > willing to buy up the pieces, it seems like millions of people are just > hosed. They're not the kind of companies that can be "employee owned and > operated". I can't see Toyota, Honda, BMW, or Mercedes deciding that they > want to buy up any part of GM, Ford, or Chrysler, and who can blame them? > Did the unions asking for too much in the good times, and management unable > or unwilling to plan for the long term because of Wall Street expecting > instant growth, coupled with a credit bubble popping leave them in a > position where they're unable to recover? > Mark > > On Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 11:06 AM, Ken Bogart <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> Todays price for Unleaded gas was $1.69. Diesel was $3.49. (local >> Mobile station) >> >> I know the diesel price is artifically inflated, but I don't >> understand it. There is no valid reason other than "everyone else is >> charging more". >> >> While I am happy that the price of gas has dropped, I am afraid that >> Americans have a short memory. We finally got shocked into thinking >> about fuel economy again, but that will fade out fast with the return >> to these low prices. Perhaps this will help GM and Ford with SUV >> sales... >> >> KEN > > _______________________________________________ > Miatapower mailing list > [email protected] > http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower > > _______________________________________________ Miatapower mailing list [email protected] http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower
