For starters- we do need to take this off-line. Tom is already crying about what I said and obviously did not read my final statement or offer to open a discussion off line. Secondly, thank you for responding in such a professional manner and see my other message for my response off-line.
Brice -----Original Message----- From: Patrick Austin [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, January 24, 2000 4:56 PM To: Osborne, Brice D, GRWMK Cc: 16v List Subject: RE: A2_16v V1 #1597 What would you propose doing about unions, then? I'm interested, since you obviously have pretty strong opinions. Do you KNOW what things were like before unionization during the industrial revolution? Do you know what sort of things are going on in non-unionized locations throughout the world? In this country? Do you think that any corporation or government (foreign or domestic) gives a damn about factory workers? If you know how we can get rid of unions and keep our labor force safe, then by all means enlighten me. Corporations are large concentrations of power; what do you suppose should offset that, especially in a time when we're seeing less and less government intervention? I hear a lot of shit being talked about unions, and a lot of whiners complaining that they're out of control, but I've yet to hear someone come up with a solution that doesn't involve screwing over a very large portion of our society. I'm perfectly happy discussing this matter all day. >one with a shite car built around it. The Viper is not even anything >remarkable in engineering, it is merely a big ass engine in a light chassis. Good engineering is getting the job done using the simplest solution possible. The Viper did that. It helped save the company, it's kicking some serious ass in international road racing competitions, and it'll lap a track faster than a ferrari 360 Modena AND get way more attention on the street; all for WAY less $$$ than the competition. Gee, yeah, that's not good engineering. Yeah, it's not elegant and beutiful and most of us wouldn't want to drive one every day, and its a rattle trap, but it's EFFECTIVE. >You think a C5 or Camaro ASS ASS could keep up with me on this road? You >better bring your lunch. The wheel base is too long and they are too prone >to oversteer (no room for that on this road) Straight line? You would say >Buh bye. Curves? Uh uh, ain't gonna happen. How do you know he was trying? If it's that windy you probably couldn't even see him. I know what I read from magazines and see on the streets and tracks around here; and I have a hard time believing that a new C5 would struggle with any of our cars unless the road was just too narrow for a corvette to pass along. :) >Please, no one take any of this personally, but I have a lot of pent up >anger towards Detroit and what life is like there and after growing up a >starry eyed car nut and then seeing the realities of the industry, well >let's just say that my bubble got busted. I have no doubt that the industry sucks. All I've seen and heard about would lead me to believe that. However, the same UAW that seems to be killing GM seems to be keeping Ford and DaimlerChrysler afloat. Why is that? I don't know more than about four or five people who've worked for the big three, so I really am interested in your perspective. What I've _heard_ is mainly a tale of crappy product planning and out of control management, not of bad engineers. GM is one of the biggest companies in the world and what I've heard is that they have a tremendous well of untapped talent. ************** Patrick Austin [email protected] (617)493-6636 **************
