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February 23, 2009
Will everyone who'd buy a new GM or Chrysler car tomorrow — instead of a Honda or Toyota — please say so right now
What is the sound of one hand clapping?
Pretty much the same as a pin dropping.
Both identical to the silence that followed the headline up top.
So if no one in their right mind would buy a car from these zombie companies, why are we even considering throwing more billions at them as they circle the drain ever more rapidly with each passing day?
Thomas Friedman, in his column on this subject in yesterday's New York Times, hit the nail on the head, to wit: "... we are subsidizing the losers and and for only one reason: because they claim that their funerals would cost more than keeping them on life support."
Before you go off on me for not supporting my own country's automakers, look in the mirror: perhaps you're also one of those people who railed against Wal-Mart or Amazon because they undercut local merchants and bookstores.
Funny, isn't it, how quickly you started shopping at both once it was your hard-earned money that stayed in your pocket?
February 23, 2009 at 12:01 PM | Permalink
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Posted by: Jordan | Jul 18, 2009 4:48:50 PM
No I don't shop at Wallmart and rarely HomeDepot if I can't find it somewhere near I live or in the core town proper not the burbs. Got to say I'm not so nice or caring about book buying on Amazon because the main bookstores that carry anything are national franchises anyway. Also Amazon is starting to allow more local small bookstores list as 3rd party used bookstores so I'm giving them my business vs Barnes & Noble or Borders. Finally, small merchants are using Amazon and eBay store fronts for wider customer exposure. It's best not to use Amazon as your argument.
Otherwise, I totally agree about subsidizing the Am. auto industry = to make work not much better than government built autos to employ people. Why not use the defunct plants to house newer brands and invite profitable manufacturers into the old auto region. The competition will force UAW to be more realistic in wage/benefit negotiations, when these companies move in but without union threats provide decent wages and benefits to their work force. Free ability to form or bring a union into the company will enforce that already present responsible treatment of workers.
Posted by: guest | Feb 23, 2009 8:12:40 PM
Granted, the execs might be wearing suits tailored in Tokyo, but my Honda Element was built by proud Americans in Liberty, Ohio. And my wife's VW was built in Mexico - our not-so-far-away South-of-the-Border (I live in West Texas, after all) neighbors for whom much of the southwestern U.S. serves as a primary medical & educational providers anyway. So, I figure I >AM< keeping Americans in jobs even though I (specifically) didn't buy "American" cars.
Posted by: Rob O. | Feb 23, 2009 5:40:09 PM
