Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It's always good to buy foreign made products because they are usually less expensive and it is always good to have our jobs sent to foreign countries unless it is your job being sent abroad.
I think consumers should buy the best vehicle that meets their needs and they can afford, regardless of the country of manufacture or location of headquarters.
If you do this - you are making a clear signal of what you want. The manufacturers should respond to the needs of their buyers. Rewarding a US company that made a bad product does no one any good in the long haul.
Ford didn't get bailed out. Ford managed to secure credit before the financial collapse, so were in a position to weather the storm and come out ahead. But their new product was already in development before that point.
GM also had new product in development, such as the Volt as well as a revamp of many lines (like your own Cadillac) and were becoming competitive and starting to deliver quality models that were selling well. But, due to the finacial meltdown, they were unable to secure financing (and any large business survives on financing and credit, regardless of industry). THAT'S why we bailed them out, not because we were rewarding them for bad product. Had there been no financial sector meltdown, not only would we not have a bazillion forclosed homes, we'd see GM very liklely in the same shape it is right now, as they were already moving that direction. (in no small part due to Lutz's insistence on product first).
Chrysler is another story altogether. They HAD been profitable and generating giant cash reserves, and the the Germans came in and raped them, hung them out to dry, then sold them off to a firm destined to split them up and sell them off for scrap. they didn't get bailed out so much as they got a reprieve until someone else that had money bought them.
So let's not talk about the bailouts as though it was all about making crap product and we just felt sorry for them. Foreign brands are often as much in debt to their governments for their survival, as well.
well I am thankful that Ford and GM (and eventually Chrysler) has the chance to mke some good cars again, but I still see it like posting bail for a family member that gets themself into trouble a lot. You feel an obligation to do it for the greater good, but you can't help but feel that they shouldn't have let themselves get into as much trouble as they did in the first place.
I also work in the financial industry, and feel the exact same way about the bank bailouts.
well I am thankful that Ford and GM (and eventually Chrysler) has the chance to mke some good cars again, but I still see it like posting bail for a family member that gets themself into trouble a lot. You feel an obligation to do it for the greater good, but you can't help but feel that they shouldn't have let themselves get into as much trouble as they did in the first place.
I also work in the financial industry, and feel the exact same way about the bank bailouts.
Yes, but that bank bailouts were directly due to their own problems, while the GM bailout is the result of the bank meltdown. They are not the same thing, and equating them is flawed. I agree with you about the bank bailouts, though really let's figure out the actual fallout of NOT doing it...
Then in that case, I guess the auto bailout was like posting bail for your other family member who didn't do anything, but was unlucky enough to be caught as an accomplice at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
