yeah I think we should try once to bail them out. BUT AND I SAY BUT lets remember the reason there in this mess is because their retired and existing labor members are cleaning up on benefits that many of us only wish we could have. Its time for them to NO longer use that 100% health care , dental , eye and not to mention the HUGE pay pensions that are draining them of there resources. Yes if they take cuts, No if they don't. Oh and they always cut the salary employees but the hourly ones are making 80 thousand some 100 thousand a year ,,, yes I know a few of them and they got pissed off when someone suggested they pay $2.00 for the prescriptions.. Time for a change...

Sorry but we can't afford it. I make $300K a year and things are pretty tight. It's time for me to start thinking about taking care of #1.

NO-Business should fail or survive on business success. If their market is not thriving, they need new strategy. A bailout will keep them making sub-par domestic vehicles and provide no incentive to compete with foreign auto markets.

they knew years ago that consumers needed longer running, more efficient vehicles. They had a chance to change what they produced and manufacturing designs. They kept making large gas guzzlers and should reap what they did not do!

qcumber98 said:Sorry but we can't afford it. I make $300K a year and things are pretty tight. It's time for me to start thinking about taking care of #1.

You a plumber?

webferret said:partialinsomniac said:qcumber98 said:Sorry but we can't afford it. I make $300K a year and things are pretty tight. It's time for me to start thinking about taking care of #1.
Forgive me for what may come off as inflammatory -- I mean nothing of the sort -- but as someone who was raised under and makes nowhere near the amount, I have trouble comprehending what "tight" is like under $300K a year. I lurk FWF every now and then, and based on this thread, it seems like things have to go horribly awry (or perhaps you decided to invest a majority of your earnings in the market?) for that to occur.

Things are certainly harder than they were before. I have no doubt that this economic downturn is affecting everyone, but if you don't mind me asking, how is it affecting you personally? What sort of reductions are you forced to make? Thanks.

I'm guessing Q was expressing his unique brand of humor there.He was referring to this and this recent threads

First off, $300K is a killing. Anyone so greedy that they think they need anywhere near that deserves to take a massive, and I do mean MASSIVE pay cut.
Why did we even bail the banks out? I thought the free enterprise system worked this way. A company has trouble, they have to change their business plan, merge or else they simply fail. The banks got in trouble in the first place because they offered such low interest rates and readily available financing to everyone. So now we're going to bail an automaker out because they can't make a vehicle to compete with Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and other imports? Screw 'em.

You are right about the benefits thingy. Foxnews reported they are asking 50billion, 50% to manufacturing and 50% to pay benefits/healthcare.

My friends husband, used to work for Ford 30 years ago. He no longer is with them but the family still reaps the benefit. 100% all paid for. Surgery, vision you name it plus pension. This is even after he is dead.

They killed themselves by poor planning, poor vision for future development and greed.

webferret said:partialinsomniac said:qcumber98 said:Sorry but we can't afford it. I make $300K a year and things are pretty tight. It's time for me to start thinking about taking care of #1.
Forgive me for what may come off as inflammatory -- I mean nothing of the sort -- but as someone who was raised under and makes nowhere near the amount, I have trouble comprehending what "tight" is like under $300K a year. I lurk FWF every now and then, and based on this thread, it seems like things have to go horribly awry (or perhaps you decided to invest a majority of your earnings in the market?) for that to occur.

Things are certainly harder than they were before. I have no doubt that this economic downturn is affecting everyone, but if you don't mind me asking, how is it affecting you personally? What sort of reductions are you forced to make? Thanks.

I'm guessing Q was expressing his unique brand of humor there.
humor not funny here (as is is not often)

thumpergeek said:First off, $300K is a killing. Anyone so greedy that they think they need anywhere near that deserves to take a massive, and I do mean MASSIVE pay cut....How about if that person makes significant contributions to society in terms of providing goods or services or if that person risked a heck of a lot of his own money?

In the late 80s & early 90s, I worked for a company with salespeople who routinely made over $500,000, with the really heavy hitters bringing down over $1M/yr. They did this by selling some very big-ticket contracts for big bucks against stiff competition. IMNHO, they really did earn their pay because of the business they brought into our company.

They'll get bailed out whether you like it or not. No politician can afford a 15-20% unemployment in Michigan.