Comments on: Start Making Sense http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/11/start-making-sense/ Macro Perspective on the Capital Markets, Economy, Geopolitics, Technology, and Digital Media Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:46:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Greg0658 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/11/start-making-sense/comment-page-1/#comment-127477 Greg0658 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:07:44 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=10125#comment-127477 Watching Charlie Rose right now. Shelby and Franks debating the auto rescue. Sen Shelby is making a great case for restructuring the health and pension benefits of the bankrupt Corporation of the United States of America's government employees. Watching Charlie Rose right now. Shelby and Franks debating the auto rescue.

Sen Shelby is making a great case for restructuring the health and pension benefits of the bankrupt Corporation of the United States of America’s government employees.

]]> By: Porsche87 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/11/start-making-sense/comment-page-1/#comment-127473 Porsche87 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:51:40 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=10125#comment-127473 Pearlstein and I are on the same page on this (I thought I was alone with this idea). Start out with targeting the most fuel efficient vehicles they produce today, then escalate the mileage required gradually every year. This also can be used as a global warming offset, so some of the funding could come from other parts of the budget. This is a win-win solution. That said, I would still force out Nardelli and Wagonner and look at selling each company to someone with competent management, and not necessarily from the auto or manufacturing sector. Hmmm, a Microsoft Taurus or a WalMart Town and Country. Somebody needs to get these guys on track, because even if they have the right cars they have no clue how to price or market them. Pearlstein and I are on the same page on this (I thought I was alone with this idea). Start out with targeting the most fuel efficient vehicles they produce today, then escalate the mileage required gradually every year. This also can be used as a global warming offset, so some of the funding could come from other parts of the budget. This is a win-win solution.

That said, I would still force out Nardelli and Wagonner and look at selling each company to someone with competent management, and not necessarily from the auto or manufacturing sector. Hmmm, a Microsoft Taurus or a WalMart Town and Country. Somebody needs to get these guys on track, because even if they have the right cars they have no clue how to price or market them.

]]> By: marka http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/11/start-making-sense/comment-page-1/#comment-127457 marka Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:25:37 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=10125#comment-127457 Ford unlike GM has over the last 5+ years been putting a lot of effort into europe, and has come out with some great cars recently like the Focus(not the version in the USA, I suspect that even Ford don't know why there are 2 versions) and Mondeo. Having people that have been focused on selling cars in a environment where fuel prices are high and your competitors are the likes of BMW and Merc can only be a good thing. Ford unlike GM has over the last 5+ years been putting a lot of effort into europe, and has come out with some great cars recently like the Focus(not the version in the USA, I suspect that even Ford don’t know why there are 2 versions) and Mondeo. Having people that have been focused on selling cars in a environment where fuel prices are high and your competitors are the likes of BMW and Merc can only be a good thing.

]]> By: Greg0658 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/11/start-making-sense/comment-page-1/#comment-127443 Greg0658 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:30:38 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=10125#comment-127443 The last half hour saw a debate on CNBC with Jane Wells out in Cali at the auto show. Heated. How come GM isn't showing any green cars and Ford has 6 models? How in bed (you scratch my back I scratch yours) has it been between Detroit and Oil? Is all this posturing just a show to delete promises to workers on health and pensions? I'm wondering what TIF agreements the south offered the foreign auto manufactures to build factories, and provide jobs? Is this mortgage mess a play to return the money? Heres a line, after Detroit falls, there'll be a scrappers heaven to ship the steel to China. Then the lawyers can write some TIF agreements for a fresh start. What is the standard of living wage we need to set in this country? Are the taxpayers going to provide college for the kids - or mom and dad with good paying jobs? I wonder when the line "whats good for GM is good for America" came out ... what was the standard of living paycheck vs. the standard of living bills for the month? The last half hour saw a debate on CNBC with Jane Wells out in Cali at the auto show. Heated.

How come GM isn’t showing any green cars and Ford has 6 models? How in bed (you scratch my back I scratch yours) has it been between Detroit and Oil?

Is all this posturing just a show to delete promises to workers on health and pensions?

I’m wondering what TIF agreements the south offered the foreign auto manufactures to build factories, and provide jobs? Is this mortgage mess a play to return the money?

Heres a line, after Detroit falls, there’ll be a scrappers heaven to ship the steel to China. Then the lawyers can write some TIF agreements for a fresh start.

What is the standard of living wage we need to set in this country? Are the taxpayers going to provide college for the kids – or mom and dad with good paying jobs?

I wonder when the line “whats good for GM is good for America” came out … what was the standard of living paycheck vs. the standard of living bills for the month?

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