Posted on 06/27/2005 7:14:56 AM PDT by jalisco555
You might imagine that the GOP would be the GM Party. Conservatives are more likely to drive gas-guzzling Chevy Suburbans; liberals are more likely to try a sensible RAV4. A Hummer almost screams "I'm a Republican and I don't care"; the Toyota Prius comes standard with a faded Kerry-Edwards bumper sticker.
But if you look at the state of the parties rather than the driving habits of their members, the picture reverses. The glory years of GM coincided with those of the Democrats. From 1940 to 1968, it dominated the automobile market just as the Democrats ruled politics. GM cars were so ubiquitous that a GM executive could say that what is good for GM is good for America. Democrats had a lock on Congress and controlled the White House, except for the eight years when the Republicans put up that decidedly liberal Oldsmobile, Dwight Eisenhower.
By the same token, the decline of General Motors coincided with the decline of the Democrats. GM was pummeled by competition from more innovative carmakers — particularly Japanese firms such as Toyota — in the 1970s and '80s. It enjoyed a brief revival in the '90s when it improved its manufacturing techniques and sharpened its image. But as it approaches its 2008 centennial, sales are sputtering, and two of the three major credit agencies have reduced its bonds to junk status.
This is more than just a coincidence. GM and the Democrats were rooted in the world of big capital and big labor, of long-term planning and predictable product cycles. The automaker could afford to guarantee its workers decent pay and benefits so long as there was limited competition. And the Democrats could take their political dominance for granted.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
You'd think, however, that highly trained professional journalists like these writers would stop printing the urban legend about the head of GM saying that what's good for GM is good for America.
Kinda like how the Unions drove the rubber jobs out of Akron in the 70s and early 80s.
Yet Akron still votes Democrat and worships this very union...makes about as much sense as a cow voting for Hamburger Helper...
This is from the LA Times...are they stocking snow shovels in hell right now...
Maybe the cow is a cannibal?
The union was not mentioned, except vaguely by way of the health care costs. Hard to build cars that rival those overseas with the union expense built-in and $1,500 of each car sold going to 1 employees' health care expense.
...the Toyota Prius comes standard with a faded Kerry-Edwards bumper sticker.
My Mom and Dad own a Prius. He's retired Army, 82nd Airborne. You can hardly see any paint on the back of the car because of all the Bush stickers.
oes it matter, neither Gm nor Toyota are Us car makers.
Nevertheless the President rides in a Caddy limo. The President used to ride in Lincolns but GM won over whoever makes those decisions back around Carter or Reagans time. I somehow doubt we will see the President ride in a Toyota unless its as a guest while visiting another foreign leader.
Kinda like how the Unions drove the rubber jobs out of Akron in the 70s and early 80s.
Yet Akron still votes Democrat and worships this very union...makes about as much sense as a cow voting for Hamburger Helper...
The unions killed off industry in this country and now they want us to feel sorry for them? Pick up their bills?
Something like the kid who kills his parents and wants pity from the court because he's an orphan.
Very true though. I live in Akron, Ohio and the blue-collar Union Democrat attitude still prevails...our economy has recovered from the 70s rather well in retrospect...but it amazes me how many guys who were laid off from Goodyear in 1979 still swear that the unions are God...
GM gave a lot to America through the years..
More than any Jap company
They have fallen on hard times..and suffer from what America suffers from,political correctness,pagan idolatry, socialism, Unions, the greed of it's managers and politicians.
Their problem isn't equality,liberty,fraternity,racism,sexism or homophobia so creating policy in these areas probably isn't the smartest approach to identifying and solving their real problem.. Which is building a better vehicle for a better price that gets good gas mileage..and that is better than everyone else's. imo
Except in the bluest counties in my blue state it really is democrats driving Hummers, who tend to be minorities as well.
Geez, it makes me want to go over to sorryeverybody and look at the pathetic losers who wish the UAW was still in charge of national politics.
Do you have any figures on how much we gave to Toyota (or to Japan in general) after the war? I have been looking for some, but I haven't had any success so far.
Run this baby into a ditch and bash your brains out on the dashboard, they just wipe up the mess and sell it so some one else.
**head of GM saying that what's good for GM is good for America.**
I thought that was true or at least part of his statement in which he also says what is good for America is good for GM.
Ever read the full speech of Calvin Coolidge's "the Business of America is Business". You would think it was a ode to greed and capitalism from that quote but his general speech was about morality and the need for ethics in business and society.
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