I wrote back to Congress...

[camaro5]

^ Not to mention what the stock market and general economic reaction would be to even one of them shutting down.

[TAG UR IT]

Great job...

we sent ours off as well. Everyone...send off a letter...if it's one line or three pages. Our congressmen/women need to hear from ALL of us. Take the two darn minutes and fill out the blanks!!! Send it off!!! Make a difference!!!

[Fandango]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

First of all - Mr. Fandango -- God Bless you for sending your note. I just wish more Americans would do the same.

As to the 'bailout' - it is NOT a bailout -- we are asking for a LOAN which we will repay with INTEREST.

The Bailout of the banking industry is different.......the government is proposing the purchase of 'toxic loans' -- which - and please correct me if I'm wrong -- is a bailout -- we are giving money to banks to cover their bad judgement.......they are now free of these 'toxic loans' ........the government COULD make money IF they collect on the toxic mortgages -- but I don't get a 'warm-fuzzy' knowing that the government is going to be put in charge of anything...................

Big difference.

Yet we have so many 'experts' that miss this salient point.

If I'm wrong -- please show me and I'll shut up.

Thanks Scott for those kind owrds.

Yes, yes. Absolutely. You are right. I know it's not a bail out. I only put it in quotes to mock what people are calling it. Only refered to it as aid afterwards. I totally understand that this is not a bailout.

I just want to help out as much as I can.

[TomServo]

Question, will the $25B (split three ways) solve the problem once and for all, or will the Big 3 be back in a few months begging for more $$$$

That's how I determine if it's a loan or a handout.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Originally Posted by camaropete

Nicely put. But there is one major item I am confused about. The Big 3 are asking for low-interest loans that will be repaid in a specified amount of time. They are not asking for a "bail out" and I hate that it keeps getting referred to as such. Also, I didn't think the money they are asking for is part of the $700b. Perhaps others can confirm these two points.

+10000000000, Nothing on you fandango i already know what you meant, but i'm tired of walking around town here and people are bitching cause the big three is now asking for a bailout, and i have to step into their conversation and explaing to them, Hey ITS NOT A BAILOUT! There at least asking for a loan that they will pay back in time. The 700 billion dollar bailout that none of you seemed to have a problem with. WE WILL NEVER SEE THAT MONEY AGAIN! Shit AiG took a vacation with their bailout money. did i get a vacation, wheres my vacation Damn! I don't get one because i didn't run my business into the ground.

[Inspector 17]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

First of all - Mr. Fandango -- God Bless you for sending your note. I just wish more Americans would do the same.

As to the 'bailout' - it is NOT a bailout -- we are asking for a LOAN which we will repay with INTEREST.

The Bailout of the banking industry is different.......the government is proposing the purchase of 'toxic loans' -- which - and please correct me if I'm wrong -- is a bailout -- we are giving money to banks to cover their bad judgement.......they are now free of these 'toxic loans' ........the government COULD make money IF they collect on the toxic mortgages -- but I don't get a 'warm-fuzzy' knowing that the government is going to be put in charge of anything...................

Big difference.

Yet we have so many 'experts' that miss this salient point.

If I'm wrong -- please show me and I'll shut up.

Scott,

I am very sorry for the position that you and the company are now in. However, your CEO (as well as the other two CEOs) did a HUGE diservice to GM and the auto industry with their words yesterday. The taking corporate jets to the meeting is total noise. CEO need to be able to get to places and I have no problem with them taking the corporate jet. The big problem is what they said when asked if they would give up their healthy salaries as a show of good faith. Saying no was absolutely ridiculous and may have cost them the chance at low-interest loans from the government. Lee Iacocca did it in the 1980s with Chrysler and he was repaid 10-fold. Them not making that show of good faith was a big mistake. In addition to writing to our representatives (which I think is great), we should be writing letters to the CEOs as well. They need to know that they have to put skin in the game.

[bigralph]

Thank man for letting me user your letter it sound really good. If you don't mind I change something around to reflect me personally. I will forward it to my congress men in Massachusetts. Thanks again!!! GO :flag1:

Originally Posted by Fandango

I hope everyone will join me in this or at least respond to their congress representatives.

This is how I feel and I want other to know whether I'm correct or incorrect in my assumptions.

Dear Mrs. Brown-Waite:

I am an MBA student, business owner, husband, father and concerned American. I am writing to you because I am concerned about the "Auto Bailout" bill that will go before congress. First off, I want to say that I was weary about such a huge $700 billion bill. People have to understand this is an unprecedented amount of money that will be set aside to aid the financial industry, a market that comes with a relative amount of risk as it is. I consider myself to be conservative and see that any heavy expenditure on behalf of our government is risky. I agree on almost all the points you made in your e-mail. Wall Street would benefit the most from this, not Main Street. However, I have to support our "Big Three" relief plan. I do believe that it is survival of the fittest when it comes to business. I say that this applies for all industries and markets. Our American Auto industry has been the backbone of out work force and it faces a very real danger of being no more. But all is not lost. I'm part of a few forums that discuss how there have been many strides in making better and more fuel efficient cars and still appeal to Americans. Of the $700 billion that will be set aside, $25 billion of it will help a majority of people directly and indirectly. I understand that the $25 will basically alleviate the union contracts or fulfill them all together, then easily fulfill retirement and pension costs for the years to come while the companies transition their plants and eliminate inventory, and retool their industry to fit the new needs of the American driver, which is fuel efficiency and quality. By supporting this bill for the auto makers, I think the American people will show that there is a sense of confidence bestowed upon out great auto companies by out leaders that they can pull out of this, that they can weather the storm. Above all, Main Street will reap the rewards. They need your support. Therefore, I'm showing mine. I want to see our Automotive industry make a comeback. Either way, help or no help, All three companies will pull through. The Aid will give the auto industry a boost. Bankruptcy will hurt more people than help, i.e. Main Street, there are a lot of folks' lives at stake if only one of those three go bankrupt. Imagine if all three go.

I am a gear head. I love cars. Particularly the muscle cars. Gas runs through my veins and I love to hear a throaty V8 engine. I know that these cars won't get us to from point A to point B as much any more. There will be a lot less of these on the road and I've come to grips with this. The Camaro, Corvette, Challenger, Charger, Mustang and Viper are what I think America stands for: Power, uniqueness, speed, resiliency and beauty. They are icons of our past present and future. Like I said earlier, these aren't getting us from point A to point B any more, however, to see these icons disappear is like taking hot dogs out of a baseball game and replacing them with rice cakes. If the $25 billion in aid for the Auto Industry is passed, they would call it a "Legacy Cost" making it sound very negative. I see it as duty to "preserve" that legacy. I hope I'm making sense. This would not only preserve our legacy, but help strengthen and redefine that legacy and make "made in America" mean more than just words again.

I hope this helps clarify what I truly believe to be the hopes of many Americans.

Sincerely,

Alejandro Garcia

Manager of Operations

Pediatric Care Center of Pasco, PA

Urgi-Kids of Florida, PA

[GTAHVIT]

I read it last night.

Awesome!

Well done.

[Camaro_Corvette]

[Rodrunner]

This being America, and this specifically an American forum, I assume I can disagree without repercussion....
soooooooo....no can do....I believe Chapter 11 is the right way to go, and believe a loan would only delay the inevitable....the big 3 have been backsliding for too long.
I understand them being opposed to bankruptcy, a lot of high paying corporate positions would be in jeopardy....unfortunatly that's what's needed. The companies have undeniably been mismanaged for years, and, sorry, but I for one don't believe current management is capable of turning it around, at least not without relief from many of the impediments to a turnaround offered by bankruptcy. The resulting ramifications of bankruptcy, appear to me to be far better than the companys' total demise in the not too distant future.

.....and, yes, I WILL still buy a car from GM if in bankruptcy, with even greater confidence of them being around in the future to honor warranty and parts obligations....and, yes, I will wait for my Camaro if a delay is one of the outcomes - like I haven't waited already! Ha!


2SS/RS Black/Black w-Cyber Gray stripes/Auto ordered-10/18/08

[rmyers]

Very nice letter, but unfortunately I whole-heartedly disagree with it as well as the other one posted a few hours earlier. I applaud your willingness to get involved in the process, and I certainly respect your opinon. Yes all of the Big-3's have made tremendous strides in fixing quality issues and creating great automobiles. It is not the role of government to bailout people or banks that have made bad financial decisions, nor is it the role of government to bailout companies that have made poor management decisions. Call it a loan or a bailout, it doesn't matter. It is NOT the role of government. The bottom line is that all 3 companies have made poor management decisions and unfortunately have been strong armed by greedy unions into paying labor costs that are much higher than their foriegn competitors. Futhermore, I thought all of these companies were "Global Companies". Where are the loans from the other countries in which they are based and have employees in?

Now the good news for those who support the loan is that the our nations' most liberal senator has been elected President and he supports this loan. Not surprising. So if the Big three can hold on until the beginning of the year, it will be passed, and I only hope that the few conservatives left in Congress will all vote NO and hang this squarely around the necks of the democrats.

For those that believe if the loans don't happen that GM will fail to exist, you are mistaken. They would emerge as a leaner, more efficient, and a company that is better capable of providing jobs, products, and return to investers. Unfortunately due to the current political climate, we may never see that happen, instead we are going to witness more of the same. They will continue to struggle just to compete with the foreign car companies.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Not to be cynical or anything, but can we merge all these that way they are in one mega thread.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by Superman09

Blur, I couldn't agree with you more, I was calling and writing my congressmen even before I could vote. (those younger than 18 try this you get some funny responses). I completely believe that even if the candidate you voted for lost doesn't mean you sit idly by for the next ___ years and do nothing. If somebody asked you want gift you wanted for your birthday you would answer them right? Well your elected official is asking so tell them what you want. The act of voting is only effects a small part of what happens in Washington. Please people for the good of the call your reps, and don't just call them about the Big 3 call them about everything. Stay informed, check their website they usually try and keep you informed if you just look for the information. You would really be surprised how personable most of these people really are.

Ok this has turned into a little bit more of a rant than I intended but I feel very strongly about this. I hope I didn't step on any toes and I apologize if I did as that was not my intention.

That didn't sound like a rant at all. It sounded like someone who wants to influence policy and probably already has. It is really important for people to be involved in the system, and most people don't know how much power a letter, email, or call has.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by camaro_corvette

Not to be cynical or anything, but can we merge all these that way they are in one mega thread.

You have to write a letter to your elected officials to make that happen. After that, you have to lobby the mods here to move it.