GM: Everyone Falls Down

[BlissStreet]

Originally Posted by 2010-1SS-IBM

I'm not even sure why the government did step in.

Because labor analysts agree that with in 3-4 degrees of separation, 1 in 4 jobs in the US was tied to GM (along with Chrysler) and it's supply chain. You think a measly 9% unemployment is bad? Try 25-30%. That's why they stepped in.

Originally Posted by Center for Automotive Research

Kristin Dziczek, who led the study, said that more than 1.4 million jobs, most of them at suppliers, service companies and other vendors, would have been lost had the two companies been liquidated.

Because each job at an automaker helps generate about 10 jobs through the rest of the economy, compared with two for retailers or six for electrical-equipment makers, saving GM and Chrysler had a broader and quicker job-saving ripple effect, said Deb Menk of the research center in Ann Arbor, Mich.

1.4 million x 10=14 million. add to that the knock on effects of losing 14 million people spending money at grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Then compound that with the even worse recession which might have taken debt heavy Ford with it in a year or two.....and you start to think it was maybe not such a bad idea. I'm not a fan of the idea either, but I temper my political ideology with reality. The economic crisis could have been exponentially worse and much, much longer. Besides, compare this to the amount of money that was spent on 2 wars that you will see zero benefit from, and never get a dime back from.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by GTAHVIT

I guess some will never forgive GM...

Too bad. Whether we agree with what happened, we've all, major corporation or not, had to humble ourselves and ask for help. And then do the right thing and say thank you...

IMO, it's a shame how unforgiving we've become...

Everything comes with a condition these days. "I'll forgive you, but you better ______________."

I'll endorse you but ______________."

I'll help you but ______________."

I'll work for you but _________________."

I'll marry you but ____________________."

I'll hire you but ____________________."

To me it's pretty obvious why GM chose Thanksgiving to release that add...

How hard is it to just say, "you're welcome."

That's quite the assumption Chris.

[GTAHVIT]

Originally Posted by Hylton

That's quite the assumption Chris.

And I left out names on purpose.

Because we are all entitled to our opinion.

And I did not want to make this personal.

There is a clear divide in this thread. Those that are upset about what happened and unwilling to coment on the bright side. And those who are willing to focus on the positive in all this regardless of how they felt at that time it went down.

I'm making a comment on our society in general.

We appear to be less forgiving in general. As if GM could never regain our trust. Ever.

I just don't see that way... I like that GM is doing things like the cruze and the volt and malibu and CTS, and on and on... even though some friends of mine were casualties, I like that they reorg'd the company from the top down.

I like that we have a camaro with 400 hp that gets 20 on the highway...

I Like that GM paid / is paying back the loan, that the stock is for sale, that they are profitable again.

So, I'm making a choice to focus on the positive. That's about as personal as my post was ever meant to be.

FWIW.

[Inspector 17]

WOW! After reading some of the posts here, it makes me feel like I should build a bunker in my bank yard and never come out of it. What have we become as a society? Where are the great values that started this country?

I love how some talk like they have never made a mistake. I guess your $hit doesn't stink either? You are perfect and would never require help from anyone. Right. Crawl back under the bridge you came out of.

How many of the banks that were bailed out time and time again have placed any similar ads on TV? How many of the millions of people who are supported by this country, this government and by you and me have said 'thank you'? How many other companies who are supported by low-interest government loans and free-money grants say thank you?

Geez people. We don't seem to care about anything anymore but ourselves. Everyone is so quick to judge and condemn. Makes me just want to cry. Have a little respect for others.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by GTAHVIT

I guess some will never forgive GM...

Too bad. Whether we agree with what happened, we've all, major corporation or not, had to humble ourselves and ask for help. And then do the right thing and say thank you...

IMO, it's a shame how unforgiving we've become...

Everything comes with a condition these days. "I'll forgive you, but you better ______________."

I'll endorse you but ______________."

I'll help you but ______________."

I'll work for you but _________________."

I'll marry you but ____________________."

I'll hire you but ____________________."

To me it's pretty obvious why GM chose Thanksgiving to release that add...

How hard is it to just say, "you're welcome."

[1bad65]

I don't think there would be people on here not giving GM credit for saying 'Thank You' if they had done it in the first place. Don't forget GM ran a commercial fairly recently with ex-CEO Ed Whitacre saying they had paid back the loans in full that was not the full truth because they had actually just repaid the loans with TARP money. As much as people like to hear 'Thank You', they also appreciate honesty.

[REEFBLUE93]

Originally Posted by 1bad65

I don't think there would be people on here not giving GM credit for saying 'Thank You' if they had done it in the first place. Don't forget GM ran a commercial fairly recently with ex-CEO Ed Whitacre saying they had paid back the loans in full that was not the full truth because they had actually just repaid the loans with TARP money. As much as people like to hear 'Thank You', they also appreciate honesty.

[Russo]

Thank You America!

For donating tax money so we could pay for GM and UAW upper management mistakes, as part of our graditude we have enclosed a postcard with a photo of GM and UAW upper management personnel as a reminder of your support...

Happy Thanksgiving! See you in 5 years!

[mickss]

And yet there were those who wanted to keep kicking GM to death while it was down and almost out.

To those who wanted to see GM gone and finished.......BITE ME!!!

To those who worked for GM survival......THANK YOU!!!

[REEFBLUE93]

I am very happy of the fact that GM is on the mend. All kidding aside, what a trajedy it would've been to see one of the largest US auto makers and a cornerstone of our economy fail. That's a scary thought, really. I just think some people are saying, let a sleeping dog lie. Nobody needs to be reminded of the poor decisions made by GM corporate bigs/UAW and the fact that the American public bailed them out. Actions speak louder than words so stop waisting money on senseless TV ads.

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by mickss

And yet there were those who wanted to keep kicking GM to death while it was down and almost out.

To those who wanted to see GM gone and finished.......BITE ME!!!

To those who worked for GM survival......THANK YOU!!!

We all worked for GM's survival, whether we wanted to or not. I think that's where the bitterness comes from with some people. That's why I like this commercial. GM's upper management AND the UAW owe ALL of us desperately for keeping them afloat after years of terrible, terrible decision making. The acknowledgement of their screw ups and the fact that we saved them is big to me and I have gained a hell of a lot more respect for GM due to this commercial.

[buzzy56]

Would you rather make tax payer loans to Manufacturer's that create products of value & jobs or would you rather loan taxpayer money to Wall street and bank's?At least manufactures create tangible products and jobs!GM did not intentionally set out to defraud consumers,governments, and investors by creating false products,loans,mortgages etc. thru outright fraud.Banks & investment companies created artificial and fraudulent products that were worthless and only enriched a very few at the top of the food chain while creating zero jobs.Remember the Savings & Loan Bailouts?
I don't like it either but if I had my choices I support what the Government has done with the Automakers.Jobs were protected.
One way or another a lot of elements in American society benefit from subsidy's or bailouts whether we like to admit to it or not. OurGoverment subsidizes country's,regimes,dictators,WARS,farmers,chamber's of commerce and probably a lot more that we do not openly know about.
You don't hear many complaining about those subsidies do ya!
So Like another said "get off your high horse".
The Government bailout of GM has saved many Jobs,and helped avoid a devastating blow to our society and many many families thru out America.
Some of whom might just be your relatives,neighbors, and fellow citizens.Spoiled Americans you see it more and more each day.Individuals out for their selfs,heartless,cold,ungiving and oh so selfish!

[dannkimmel]

dont forget the nearly 600,000 retirees.
those payments would have stopped add that to the workers and you are talking
about ALOT of unpaid mortages .
how much do you think your house would be worth then?

[REEFBLUE93]

It's not like those UAW people were concerned about losing their own houses either. I wouldn't have felt sorry for them had they lost their jobs. I'm glad the company didn't go under but that was in no part due to the union worker's actions, or I should say inactions...