Posted on 08/04/2011 6:45:30 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
This is a question that no one seems to be asking. And so I've asked it. And here, in essence, is what I think is the answer. (The answer, of course, applies to Ford and Chrysler, as well as to General Motors. I've singled out General Motors because it's still the largest of the three and its problems are the most pronounced.)
(Excerpt) Read more at mises.org ...
Except for the fact of property taxes which in my opinion is nothing more than protection money.
If you think we are a free country I have beach front property to sell you in Oklahoma.
When I was a freshly graduated engineer, I was starting up industrial power plants for a living. I still recall learning with shock the electricians in the Longview, WA area called themselves (with PRIDE) the "FLEs" --> "Fat Lazy Electricians." True story. Those guys could featherbed the end of a construction project like you wouldn't believe. It was easier to get the ticks and fleas off the dog than get those guys out of the plant.
Wonder what is going to happen when the next labor talks start and the UAW is on both sides of the bargaining table.
They are 47% owners of the company and the represent the workers? Bet Odumbo will have a great solution for that conflict of interest.
The companies were in a conspiracy with the union for decades to plunder the public.
The union extorted higher wages, but the company just passed the costs on to the public. So why should management care? All US auto companies were unionized, so the playing field remained level. The cost of the union was in essence the same as a tax.
It wasn’t until the massive flood of imports that the US companies had to truly compete with with more or less free market alternatives.
If there were no significant numbers of imports or US non-union car makers, the companies would still be fat and happy. They’d all just charge more.
In the black?
Privately held and NOT "Government Motors".
I always bought GM cars mostly Chevy’s. I bought two new ones in 1990 that the paint literally pealed off the car in huge spots. It was spot fixed by the dealers several times until the warranty expired then they blamed it on acid rain and told me I was on my own. One vehicle in particular, a 1990 Chevy S-10 pickup needed so many other repairs amounting to several thousand dollars that GM sent engineers to inspect the vehicle because I had purchased an extended warranty that covered the drive train and suspension. The truck only had 40k miles on it and was never taken off road or driven hard. GM paid for the repairs and then refunded me the cost for the extended warranty and told me again I was on my own. From then on I swore I would never buy another GM car as long as I live.
Well, they'd have one less new Camaro sitting on their lot. My first new car was a 68 Camaro, 327, four on the floor. I'd like to buy another new one. Unfortuantely, it will be a cold day in hell before I buy a product from Government Motors and the scumbag union thugs there.
Good point. Wonder what Deming though of Unions.
They certainly affect quality.
And he blamed 85% of the problems on management. Ironically, that could include Unions.
I worked for a unionized Wal-Mart esque store, Meijer for those of you not in Michigan or Ohio. It would take a long damn time to fire some of the worst employees you could imagine. Some were good, some were rotten. There was (is?) a union steward named Bonny that was the meanest person I ever had the misfortune of working with. She looked like a vulture and hissed like a stray cat. Hours and raises were always on time spent, never on merit. I currently haaaaaaate my current company and would love to get a new job, but I would never make things worse by dealing with the devil. We do have union workers in my company and they are horrible, some can barely read if at all.
Very successfully introducing real trucks/cars that americans have loved for 60 years.
Today, sorry...the hurt the american economy when they teamed with Obozo.
I have thought for a long time that the unions have ruined a lot of American workers, it taught them that they do not nned to do a good job, all they need to do is be present to collect their pay check!
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Let’s not forget General Motors body parts by Fisher Body, Pittsburgh, PA. If it weighed the correct amount, it passed.
Seems like GM had a lot of problems in the late 80s and through the 90s. Ours was a brand new ‘86 Transam. Don't know about quality now and don't care.
We drove 50 miles to the nearby major city and limped into the Dodge dealership. We traded it for a “K” car. There was a rattling sound coming from the rear end. The paint and decals were pealing (like you) and the damn thing would randomly stall out — fuel/carb system problems. Of course, you'd lose all power (steering and brakes).
Apparently, the Dodge dealership had to put a lot of money into the car to sell it.
My in-laws were big fans of the K car and had little problems with theirs. We were so angry with our experience we had little patience for more car problems. We certainly got our money out of our K car.
>>>> We'll never forgive GM for how they treated us.
Yep, whether or not it had a loose bolt inside the door or not. hee hee hee
My wife bought a Saturn Vue with a VTI transmission. At 108,000 miles the transmission went out. We were quoted $4,500 to repair. It will never run again, has been setting idle for over 2 years. There was a class action lawsuit and settlement over the VTI tranny, but since we purchased it with 1,500 miles on it, not new, we were out of the loop.
GM wouldn’t be trading at $25.99 [10 bucks BELOW its recent IPO price] ...
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