Delphi Bankruptcy

[Mark #28455]

look at the cars they drive

I thought it was quite telling in the mid 1980's when one magazine printed a photo of a large american auto manufacurer's parking lot and it was full of Toyotas and Hondas!

The average American has NO LOYALTY and now it's coming around to bite us all in the butt! It doesn't just end there, every time you turn around, some jerk is trying to sue you or rip you off too.

When times were good, it didn't matter much, but now that we have a tighter profit margin, it's KILLING us all.

For me as an OB/GYN in Florida, malpractice insurance costs $75,000 to $150,000 a year for $250,000 coverage (I have a perfect record too) and the amount I get paid barely covers the insurance and office staff bills. How long do you think I'm going to keep delivering babies, yet when I quit (as over 1/3rd already have) they'll all wonder why. This all has to change before the entire country goes down the toilet but do you really think it will?

Mark

[Paul B.]

Corvettes to be built in China...

...in a couple decades doesn't seem that far fetched now.

[Reba Whittington]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

For years I have refused to buy any automobile but one built in America, and I am now paying the price in gas consumption. A leading line of ladies' clothing that I had always patronized is now made in Vietnam if you can believe that.

As for boycotting Wal-Mart, that is impossible in our small town. Their prices and inventory have driven all the smaller local stores to close. If it were not for Wal-Mart, we would have no place to shop.

Listen to the lyrics of Alan Jackson's "Little Man."

[Joe L.]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

Reba-----

You need to take a closer look at the "foreign" brands and models. Many of them have more American-made content than the US brands and models.

Plus, the cars, themselves, are often assembled in the US whereas the US brands may not be. For example, virtually all of the Toyota Corrollas, Camrys and Toyota Tacomas sold in the US are assembled in the US and most of the components are US-manufactured. Virtually all of the Honda Accords and Civics sold in the US are assembled in the US, including most of the components. Soon, many Hyundis will be manufactured in the US, too.

However, Chevrolet Impalas, Monte Carlos, Buick LaCrosses, and Pontiac Grand Prixs are assembled in Canada. Ford Crown Victorias (right now used for the vast majority of police cars in the US) are also made in Canada. Yes, but pretty soon a lot of these police cars might become Dodge Chargers or Dodge Magnums, right!? Sorry, those are assembled in Canada, too, as is the Chrysler 300. The Dodge PT Cruiser and new Chevrolet HHR? They're assembled in Mexico.

[Bill B.]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

For years I have refused to buy American autos. It is not a loyalty issue, it is a value for money issue. While unions have driven up the cost of producing a car and demanded "job banks" and such for their employees, the quality of American made cars has gone down the toilet. As a youngster, I was GM all the way. I never dreamed I'd own anything other than a GM product. But, when a car spends more time in the shop than in my driveway, I'll buy what is best quality wise and hope that the execs. at GM, Ford and Chrysler wise up and start fighting these stupid unions demands and also get some quality control back into their product. Just read the Consumers Report Annual Auto Buyers Guide. See which cars are rated the best in reliability and the worst. I pray the good people of this country wake up before it's too late and start making changes to get America back on the right track.

Bill B.

[Mark G.]

[John H.]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

We've had a classic family-owned "True Value" hardware store in our little town for over 50 years - the kind of store you always read about that has anything you need, and everyone who worked there knew everything about anything you'd ever need to know. Home Depot and Wal-Mart both opened adjacent "big box" stores about six miles away three years ago, and our local hardware store closed their doors, sold off their inventory to liquidators, and went out of business a couple of months ago. The local paper had a lengthy interview with the owner/family patriarch, and he said he simply couldn't compete any more - customers would come into his store, ask questions, find out what they needed to know, then went to Home Depot or Wal-Mart and bought what they needed for a little less. Another local business down the drain, and now I have to drive twelve miles to find ANY hardware item

[mike cobine]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

I have to agree with you on the cars. Recently, I have had two '89 Chevy/GM vehicles, a Chevy 3/4 ton conversion van and a GMC 3500 pickup. Both ate alternators like candy. I mean, alternator technology isn't rocket science, but apparently, GM couldn't make one that lasted more than a year in that time period.

My wife has had Toyotas, mainly Corollas and now a Highlander. You put gas in them, you change the oil, and you put lots of miles on them. Kind of like Honda motorcycles years ago. Nothing else breaks, leaks, or goes wrong.

I had a '95 Neon, which apparently has a following almost Corvette/Camaro-like in the Mopar ranks. Understandably why, as they are nearly a go kart with a body, very un-Corolla like. However, the number of things wrong would cause heart failure in management if it was a Toyota. Simple stuff that was just plain idiotic.

I do disagree on the unions, though. Unions are a necessary balance to the management. No one gives you something for free. Those with benefits today are a direct result of union balance from as far back as the 40s and beyond. Motorola, a very non-union place, gave great benefits, and many point to them as an example that unions are not needed. However, Motorola was so paranoid that unions would get in, they did a lot to keep them out, which meant great benefits. The employees benefitted from unions without having one.

UAW is tough, and I wonder why. During the '80s, lots of concessions were made, all with promises that when it gets better, all would go back up together in benefits and money. Management continued to get more, labor didn't. When times got better, management got even more and labor got little more. The seesaw wasn't balanced.

It isn't a matter that cutting upper management salaries and benefits would make a financial change in the company's bottom line, it is about fairness. If the guys who provide the services have to live on 10% less, why can't those at the top live on 10% less. And couldn't you live on $450,000 instead of $500,000 a lot easier than the guy who lived on $50,000 now on $45,000?

BTW, I haven't worked in a union since 1977, so I'm not reciting some blind loyalty. In fact, I worked outside of companies for 20 years, where neither colored me, but I could observe both sides. I do see that as the unions lose power in their former strongholds, benefits in other businesses are decreasing.

When is the last time you have seen anyone getting a pension? Now you see insurance with ever increasing co-pays and more often limited coverage. You see the workforce not getting raises while management gets their Half million in stock options. You see companies go belly up as the CEO walks out with his $10 million severance package.

Don't be blinded that only unions are evil. Management isn't the good guy, either. Or I hope you enjoy bagging groceries when you hit 60 for the next 20 years of your life.

If you are already over 60, then odds are you are enjoying the fruits of the unions in either your company or in competing companies, and just don't realize it.

If you want this country back to being right, you need to pray for a work ethic. That is gone. Pray for personal responsibility. One look at Katrina shows most of that is gone. Everyone point fingers, other than at themselves. A fool sits in the path of a Cat 5 hurricane. A parasite sits there and then wants you to fix it for him. And that is what this country has become, full of parasites, full of bums, full of people who want a handout instead of getting up and taking care of themselves.

[mike mccagh]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

well put mike. regards.mike

[george romano]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

That Consumer Reports rag you mentioned wouldn't say anything good about an American car even if you bribed them. They are ALL foreign car fans from the test drivers to the editors and everywhere in between.

Nevermind WHERE the car is built, Toyota may produce cars in this country but the profits from the sale of that junker goes overseas.
You'll never catch me with a foreign invader in my driveway.
Cut me up if you wish, but you couldn't give me a foreign car; I'd be too ashamed of myself to accept it.

George
buyAmerican

[Bill B.]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

Your certainly entitled to your views and I respect them. However, when a car maker is getting $25,000 plus for a decent car these days, I'll put the most reliable one in my driveway. It is not easy to see that money leave the country but lets face it, quality control is not good on american made cars and hasn't been for years. At a $100 an hour labor at a dealer plus parts, it's a no brainer to me. Maybe you have money to throw away but I don't. You should also try reading consumers Reports in depth. You would see that they are very fair in their reviews of cars, both domestic and foreign, as well as all their products. In recent years they have given credit to the fact that quality control is getting better but still has a ways to go.

Bill

[george romano]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

Back in 1990 I bought a brand new Dodge W250 4X4, 318 FI 4-speed.
EVERYBODY that looked at the truck told me that I just made the biggest mistake of my life; that this truck is a POS.
Well, 15 years later it now has 195000 miles on it, and NEVER let me down. In all that time I replaced a clutch (one) and just last week I replaced the original electric fuel pump. Other than routine maintenance the truck never gave me a lick of trouble. There isn't even any rust on the body.
My buddy bought a new 89 Toyota and after having to repair the same things over and over, especially the exhaust system due to rot, as well as the bed rotting off the truck, he finally came around and bought a new 96 Dodge. He still has it. My brother in law also bought a new Toyota in 1992, and was forced to sell it because there was so much rot on the front suspension he was afraid to drive it.

I respect your opinion too sir, but please don't think that CR magazine is fair reporting unless you also think the New York Times is fair as well. That magazine HATES anything American made and will never give credit where credit is due when it comes to this country's products.

You're welcome to visit here ANY TIME for a beer or a coffee and talk Vettes, but please park your foreign car out front or I will have it towed off the property.

George

[mike cobine]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

The secret with the Japanese cars is to get rid of them around 60,000 or a little more. At that point, they are out of warranty and they begin to break. 6 or 7 years is pushing the endurance of the steel they use.

This is where American cars begin to shine. You can run one to 150,000 and more with fair dependability. I've put 200,000 on several, with reasonable repairs. Usually at 150,000, you need some major engine work, like a valve job, and it is preferrable to rebuild to be safe. The transmission in a high load vehicle is usually about repair time here also.

But then, you are good for another 150,000 miles.

[Chas Henderson #28127]

What about the country?

There is a saying that goes something like this: As goes GM, so goes the country. This country is so affected by the auto industry and all its spin-offs that if it goes down, it will take the country with it. It will affect inflation, GNP, loan rates, benifits, pentions and the national debt.
I read today in the Indianapolis Star that management team are being offered 30-70% salary increases to stay with the company while its in bankrupcy while asking or demanding the hourly worker take a 50% cut in wages, give up vacation time and also give up benifits in order to save the company. Or just give them enough time to transfer everything out of the US, then jerk the rug out from the people who do the real work. All their plants outside of the US are not included in the bankrupcy filings.
When bonuses are handed out, the hourly people get the same percentage as each other. Management-even the lowest level-gets about 9-10 times the money the hourly worker gets. I can see the same percentage, that would be fair, but they are getting more and are not working any harder than the lowest paid person.
I hope they straighten it out.

Chasman

[Duke W.]

Re: What the hell is a "job bank"?

It hardly started with GWB. If fact it was Nixon who "opened the door" to China in 1973, and every president since, Republican and Democrat has expanded relations and reduced trade barriers with China, including Clinton.

I was also Clinton and his dimbulb Secretary of State who gave the keys to the candy store to the North Koreans (free oil and nuclear power technology) in return for their promise not to pursue a nuclear weapons program, and Clinton and Albright actually believed that the North Koreans would honor the agreements. How utterly naive.

Now the Bush administration has to fix the bloody mess.

Duke