This is just random stream of consciousness stuff that I will write for 12 minutes.
1. Detroit is a recognized leader throughout the rest of the world, but for some reason we don’t get that respect in our own country.
2. Throwing money at a money problem is rarely the right solution.
3. As Detroit goes, so does much of the nation.
4. Our nation has been an industrial leader for a long time. It will be hard to retain that roll while letting our auto industry slip into the abyss.
5. The UAW has a tough choice to make between lower paying jobs and no jobs. Actually, it doesn’t seem that tough at all.
6. It is unfortunate that GM full burden on a car is measured at $69 per man hour while Toyotas is $48 (full burden equates to salary + benefits + pension + cost of 423k retirees)
7. Not that I remember it, but I am pretty sure there were a bunch of big 3 executives laughing back in the early 1970’s when the first Toyota rolled down Woodward Ave. in Detroit. We are paying for their arrogance today.
8. How can you have a car czar and not concern yourself with a bank czar? Seriously, that was a collosal fuck up.
9. The argument that people and businesses need money now but can wait to buy a new car is so short sighted I can’t even see it.
10. I am a huge fan of the concept of comperation. Don’t know what that is? Look up coopetition. The big 3 better figure out how to employ both NOW.
11. People keep talking about the ripple effect. 7 foot waves are not ripples. This will have a dire impact on our city, our state, our country and our standing in the world.
12. I firmly believe the big 3 need to continue restructuring and eliminate redundancies. Think about it: Chevy, Saturn, GMC, Cadillac and Pontiac all have virutally the same crossover vehicle each with 3 different trim levels. Think about the waste in marketing and advertising (all different) alone. Then you have engineering, design, testing and it goes on.
13. Diamond Joe Quimby, mayor of Springfield on The Simpson’s, was once quoted as saying “You people are a pack of fickel mush heads”. He wasn’t describing all of America, but he could be. When I was in Japan in the early 90’s I was surprised to see Acuras and Lexus labeled as Hondas and Toyotas. My big brother informed me that they (honda and toyota) knew the Japanese wouldn’t pay more for a fancier name. But we would…
That’s enough for now. It’s actually been 17 minutes, but who is counting.
What are your thoughts?
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