Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - The right to work...Death of the Big Three

4X4 · 11-16-2008, 07:43 PM

As far as I'm concerned, they can take care of themselves. Especially GM. What's with the 30 different brand names? And a dealership on every corner? And the Hummer? The Hummer makes me laugh. Latches all over the stupid thing for what - in case you need to pick it up with a helicopter?
These companies have grown too big for their britches. They seem to think that they need to compete in every single niche in the auto business. That's what's killing them. Look at GM. They have about 50 different cars and trucks. Everything from tiny hatchbacks to gargantuan trucks. How is that necessary? How is that sustainable? I mean, I like variety, but do I really need to be able to choose from a sunfire and a cavalier? What's the difference? And do I really need to choose from an Impala or a Malibu? What's the difference? Half a litre of engine displacement and an extra inch of legroom in the Impala?
If they had less models and less factories and less dealers, they'd be able to respond to market demands alot more efficiently. The way it sits, they have a different factory for every car. If a certain car isn't selling, they can't just lay the people off because of the unions. If they had less factories and were able to switch which car they were making in that factory, they would be able to respond to current demands with less chance of having to shut down a factory.

IMO, GM should file chapter 11 and go into receivership. Fire the entire board and tear up the union contracts. Shut down at least 25% of all their dealerships and reduce their brands down to two or three for the various types of vehicles (ie, GM for trucks, Pontiac for Cars, Caddilac for luxury).
Renegotiate with the union and tell them that they're no longer simply button pushers or bolt tighteners. They are now versatile employees that show up for work prepared to change out certain equipment in the factory to accomidate a building spree on whatever model is selling the best.

I guess I'm just an armchair quarterback here, but hearing about the constant aid packages that these companies are getting is just so annoying. Thye government is practically forced to do it because if the company goes under, they'll have hundreds of thousands of new faces in line at the welfare office.

Force these gigantic companies to be competitive. But stop bailing them out. Capitalism, baby.

11-16-2008, 07:43 PM	#5
4X4 One of the Nine Join Date: Dec 2004 Exp:	As far as I'm concerned, they can take care of themselves. Especially GM. What's with the 30 different brand names? And a dealership on every corner? And the Hummer? The Hummer makes me laugh. Latches all over the stupid thing for what - in case you need to pick it up with a helicopter? These companies have grown too big for their britches. They seem to think that they need to compete in every single niche in the auto business. That's what's killing them. Look at GM. They have about 50 different cars and trucks. Everything from tiny hatchbacks to gargantuan trucks. How is that necessary? How is that sustainable? I mean, I like variety, but do I really need to be able to choose from a sunfire and a cavalier? What's the difference? And do I really need to choose from an Impala or a Malibu? What's the difference? Half a litre of engine displacement and an extra inch of legroom in the Impala? If they had less models and less factories and less dealers, they'd be able to respond to market demands alot more efficiently. The way it sits, they have a different factory for every car. If a certain car isn't selling, they can't just lay the people off because of the unions. If they had less factories and were able to switch which car they were making in that factory, they would be able to respond to current demands with less chance of having to shut down a factory. IMO, GM should file chapter 11 and go into receivership. Fire the entire board and tear up the union contracts. Shut down at least 25% of all their dealerships and reduce their brands down to two or three for the various types of vehicles (ie, GM for trucks, Pontiac for Cars, Caddilac for luxury). Renegotiate with the union and tell them that they're no longer simply button pushers or bolt tighteners. They are now versatile employees that show up for work prepared to change out certain equipment in the factory to accomidate a building spree on whatever model is selling the best. I guess I'm just an armchair quarterback here, but hearing about the constant aid packages that these companies are getting is just so annoying. Thye government is practically forced to do it because if the company goes under, they'll have hundreds of thousands of new faces in line at the welfare office. Force these gigantic companies to be competitive. But stop bailing them out. Capitalism, baby.