American made tractors?

[Builder]

I can see why you hate unions. I hate 'em, too.

Some are worse than others. Some are stronger than others.

 

[N80]

Today I heard that several senators, primarily from the south, are vowing to fight the bailout for the automakers. They contend that the auto industry in the US is just fine and that this bailout is a Detroit issue, not an auto maker issue.

It will come as no surprise that in those states there are thriving, non-union auto plants. But not GM, Ford or Chrysler, its Toyota, Nissan, Honda and BMW.

I think those senators are correct and I think the points made above hit the nail right on the head. Its overpaid incompetent management and worthless unions that are killing the Detroit automakers. The foreign makers are making better, more desirable and often more affordable products right here in our backyards with American workers taking home the money and tangibly improving the communities in which they work and live. Sure, the current economy is hurting them to, but they are not in financial death throes like the big American three.

My point is, we could build tractors here and the barriers to it happening are obscenely stupid. Its just time for a shift in philosophy. Sadly, given the recent election that philosophy has shifted a long way in the wrong direction. We may get 'American Made' but its going to be closer to what the Russians make than what this country used to be famous for. Picture this in tractor form:

 

[Builder]

I agree Georgie.

Seemed like American cars & trucks were really beginning to turn the corner on quality in comparisons with their foreign competition, too.

I just read that Chrysler's CEO will make something like 200 million. Proposterous, isn't it?

 

[N80]

You know, if a CEO is a superstar and he's the catalyst for a company doing really well, then I'm all for him getting paid whatever it takes. But for one thing, there aren't many of those out there and the other thing is that these guys are getting paid all this money AND they're running the companies into the ground and begging for handouts from the taxpayers (us!) which is pretty close to the same thing as selling the company to the government. And THEN, if and when they finally get the boot, they get these enormous golden parachute payments! For FAILING! And expect the tax payers to bail them out. Makes my blood boil.

Bottom line is, we got the raw material, we got the know-how, we got the skill, we got the muscle to build and sell high quality tractors. What's missing?

 

[Builder]

You know, if a CEO is a superstar and he's the catalyst for a company doing really well, then I'm all for him getting paid whatever it takes. But for one thing, there aren't many of those out there and the other thing is that these guys are getting paid all this money AND they're running the companies into the ground and begging for handouts from the taxpayers (us!) which is pretty close to the same thing as selling the company to the government. And THEN, if and when they finally get the boot, they get these enormous golden parachute payments! For FAILING! And expect the tax payers to bail them out. Makes my blood boil.

Bottom line is, we got the raw material, we got the know-how, we got the skill, we got the muscle to build and sell high quality tractors. What's missing?

What is missing is a government that is pro-business combined with a systemic management greed problem and overly strong labor unions.

It's like trying to start a campfire while wind is blowing, rain is falling and you have no firewood.

 

[redneckford]

If Messick ($5 million of parts)will just send us some money down here in the south we can build a non union employee owned factory on 4400 acres of parish (county) owned land right here in DeRidder Louisiana----near North/South East/West railroads---Interstate 10 & 20 and most important right next door to me. But heck there are many Auto plants that can be transformed into a tractor plant---may have a problem transforming the workers into lean mean non union manufacturing machines---but ownership may solve that problem---when you work for yourself you always work harder for longer and for less!!!! Just so I'm CEO and make $10 per week max!!!!

 

[BungeeII]

The big 3 held out a 30 year retirement as a carrot to sacrifice A LOT by these guys. There were some serious hours worked by many a Michigander who believed their efforts would pay dividends when they had a chance to retire. Many guys are returning to their hometowns with a chance to retire to hobby, family or their own new farms. I've never been a fan of the unions. I think their adversarial relationship with the company has hurt them both more than any realize. BUT.... these talking heads and senators have no right to just start spewing garbage like "reorganize and get out from under these union burdens". I could go on for hours. This is a very complex situation, but CNN and Fox news only want to give you 45 second answers.

 

[john_bud]

Just so I'm CEO and make $10 per week max!!!!

Remember the Government loan to Chrysler in the 80's? Remember what the CEO (a guy named Lee) got paid? $1 per year. That was the minimum so that he could be an employee. He did get stock options that were worth millions IF the company turned around.

He also fired every other level of management starting above the line supervisors and going up all the way to him. Getting rid of 50% of the management helped them become more nimble than the competition. Faster product turns, innovating engineers, etc. I think GM would need to fire 75% of management ...

jb

 

[redneckford]

gotta adjust for inflation!!! Unc got fired at Ford!!!?? Didn't play enough golf they said

 

[Diamondpilot]

GM needs to start with that dumb ___ CEO that has ran them into the ground. Can't thank of his name but he is a tall dumb looking SOB. Should not be hard to miss. He has a big lump in his rear end where that wallet is.

Chris