And Then There Was One

The policies of huge high ceiling energy sucking showrooms, ripoff repair costs, dismal or non existant customer service, incompetant and/or inept technitions, low quality and reliability, out of touch execs with obscene compensation plans coupled with unparalleled corporate greed reflected at all levels of the company has finally caught up with the automakers.
They need to close shop and start with a clean sheet.
A bale out will only prolong the inevitable.
Yes, the ongoing attrition that has been happening for over one hundred years should and will continue until there is one or none and rightfully so. Survival of the fittest.

Instead of giving themselves big bonus's and flying around in corporate jets, the US automaker execs should do what the Orientals do when they fail.
Fall on their swords!!!!!!!!

Instead of giving themselves big bonus's and flying around in corporate jets, the US automaker execs should do what the Orientals do when they fail.
Fall on their swords!!!!!!!!

This is the wrong answer. Your artical notes that the Big Three own less than 50 of the U.S. market, and there in lies the problem. Consolidation will just multiply the over-capacity, leading to lay-offs and more plant closings reducing the percentage further. More market share is needed at home and abroad. Ask youself how much market share does GM, Ford have in Japan and why? Soon we can concede the entire market like was done in radios, TV, and other electronic until we have no manufacturer in those markets. Is 0% perferable to 50%? Add up the taxes paid by these corporations and their employee in one year alone, add in the Unemployment payments that will go out instead of revenue recieved, then make a comparable loan availible, nothing will be lost except time. The Asian and European markets subsidize their industries, we should support ours as well. FYI - your information is as antiquated as the 1967 picture your posting. Try keeping up with the times, your automotive community has!!

Union bashing is wrong too...

The union struggle brought good wages to auto workers,made them the " aristocracy " of the working class,brought them high standards of living..

Now that the industry is in crisis,the workers may accept lower salaries,but they already have made relatively good money...

The American auto industry is vastly underrated. It created the middle class. Union members died to earn your benefits. A good workplace, like freedom is not FREE. These incredibly naive attitudes are why this country is cliff diving. Wake up!

I hope you and the other authors who see the folly of no strings handouts to the jokers running the "Wee Three" continue to publicize your views. We need Washington to hear what you have to say

Unions have some money, and a powerful ability to negotiate with themselves, with retirees, and with union-shop suppliers. Shareholders might do well to look at union ownership of at least one of the car companies.

The days of our lives being controlled by the oil, gas, and highway industry are over.
Vehicles must and will all be electric or hybrid sooner than later.
The idea of a union is indeed correct when properly operated. They have, especially the auto union, taken a grossly illogical advantage over the company and the public of which they are a member. Lets move on and get away from the ancient history of oil and gas

if you think the answer is go the way of the steel industry . let mister ross by the plants for less then the product on the ground , after advis ing the industry for over 20 yrs on how to siphon pension and health care moneys, and sell them off to a man from india.I waldked away from the theives after 29 yrs plus. P.s. If it were not for the unions this country would not be as great as it is. THe banking industry needs someone like A UNION. watching over them. god bless you all Lyman bond

yea ross helped advise the steel industry tillthey spent all the legacy money the men had saved over 40-50 yrs. then he swooped down and picked the bones and sold us off to a guy in india. what a success story . it's crimanal and the gov played along with it. . job lost to ltv after 29 yrs 3 mo. god bless everyone Lyman Bond FL.

Keith Naughton errors when refers to Nietsche's Creative Destruction. The phrase "creative destruction" was coined by Joseph Schumpater. Nietzsche did "philsophize with a hammer, and had no concern with economic or policy matters. Dr. Mel Kulbicki

Anyone who blames the UNIONS are blaming the wrong party Remember this as our living standard gets lower and lower and the bennies "PENSION"HEALTH"LIVING WAGES disappear the unions were the first to get these than the rest followed now that they are doisappearing only the teachers and civil servants will have them @ taxpayer expense WE will start losing holidays than time off than vacation time all the things we take for granted someone else fought to gain

the BIG three had 30+ years to make a fuel efficent car in the 70's the oil embargo opened the door for Japanese cars DIDN'T learn the driving public lost intrest so big fuel guzzlers we paid the price but didn't learn so We are about to repeat Low GAS prices will make us forget until next Summer when We will cry again Americans never learn

Distilling the big 3 into a single entity is what we used to call a "monopoly". Monopolys are bad for free markets.

I completely agree with basedrum777. The unions need to face reality. And the reality is that American Automakers can't compete in a global market with higher overhead costs than any other automaker.

But the automakers also need to face the reality that many people like me don't want to pay for gas anymore, at any price. I hate feeling like I'm subsidizing my own destruction. They need to get all the 10lb brains into a room and come up with a way for me to have my personal transportation (with no gas), and at a reasonable price. If they did that the rest of the world would be kissing Detroit's feet and begging for a piece of the action.