“I do not feel sorry one bit for Ford and their problems, people who make minimum wage do not care either, these people (who work in the auto industry) have high paying jobs, and they because their father worked there expect that they will also continue, nothing in life is guaranteed.”

Margaret,
Actually, I feel sorry for those auto workers who lost their good paying jobs—the auto workers were not responsible for Ford’s financial MESS—-management MISMANAGED.

If owners of companies had their way, they would disembowel all progress that has been made in the labor movement and pay all workers minimum wage.

Yes nothing is guaranteed in life, that is why unions and labor laws were initiated; because workers knew that bosses guarantee NOTHING.

In my corner of the U.S. Vancouver, Washington which is across the river from Portland, Oregon, this bridge called I-5 is crowded every morning and evening and whatdoes the city of V do about it, there is going to be another study.

Here is what should be studied how to make bikes easier to ride, if you have an automatic car why not have an automatic bike, bike riding would be safer if there were less cars on the road, as it is during commute time you cannot even cross the street with the light in your favor, the people who have to go to work in cars do not care about the person who is walking, I mean this person saw that I wanted to cross the street and had the light and what did they do just move their car in that space, like “To hell with you, I have to get home”.

I do not feel sorry one bit for Ford and their problems, people who make minimum wage do not care either, these people (who work in the auto industry) have high paying jobs, and they because their father worked there expect that they will also continue, nothing in life is guaranteed.  If autos go there is always bikes and horses, which always had more sense than todays people who drive cars and try to do everything while they drive.

Margaret from Vancouver, Washington

Do we still have “some” auto workers we can lay-off?

Comment #50029 by Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD on 1/27 at 11:59 am says:

“Like John Silber said….”

Who gives a rats ass what that low-life loser said. B.U. Send his stinking hide back to Texas yet? Wonder why GWB didn’t tap him for something ... his ideas were almost as tepid as Bush’s

Over the last 30 years, U.S. auto companies needed to promote and manufacture vehicles that were energy efficient and independent of fossil fuel—-instead Ford chose to align themselves with oil companies, manufacturing wasteful SUVS, whose sole function is to transport petite suburban housewives in a “cool truck,” and to supply them with a rear window for a “support the troops” sticker—-how patriotic can you get! 

And isnÂ’t interesting how the U.S. government betrayed the auto industry, by failing to adopt a universal healthcare system, which would allow American business to become more competitive internationally, with countries that have socialized medicine.

And isnÂ’t also interesting, that the government did not think it was imperative for the U.S. to become energy independent, and neglected to implement policies that would thwart the manufacturing of “gas pigs.”  Our own government sabotaged American industry and American workers, while they made the global elite wealthy—-how patriotic can you get!

Maybe, we can sell our bloated gas guzzling vehicles to the military.

Wallstreet has been prospering by cashing out the wealth of middle class america for over 30+ years now.
Throwing the furnishings on the fire to heat their party…

But the day is soon approaching , that they’ll realize, there is no chair or sofa left to sit on.

Perhaps they can turn to Mexico or China or India for the consumer market for their goods?

As smart as I am, what with my PhD’s and all, I can’t for the life of me figure out why it is o.k. for automobile mnfgers to keep cranking out cars, suvs, trucks and buses at the rate they are—all over the world—and get upset when sales drop.  Everyone around me has at least two, many have three and four. Why the hell do we need so many new vehicles?  Why should the world economy depend so heavily on manufacturing and selling vehicles and keeping them full of gasoline and on the road?  Our roads and cities are choking with metal and fumes and we still concern ourselves with Ford, GM and Chrysler’s health.  They should be done.  Get on with something else that’s better for the economy, better for workers in the long run and better for the environment.  They have so addicted us that we can’t see how foolish it is.  Some things have a natural life expectancy.  American car makers have ridden a great wave for about a century, as have their investors.  Like John Silber said, when you’re old and ripe, it’s time to go.  Give the trees, air and water a break.  If you lose $12.7 billion in a year’s time, doesn’t that kind of indicate either your accounting dept. needs overhauling or maybe it’s time to close the doors?  There’ll be life after Ford, et al. Believe me.  Are they waiting around for a gov. bailout? Enough cars, Enough gasoline.  Enough roads. Enough malls.  Enough. Enough.