Comments on: Dems to Big Three: Show us a plan

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:43:19 +0000

Yes, ask for a plan. But I think you should NOT bail them out unless the plan includes:
1) No bonuses for CEOs and others
2) Cut salaries for top management, eliminate positions
3) Re-do, get rid of the nonsense contracts with the unions. No worker should make 76 dollars per hour when the company is not even profitable! And for those who were laid off: do what other companies do: 4 months severance pay and then that's it

I think letting them go bankrupt is the only way to force the unions to re-negotiate their contracts. In fact, do not hire workers that belong to unions, period.

By: annie - never again a dem.

annie - never again a dem. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:39:53 +0000

How much money does pelosi, reid have in the auto industry? No one wants the big lousy 3 bailed out. These crazy plans of the demmies is going to make me have to drive my BMW right up to the welfare line! Oh, guess that would be ok when you can fly 'private jets' to beg for millions! What are these men doing running a lg corp. they are totally ignorant. They couldn't even manage ringing a bell at a Salvation Army stand. If this is the best corp. can come up with for management then this country is in for very big trouble! Oh, that's right, some just elected a president of the country with no experience, no qualifications.

By: annie - never again a dem.

annie - never again a dem. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:33:37 +0000

Could someone please impeach pelosi?

By: happy thanksgiving

happy thanksgiving — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:31:29 +0000

NO BAILOUT!!!!!

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:26:29 +0000

By the way, how many governments around the world are being asked for money by the 3 auto makers? What is the worldwide tally of the automaker bailout?

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:26:11 +0000

I agree with Jeff's comment and would like to add: The US owned the auto industry monopoly in the 50's and 60's. During the 70's the quality declined and in the meantime Japan slowly and eventually gained their share of the auto industry and continue to do so. The US auto industry has done very little to make US cars competitive with the Japanese cars. I lived in Japan 15 years and saw imports but they weren't made in the US. They imported Mercedez Benz and BMWs. The Japanese asked the US automakers to make cars with right hand drive for Japanese drivers but they wouldn't budge. MB and BMW saw this opportunity and made right hand drives and now import to Japan. I've test drove several american made autos and will not purchase one. I continue to purchase a Japanese auto for the obvious reasons. If the US made a comparable auto I would reconsider but until then.......let them fail due to greed, lack of foresight and inability to stay competitive.

By: Desert Strom Vet

Desert Strom Vet — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:20:02 +0000

I thought this was a "Private" Industry? I thought Capitalism was sink or swim on your own. Let them go bankrupt and start over or make improvements. When the average American Democrat, Republican or whatever party makes bad decisions no one bails them out. This is getting ridiculous, not to mention scary. Scary because with bail outs comes government involvement in decisions. If it hasn't sounded like socialism prior to now it does now. Wall street, banks, auto industry what's next? Oh yeah health care.

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:19:56 +0000

I wish someone could ask Speaker of the House Ms. Pelosi or president-elect Obama to call Mr Harper our PM of the Canadian government to give him some advice. The big 3 automakers asked our government for $3B on top of the US $25B. Everyone wants to help, but it would be great for them to show the governments a plan and not be so arrogant.

By: IKE

IKE — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:15:06 +0000

They bail out AIG a company that is not as important to the county as the automobile industry, yet they will not help the back bone of the country. These people really are stupid.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:09:25 +0000

For those that commented about the big three only producing vehicles that get nominal gas milage, we have only ourselves and the EPA yes a govenrment agency to blame. Let me ask you this, if a government agency were to mandate that your product produced 30 mpg to meet federal law why would you produce a vehicle that got 50, 60 or 100 mpg only knowing that if you did that same govt agency would come back and tell you 1 yr later to do better. In my honest opinion they already have the technology for 100mpg cars but they are holding on to it so that they are not required to do any better. The EPA should remove its mandate for fuel requirements and put an incentive policy in place, yes there shold be a minimum say 30 mpg but if they meet that for every mpg above they should get a tax credit, this would further develpoment and give them a reason to produce fuel efficient vehicles. Right now they have no incentive to go above and beyond and if they do they risk the standard being raised and being penilized if they cant meet it. Simple business sense to me.

By: mitch

mitch — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:06:58 +0000

in other words. stick it! the whole dern country can fight over beans this winter.

By: Lissa

Lissa — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:06:34 +0000

No Bailout!!!!

Write to your Senators......

Natural consequences need to occur.

By: voter

voter — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:03:02 +0000

funny how the dems did not ask wall street for a plan prior to the bailout. Why does wall street get bailout and not the Big 3 which is so important to providing jobs to main street?

By: Marty

Marty — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:58:40 +0000

The big three have been fat cats long enough! Yes they shuld be
able to borrow-the money and pay intrest just like we do.I worked
for Gm 18 years in Managment-Was sold to Delco Remy–Delco
Remy went out of business in 2002-They went has Remy.Still
owned by Gm -all of our business went to Mexico-before we shut
the plant down mexico was making parts for us! They brought
these parts to our parts. They came in the door we hired man
power to sort parts-so Gm was still paying mexico $6.50 a person
plus the shipping and man power charged $8.00 a hr.-so we were
around $16.00 a hour.we lost all our jobs.Top managers have a
mental block It there way or the highway.!!!!!
They should shut all there plants down in mexico-Fat cats should
have to work for $1.00 a year untill these chrises is over or resigned!!
I was able to retire in 2002-30 years- went i reached 65 years old
my health insurance was canceled. When i recieved my notice i
was told there was nothing I could do. Well there was i purchased
a new JEEP ! THIS IS AMERICA!! The UAW needs to make alliance
also-Gm -Chrysler-Ford are big spender and Wasteful .

By: seattle

seattle — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:54:28 +0000

no dont give them any money.let this corportate richy ppl die.

By: Milhouse van Houten

Milhouse van Houten — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:53:53 +0000

Whose next?Starbucks,the Gap,Burger King?When it all comes tumbling down due to the greed of unfettered capitalism,nobody is going to have any"spare change"to keep any of these corporate
entities afloat.

By: muha

muha — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:52:49 +0000

give them the money!!!

By: caribbean admirer of OBAMA

caribbean admirer of OBAMA — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:50:30 +0000

This is the way the big guys want to put PE Obama under pressure for them to receive the same treatment as the financial institutions on the Wallstreet. I only can advise the PE and also the housespeaker Pelosi to not fall for this because you will create a chaos in the US.

By: C

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:48:18 +0000

HEY, DIDN'T THE BUSH CROOKS TAKE $700 BILLION SO THAT BANKS COULD LEND MONEY! WHY THE HECK ARE THE AUTO MAKERS COMING TO US... DO WE LOOK LIKE THE ONLY SUCKERS THAT WILL LEND IT TO THEM! GO ASK THE 100 AND SOMETHING BANKS THAT HAVE BEEN ENJOYING OUR $700 BILLION WHILE THE AVERAGE JOE STILL CAN'T BORROW A DIME!!!

By: suzanne

suzanne — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:47:49 +0000

I have an idea. Why not give every family a $20,000 tax credit to buy an American car and then freeze the price of those cars so that the Big Three can't raise the price. Then everyone will be happy.

By: HouseDiva

HouseDiva — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:42:48 +0000

Rob

it's people like you who give credence that republicans are ignorant racist.

forget the reeducation....you need to get an education first

By: Christina L.

Christina L. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:41:50 +0000

Okay, it looks like Rob and many others contributing here need a quick dictionary and history lesson. Mussolini, Franco and Hitler were FASCIST regimes, not SOCIALIST regimes! Do you know what far wing of our party system fascism is located? THE RIGHT WING! Yes, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! So quit remarking that Obama is a fascist when Sean Hannity is closer to the truth.

By: Helen, VT

Helen, VT — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:39:46 +0000

I am so happy with the republicans. It is because of their opposition today the bailout plan did not go through. I wonder what will happen when Democrats will have super-majority from next year. It is very much scary. I am sure tax payers who voted for Obama will learn a un-forgettable lesson. I wonder what media like MSNBC, CNN, ABC , CBS would like to say then.

By: HouseDiva

HouseDiva — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:37:30 +0000

ANN

let the investors bail them out then.

millions of people are already losing their jobs...what makes the auto workers jobs more special????

let them suffer with the rest of us who cant find work.

to hell with the big "3"

By: Griff

Griff — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:37:16 +0000

Business is a Gamble!... America is in Trouble... Pelosi????
School Teacher????

By: Charles from Atlanta

Charles from Atlanta — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:34:11 +0000

Well. Good solution takes time. Has anybody know the whole picture of bailout/no-baiout? So the congress is doing the right thing, let the borrowers present their feasible plan and congress can vote on that.

By: They Don't Know Anything

They Don't Know Anything — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:33:20 +0000

This is NOT A PLAN!~
This is plain stupid!
At least be truthful and tell the american public what the real intent is here is to protect the unions. it is bad business to lend them more money as they will be back for more, let them go bankrupt it gets them out of the money they owe AND the union contracts for high wages. they pay 73 per hour compared to hondas 43.
Let them go back to the drawing board and change their company that is really worth something instead of feeding this dead horse!

By: hm

hm — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:32:18 +0000

So let get this staight, Congress gives AIG 700. billion but questions a 25. billion for the American auto industry which produces jobs for fellow Americans and then Palosi comes out saying they will do this after the Thanksging week break that the congress gets. Well I hope that Barney Frank and Ms. Palosi thinks about how wonderful there high and mighty holliday is, while 90% of Americans can;t buy a turkey to have a meal and has to explain why Santa is not coming this year. I think it is time to get rid of the congess and their pretend concerns for the American people and give the power back to the American citizens. I hope this will haunt then as the look around the table and maybe the will get food poisening.

By: Rob in Detroit

Rob in Detroit — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:25:03 +0000

If the Big three want any money then get bit from one of the country's that they have shipped American Job's to No bail out for the big three.
Ford can get money from selling the Lions GM needs to file Chapter 11,

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:22:25 +0000

It's astounding to see that people are still defending GM and their vehicles, which have been nothing but severe disappointments for the past two decades. There is nothing GM and the other domestic automakers have done to become even remotely competitive with the best foreign automakers. To blame their impending bankruptcy on the credit crisis is ludicrous at best; their cars are ridiculed overseas for being inefficient, poorly manufactured, and completely bland. To point out that they have offered ideas on how to become more competitive is too little, too late. They were shortsighted in their goals when fuel was cheap, and did whatever they could to profit from it, they should be given nothing. Yes, many people will lose their jobs if they went bankrupt, but to allow them to tap into the bailout cash would only delay the inevitable, and exacerbate their situation even further. Let them crash now, and they can sooner turn the page on this ugly chapter and start again from scratch.

By: tyler (portland, OR)

tyler (portland, OR) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:20:25 +0000

Everyone bashes Pelosi and Reid but I am very proud of them for not handing over the cash and asking for a well thought plan.

I can already see things are going to be much better.

Its been a really long time since i could say this....

I AM EXCITED AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT AMERICA'S FUTURE!!!!!!

good work you guys

By: Diane Dagenais Turbide

Diane Dagenais Turbide — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:17:39 +0000

"Until they show us a plan we cannot show them the money."

GOOD PLAN!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:17:07 +0000

Bring back the EV1, then we'll talk

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:13:52 +0000

Rob translated means "Pig"

By: Gene

Gene — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:13:04 +0000

Thank you for your intelligent and meaningful comment Fred. Good to see great conservative minds at work here.

By: Willy Brown

Willy Brown — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:12:28 +0000

A true picture of socialism

By: ex employee

ex employee — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:08:07 +0000

Oh, and Dave from central Illinois: I live in Illinois and I am ashamed of you. Thankfully, brains won out and it will be Obama that cleans up this mess. The world, and most of us in the US that actually review facts and not Fox Dribble, took a collective "phew" once Obama won. Go back to your farm or homeschooling your children and leave the grown ups to discuss the issues.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:07:12 +0000

They need to get rid of the labor unions so they can make more rapid changes to their business structure.

By: Robert, Houston, TX

Robert, Houston, TX — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:04:20 +0000

These are supposed to be highly educated very well paid CEOs. They need to present a business plan that works! They are being paid to lead these companies. Instead they make millions burying it in the ground.

By: christy

christy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:03:57 +0000

People forget that GM was the number one car company in the world until the credit crisis hit, and they still top Toyota here at home. People don't know that no one at GM is getting a raise and some executives have already elected to take a paycut. People ignore the fact that the company has shed almost half itself while improving quality and delivering winners. They belittle the progress made in the Malibu, G8, Aura, Traverse, and the list goes on. This is an issue about credit. If the credit markets were healthy they could find loans in the market but they can't. That's why they won't survive bankruptcy. I've been there for 5 months now, and I think it's sad how people can demonize their neighbors in need. In 2010 there's the Volt, the Cruze, and soon the Camaro. These loans will ensure those cars make it to market, and I'm sure GM will honor it's debt to the American people.

By: Timothy

Timothy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:03:52 +0000

Let them go under or be bought up by more productive competitors.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:03:35 +0000

If, the Big Three want a Bail out then they should get the money from Canada, or Mexico or any of the third world country's were they have shipped American JoB's to.

By: Matt R.

Matt R. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:26 +0000

Wow Rob... a little RACIST don't you think? I thought we were living in a country where people with computers are educated enough to be on at least a high school level... guess not.

Anyways, I'm not a Democrat, I just had to write something about Rob's obnoxious comment, the election is over bud, now go join back up with the other white supremacists lurking in your small unknown town.

The real comment I want to make is: I am so sick of seeing these Democrats get up here and pretend like they are taking care of business. How hard is it to just say NO every once and a while? Bailouts for Democrat-controlled government is like crack/cocaine for a street junkie. Maybe we should make a federal program: BARE, Bailout Abuse Resistance Education... seriously, it's a necessity in my eyes.

By: happy thanksgiving

happy thanksgiving — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:59:13 +0000

they are asking for billions not millions. i say NO BAILOUT.

By: Snake eyes

Snake eyes — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:57:54 +0000

thats about the smartest thing that has come from this issue. I've been skeptical bc there have been no details, if they can show they have a plan then it will be easier to see how the money can be wisely spent, but with no plan who knows where the cash will go. Show me executive bonus cancellations, upper management reductions, prototypes for cars people actually want, then we can talk.

i know lots of jobs are on the line here but the suits need to know they must be willing to take some cuts too.

By: Arvidel

Arvidel — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:56:14 +0000

If the US automakers would commit to working with energy companies to develop more hybrid and electric vehicles, I would support bailing them out. As it is now, I see the automakers as being in the pocket of big oil by making cars that are far from fuel efficient. I see a trend in America towards clean, renewable energy, and today's automakers are stuck in the past.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:54:10 +0000

Here we go! The Dems in Congress getting ready to hand all of our hard earned money out. Why? So they can control the auto industry. Why are they asking the auto companies for a "plan" while they blindly hand money over to our financial institutions that started all this? Absolutely ridiculous leadership.

By: recycle washington

recycle washington — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:51:53 +0000

----my dad is losing his job....who's gonna bail him out ?
he works for a phone company.............

By: Eric - Detroit

Eric - Detroit — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:51:39 +0000

It's funny to hear folks talking down on unions. Do you people realize what a union represents, how it empowers and protects the workers?

If you don't understand, then just spend a little time in the military and/or at a crummie business where the leadership pushes their workers into the ground.

In other words, educate yourselfs, or at least have some real life experiences before commenting about something you obviously don't understand.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:51:27 +0000

When they cut expenses they won't need a bail out. The UAW is extorting wages from all of us. $76.00 an hour is rediculious. It is no wonder the cars cost what they do? I watched a guy hit a bumper into place, for that kind of wages? They also pay employees 96% of that $76.00 to set at home if they are laid off? I say, cut the wages in half from the bottom up....