Is General motors really in bad financial shape ?

[LarryRB]

My in laws were Chrysler dealers for 51 years.. The dealers lost more than anyone else in this whole deal. In another note.. I get really sick and tired of hearing people like Kerry, scream all jobs are going over seas... You don't think the UAW has a big part in this? They get more per hour than anyone that I know working, Their health and retirement bennies are more than double anyone that I know of (in my immediate area).. there comes a time when UAW and others push for more than a company can produce, therefore, my belief in one reason many jobs go yonder.

 

[HuckBB62]

The upper management and the shareholder's take makes what the workers get look like chump change.

 

[Jagmandave]

How exactly can they justify paying their people 95% of salary when they don't work? As in when they do model change over's or they have too many days supply of a particular car and slow production down. Some of these down periods, especially for model changeovers can last for months!
I think there are some bright spots in GM's future, they've got a ton of new models coming out over the next couple of years, but if they aren't any more desireable than the current offerings, it won't really matter.
If they offload their pension liability, then they'll be very compatative in terms of cost pper vehicle, but again it won't matter if no one wants to buy what they have for sale.
They're dropping 25,000 employees, which is Ok for those that get to stay, but what about those getting laid off?

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue">I get really sick and tired of hearing people like Kerry, scream all jobs are going over seas... </font>

Not sure why you used Kerry as an example -- do you think he was wrong when he "screams" that the jobs have gone overseas? The rest of your post talked about reasons why the jobs have gone overseas, but did nothing to refute Kerry's statements that the jobs are going. That sounds to me like a little bit of gratuitous Kerry-bashing that really was inappropriate.

As I recall from the campaign, Kerry was positive about trying to do something that would benefit business if they kept jobs in the US; I don't recall any other politician concerned about the subject.

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The upper management and the shareholder's take makes what the workers get look like chump change. )</font>

I won't defend what the upper management gets for pay, but you can't fault the shareholders. They are the ones putting their money on the line and if the business makes money, they get a dividend check. If the company doesn't make money, then they also loose money in the lower value of their stock holdings. If it weren't for shareholders purchasing shares of the company stock, the company wouldn't have any capital for expansion or even manufacturing cost obligations on a daily basis.
When the unions were helping people get out of sweat shops and bringing safer working conditions to coal miners, they served a useful purpose. Now, when they negotiate for more pay and benefits, shorter working hours, and don't concern themselves with the long term survivability of the workers employer, they no longer are a benefit to society. Just look at what the teachers unions have pushed for in the last few years. School systems are sucking up the majority of the tax dollars to pay teachers outrageous salaries and pension benefits. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[daedong]

If GM sinks in the US where does that leave GM Holden /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[LarryRB]

Don, I can't get into my reasons in any detail here as all it will do is be highly flamatory and definetly political, and we know where that leads, I will say for my reasons, as a past self employed citizen of Mass,and one that held many positions in a small town, that of selectman at the top, constable, finance and many other positions, that I find Kerry totally opposite of his campaign speeches,, This is to say, very anti business and especially the small business' in Mass. I also, do not believe as he alludes to, of everyone being in some kind of union. I think most all of the unions are way past anything or being helpful. I will say no more, as I said, this would turn ugle and none of us need it..

 

[kenmac]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( The upper management and the shareholder's take makes what the workers get look like chump change. )</font> <font color="red"> </font>


AMEN!!! Thats what I said in my 1st. response. They get more perks than anyone will ever know. When they cut the upper managements 3 mill. + salary then, talk to the people that make the share holders there money . The people doing the labor work. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[GerardC]

I wonder if this is a good thing or a bad thing then? Korean's don't only make awesome tractors ya'know /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. The Azera (Fall of 2005) looks like a good contender in its class.
This Kia (in my opinion) is a much better buy/deal than any GM Luxury car out there and even Lincoln for that matter.

 

[jmc]

Knowing the history is only as good as knowing who wrote the history. I'll save you the trouble:

World Socialist Web Site