Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas....bah, Humbug...

Well, here it is, another Christmas sitting at home by myself. This time, I have company;

1. Egg Nog martini - my own invention...that means no specific recipe, just has booze in it, and its in a martini glass (I ran out of Cranberry martiniis)...
2. Crackers and Brie...with some Hungarian salami (I won't be kissing anyone, so its ok...)
3. My computer, with iTunes on loud...(Goddo playing now)
4. PokerStars, trying to win the big one...

Kids went home yesterday, after our Christmas on Saturday...they did enjoy the Xbox 360 and Rockband 2...even I enjoyed my time on drums and air guitar...lol

All alone on Christmas Eve? How are you spending your Christmas Eve for 2008? I hope better than I am spending it...

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Auto Bailout? No Thanks...

I can't keep my mouth shut anymore. With the governments ready to dole out taxpayers' cash, someone from the Fed coffers has to listen to the population.

The big 3 are going to be filing for bankruptcy in 6 months for the following reasons;

1) The infusion of billions will not change the reliability/appeal of the vehicles. The same cars will still come off the line with the same perception of reliability, even if they are green.
2) The cost that puts the big 3 at a disadvantage is the legacy costs of the retirees. The UAW/CAW have not stepped up to the plate to offer concessions in this cost, that will still exist, no matter what kind of car they produce, which will still be passed on to the consumer in our next purchase.
3) The fact that the union has "offered" and agreed with a two-tiered wage system in a previous contract shows that they know that union workers and retirees are getting way more than they deserve.
4) The union/management have not given up enough of their own stake in the survival of the company. I haven't seen anything in the news about anyone of them taking a 10% pay cut to make the company survive.
5) The hourly rate of older union workers is ridiculous. The current wage of $30+ an hour for a high school drop out, and the sense of entitlement of this wage, is disturbing.
6) Any bailout will result in the population shunning dealers and salesmen, as if they were diseased. Car salesmen were already close to the bottom of the food chain...having them fleece the consumers after a bailout will definitely turn people off.
7) Even with the bailout cash, the Jobs Bank of the Big 3 will still exist.
8) The same players at each of the Big 3 will still be in command...therefore, vision and strategy will still be the same 6 months from now.

Giving the cash to the domestic automakers, is throwing good cash after bad. I would rather see them go belly up, and see a stronger player emerge from the bankruptcies.

Trust me, bankruptcies will prevail, and you can bet that the end will occur middle of 2009...the taxpayers will not forget the government that gives in to the bailout. I will never buy a domestic vehicle again if the bailout happens.

Someone tell me again why the other companies (Toyota, VW, Honda, Hyundai, etc.) don't need handouts????