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176 Comments
- badqat, on 11/06/2008, -9/+80Honest answer: NO.
- Trekhawk, on 11/06/2008, -5/+46No, no he cannot. With numerous inept managers and billions of dollars in legacy costs there is little to nothing The One can or even should do. Capitalism only works if businesses are allowed to fail. While I love GM I love the free market more.
- liquisoft, on 11/07/2008, -3/+28I'm already sick of seeing articles about Obama saving this and Obama saving that. He is not Jesus. He cannot magically solve every existing problem. He is but a man with good ideals and an excellent head on his shoulders. He will do his best and I'm certain we'll see positive change over the next 4 years, but if we continue to think he'll solve every problem we can only be let down.
- korvan504521, on 11/06/2008, -7/+27The only way to save the American auto industry is to change the regulations and union rules which cripple it. Which is not something a democratic president would be permitted to do by his own party. There's a lot of reasons Ford and GM are failing, but the only ones that can be easily fixed are the ones that *won't* be. The UAW has become an anchor dragging them both into the abyss. Most people don't realize how unbelievably difficult it is to transition one of the facilities to produce a different car (because of union rules).
- MikeFallopian, on 11/07/2008, -0/+18Detroit has been working on plug-in hybrids for a decade, because market forces have been demanding higher mileage for a long time. Obama might be able to pass some fiscal incentives that encourage the popularity of hybrids, but the move towards electric vehicles is happily something that we don't need to rely on politicians to accomplish.
- dalittle, on 11/07/2008, -2/+19If they really think that the President of the United States can fix the auto industries problems, they have bigger problems than the current mess they are in right now.
- inactive, on 11/07/2008, -1/+15Yep, and he's ten foot tall, bullet proof, and able to leap over tall buildings with a single bound...........
- redgiemental, on 11/06/2008, -9/+22It's worth a try
- patpl22391, on 11/07/2008, -4/+15Well he is already going to bankrupt the coal industry, so it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't bankrupt Detroit as well (as if they weren't doing themselves in anyway).
- greeniemeani, on 11/07/2008, -1/+12If Rick Astley was President however, we would never be let down.
- riggs32, on 11/07/2008, -6/+15ummm welcome to digg, were kind of internet hippies who are all for green technologies. enjoy your stay here.
- kendrew, on 11/07/2008, -1/+10He will henceforth also be known as Dear Leader
- peestandingup, on 11/07/2008, -0/+8For shizzle. I mean, I like Obama (I voted for him), but people need to stop putting him on a pedestal for their own good because you'll be disappointed.
He's not superman. And this ***** is gonna take a while to fix. Some stuff wont even get fixed. Its just the way it is. - inactive, on 11/07/2008, -1/+9If you love the environment, you'll hate auto unions. Seriously, their rules are what make it difficult to produce new cars.
- crossmr, on 11/07/2008, -4/+11can we get an obama channel pls so I can uncheck it? now the election is over its like everywhere..
- linuxpenguin, on 11/07/2008, -1/+8Haven't you heard the news? The auto industry is in the toilet. You can't get a dead horse to run faster unless you revive it. I can't help but think that taxing them more isn't going to help the situation either.
- cquinnd, on 11/06/2008, -2/+9Emphasis on the WE there. Not much help can be done for car companies that cut back production of higher milage vehicles when oil prices start to drop again.
- Opiate, on 11/07/2008, -1/+8And the intervention begins? What are people really expecting? Scary imo..
- bishop, on 11/07/2008, -1/+7GM, Ford and Chrysler are in a really bad shape. Just to pay for the health care for the UAW is about $25 billion. In addition, they cannot sell cars. Assuming they were able to sell cars, they start at a disadvantage because they have unions.
In order for an economy to strengthen, businesses have to fail and to be replaced by stronger ones that are able to meet the demand of the public. IBM used to make typewriters. The company is still around because they were able to adapt to the changing times. There are other companies that are no longer around because they were not able to adapt.
Giving money to those companies will allow them to be around a little longer but as is, they are not a viable business. - inactive, on 11/07/2008, -11/+17Obama doesn't even need to lift a finger. Just by hoping that things get better they will, for He is our Great Leader.
- jfdolier, on 11/06/2008, -7/+13That depends on whether the Auto industry is willing to invest in innovation and stop asking for government handouts.
[From ESPN's Gregg Easterbrook]
The National Academy of Sciences said in 2002 that a one-third improvement in mpg is practical using existing technology, and without sacrifice of safety or passenger comfort. Now, the U.S. automakers claim a one-third improvement can't be done. It's not that Detroit cannot achieve better fuel economy -- it's that Detroit doesn't want to. What the current executive-suite suits at the Big Three want is to maximize their bonuses and stock options during their short stays at the top, then let somebody else take the blame for the next round of decline of the U.S. auto industry that is inevitable if fuel economy does not improve. And that's setting aside the national-security implications. A one-third increase in car and SUV mpg is what's needed to break U.S. dependence on Persian Gulf oil. Wouldn't it be nice if Detroit CEOs acted as though they cared about national security!
(Link to study: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309076013) - darkten, on 11/07/2008, -0/+6Stop fighting. Stop gloating. Leave that crap to the Boomers. Gen X is running things now...
Post-Reagan...and BELIEVE ME...a LOT of people had problems with him, we Americans seemed to have lost the ability to have *civil discourse* because some of us younger ones (under 40) seemed to have followed our Boomer parent's poor example.
They are done.
It is done. It is now time for US, Gen X, to bring the civility that our *grandparents taught us* back to the forefront.
While some of America may not *like* our new leader...WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE. Follow the example of dignified discourse.
I plan to PERSONALLY SHAME any and everyone, regardless of party, for this tired, dated, passe behavior.
John McCain for the first time...in a long, LONG time, spoke from his heart and showed what we are SUPPOSED to do when we lose in America; we say "Good game" and grab a beer.
Follow the example.
Obama showed us what we do IN AMERICA when we win; we accept the win with respect for our competitor; we say "Good game" and respect the game.
Pay attention.
Disappointment is no excuse for disrespect; victory is not a license for arrogance.
If you are fortunate enough to still have your grandparents around...go ask them. They'll let you know.
These two men in their victory and defeat were both a shining example of what AMERICANS do...not the sad environment of vitriolic hatred that has been thrust upon us by our petulant Boomer parents.
We're better than that. We all saw it. Now cut it out. RIGHT NOW.
Rebel against this nonsense divisiveness; we can all benefit if we pour that...passion into making sure we keep our eye on who is running government and promoting *honest debate* instead of uncivil, frothing at the mouth jingoism and shouting.
We can disagree. It is part of what we do. We don't have to reduce ourselves to blathering nutjobs spewing rhetoric. We can talk without shouting.
Two *great Americans* showed us this.
America isn't America without us. AMERICANS FOR WIN!!! - 13B1303, on 11/07/2008, -1/+7it's so impossible that we've been doing it since the 1800s....
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=84 ... - Erectile, on 11/07/2008, -0/+6Obama already has a slight slant toward protectionism, and many in the Democrats are already talking about the importance of protecting American industry. Hopefully Obama will understand the danger of going down that road, but I think the chances of seeing increasing trade barriers are very high, unfortunately.
The auto industry as it stands already can't survive without corporate welfare, so I don't see it springing back into life any time soon. - weasler7, on 11/07/2008, -0/+5Yeah... Obama=Democrat = Union Supported? :-/
- linuxpenguin, on 11/07/2008, -1/+6Toyota does not allow its workers to unionize, from what I hear. Same with the other Asian car companies.
Personally, I think that's the way it should be, for the most part. - Barackalypse, on 11/07/2008, -2/+6The partnership between two massively bloated, inefficient, incompetent entities like the Federal Government and the Big 3 automakers can only result in success, especially by incorporating green technologies to further raise the price of their vehicles in poor economic times! Go ahead and try Barack, but I'm betting on Toyota and Honda.
- brettg102, on 11/07/2008, -1/+5You, are retarded. Next time you want to say something, do us a favor and don't.
There are so many alternative means of locomotion it's not worth mentioning hear. It's just that so far, ICEs are the cheapest, most effective way of doing it. - eth3l, on 11/07/2008, -4/+8No.
I cant wait for you Obamaniacs to realize he 1) is the same kind of politican as everyone else and 2) inst going to solve all the world's problems.
that will be a funny day - darkciti2, on 11/07/2008, -1/+5Absolutely we can!
Benefits:
Job creation (new green technologies, new manufacturing, new processes, new management for green projects, etc)
Less reliance on foreign oil
Creation and promotion of domestic energy infrastructure (surpluses of which could be sold to S. America)
Boot-strapping the efficiency chicken-egg / supply-demand conundrum
Tax incentives for crossover vehicles (mini SUVs)
More research funding for energy storage technology (the great battery hurdle)
Green manufacturing processes will stimulate green/solar warehouses, etc.
I would support a taxpayer bailout for green transportation technology. The congress already passed a $700 billion bailout, and they've only issued about $400 billion of it. I would fully support an injection into the auto industry for green initiatives to the tune of about $100-200 billion.
That leaves about $100 billion for misc other objectives.
Ending the war in Iraq will keep another $10 billion PER MONTH here in the USA, which should help things quite a bit. - inactive, on 11/07/2008, -5/+9The coming carbon tax scheme will finish them off, once and for all.
LOL, buy votes for a $1000, then turn around and take it back double, you suckers never learn....... - KDX200rider, on 11/07/2008, -2/+6Well his victory has done wonders for the stock market......;-)
- ohcyrus, on 11/07/2008, -0/+4Look at the stock market in 8+ years to see the effect of his policies on wall street, not before he is even in office.
- indyattic, on 11/07/2008, -0/+4Mismanagement and greed is the stuff of unions.
- thrashertm, on 11/07/2008, -0/+4Newsflash - oil is down to $60 a barrel, and there is no attractive alternative at the moment. If there were, they'd be selling like hot-cakes now.
- brettg102, on 11/07/2008, -0/+4Im pretty sure damn near everything about a car can be built by robots. Fire them all! Employee a few more engineers to keep you robots doing their robot thing...
In all seriousness: the UAW is the greatest crippling force in any industry today. - darkciti2, on 11/07/2008, -0/+4Sadly, you're right.
The Toyota Corolla is made of more American parts and labor than the Ford/Chevy equivalents.
(source: Mother Jones) - piggyhoggin, on 11/07/2008, -0/+3I auto cry
I auto laugh
I auto sign
My auto epitaph - MikeFallopian, on 11/07/2008, -1/+5You couldn't be more wrong, I'm sorry to say. I suggest you actually read the executive summary of the link you posted (anyone wanting to read it needs to delete the )-symbol at the end of the link BTW). The BEES report claims that a major increase in fuel efficiency is possible WITHIN 15 YEARS of 2002 (Finding 5 in executive summary). As for safety, Finding 3 reports that the movement towards smaller and lighter vehicles that started in the '70s - partly to meet the new CAFE efficiency standards - resulted in an additional 1300-2600 traffic fatalities in 1993.
- linuxpenguin, on 11/07/2008, -0/+3My thoughts exactly.
- bishop, on 11/07/2008, -0/+3I'm not saying it's impossible for GM to adapt and/or transform but yesterday, they froze all R&D. They are not planning for any new models right now; therefore, no fuel efficient car from GM in the future.
Unfortunately, those 3 companies have promised so much to their employees that they are crumbling under the weight of the promises. Even if they were to be given an injection of money, they still have to pay for healthcare, pension...
The unions that was supposed to protect its workers is going to be the very cause of its members losing their jobs. - IAmTheGuy, on 11/07/2008, -5/+8Who was tired of all this Green "nonsense?"
- Shiftgood, on 11/07/2008, -1/+4They've been working on this bailout for 18 months... but its really not going to help drive the American consumer to buy their cars... neither will cutting their taxes.
But if you offered major tax cuts to re-tool their plants and deliver fuel efficient/ hybrid/ flex fuel cars that Americans are buying like candy... dont you think that thats a good idea? Help them, thru tax incentives to get ahead in the next generation of cars?
I also think that there needs to be a mentality shift. I think Obama (or McCain if he was elected) should instill a sense of confidence in american products. This isnt anything new, but i think if there was a drive to 'buy american' and 'shop local' that people would listen. Im all for a free market but right now Americans need to do what will help America... and if that means pay a little more for milk at the local store or buying an American Hybrid over an imported one... id do it, id want to help my country. I believe thats a part of patriotism, rather than buying stickers or flags.
There also needs to be talks with the UAW.. but what that entails, what they could free up, im not sure. - TrancePhreak, on 11/07/2008, -0/+3dey tuk our jaaaaawwwwwbssssssss
- AlienMushroom, on 11/07/2008, -1/+4No, cuz that's not the real problem the industry faces. It's the union. You can't believe how many people and how much Ford, GMC and so on are paying just for them to sit home and watch TVs. I say ***** these unions, blood sucking parasites.
I'm not saying all unions are bad ass. They do fight for workers' rights, but those scums take it too far. - DennisPwnsj00, on 11/07/2008, -0/+3He can ensure their bankruptcy by raising the CAFE standards /again/.
Who needs cars anyway, right? - theenmachine, on 11/07/2008, -0/+3Wouldn't bankruptcy end the companies' union problem?
- cowsgonemadd3, on 11/07/2008, -0/+3Serious? Can you provide a link. How dumb on their part.
- ReDoEr, on 11/07/2008, -0/+3BWAHAHA good one
wait...you were serious? never mind. - Murdats, on 11/07/2008, -0/+3I feel this is the oposition building him up to something he can't meet so they have more fuel to fire against the party in 2012
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