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Originally Posted by Number 3
Dead ducks?
I appreciate your opinion, Fraxum, I read it and hear it all the time. But it is basically 20/20 hindsight to say what they should have done.
So as you want to blame GM execs. Oh wait did you hear the one about all the execs that had been retired for years and had the pensions basically taken away? Oh no you didn't because you wouldn't have made your statements.
So as an American, you whine about the downfall of the big 3 and blame managment all you want. This story has so many parts and you could probably teach many classes on business, sociology, government on it.
So was GM stupid for always believing they could get back to ridiculous levels of market share? Maybe.
Look this is a tragic story for GM workers and families and for our country. But to blame "fat cat executives" as the only reason isn't getting at the whole story.
Why do you think we no longer have a textile industry in this country? Why do you think Big Steel lead the auto industry in this same downsizing? Why do we not have an electronics industry here? Heck we invented nearly every major electronic convenience, but for some reason we don't build any of them.
Again, I appreciate your thoughts on this topic. I know where it comes from. But the story is just wayyyyyyy bigger than what you want it to be.
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I think you misunderstand what I am saying. Sell those trucks while you can and invest the money in new product. Eventually the American people will wake up or something will wake them up and the big truck will be dead. Get ready for that day.
GM is building some better cars today. But for the last 30 years they have been building a great many crappy cars. Why is that? Why did GM essentially concede the car to Honda and Toyota? Yes they have some financial disadvantages but why did it take them 30 years to get the message? So now they are focused on building better cars? And not all those cars you mention are home-runs.
The car industry is different than many other businesses. We do not have strong lower priced competitors from emerging markets in the car business. The competition has been apparent for quite some time. GM had a chance to compete, but GM management came up small. Who else is there to blame? They run the show and they were not paying attention.
Like most large corporations executive level GM management is not dependent on pensions. They work under contract and have clauses that demand large payouts no matter how they part ways with the company. These guys win no matter what. You see there are two kinds of people in this country. The 1% that hold 98% of the wealth, and the rest of us. Then they use the media they own to brainwash into thinking they are doing us a favor.
I hope for the your sake and everyone else working for GM now that things will improve. I might buy another GM car one day. But I will never buy one more share of GM stock. What was I thinking? Doh!