OT: Anybody hear about Pontiac? Options

[dbgriffith75]

There wasn't a lot of detailed discussion about it, but on the morning talk show they were saying that by this time next year, GM will have discontinued production of the Pontiac brand.

Just wondering if anybody else heard about this?

[rascobo]

To all those concerned about Government involvement;* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)

Since 1980 'You've' been the 'Government' and done just about anything and everything (legal and otherwise)to remove any regulations, oversight and boundries, placed on Industry, and with astounding success. Now we're all paying the cost for it . I don't expect to hear anyone admit to self-serving gullibility, and self-delusion, much less, outright greed and deception. But now that they've f*#*ked everything up, I would hope they had at least enough shame to shut the f#*k up, and give others a fair chance to try and fix it.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/finger.gif)

[rcarpen22]

To all those concerned about Government involvement;* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)

Since 1980 'You've' been the 'Government' and done just about anything and everything (legal and otherwise)to remove any regulations, oversight and boundries, placed on Industry, and with astounding success. Now we're all paying the cost for it . I don't expect to hear anyone admit to self-serving gullibility, and self-delusion, much less, outright greed and deception. But now that they've f*#*ked everything up, I would hope they had at least enough shame to shut the f#*k up, and give others a fair chance to try and fix it.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/finger.gif)

If this is an assertion that any kind of deregulation under republican administrations is responsible for the plight of the auto industry, I would love to hear that expounded upon. I'm not at all trying to be contentious, but I just don't think that argument can be made very well. For the banking industry maybe, but I would suggest that most people here are referring to the UAW being complicit in GM's demise by making them uncompetitive. UAW interest in American carmakers will do nothing but ensure that US companies are never competitive again. Also, while previous administrations may have allowed a little too much deregulation in certain areas, people still have every right to disagree with the path that this administration is taking, which is to declare that big government is the answer to everything rather than simply reinstating or strengthening regulation in targeted areas to fix the problems. It's a power grab. I too am sorry to see Pontiac die since they make the only cool cars that GM offers. Oh well.

[Derek Seymour]

To all those concerned about Government involvement;* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)

Since 1980 'You've' been the 'Government' and done just about anything and everything (legal and otherwise)to remove any regulations, oversight and boundries, placed on Industry, and with astounding success. Now we're all paying the cost for it . I don't expect to hear anyone admit to self-serving gullibility, and self-delusion, much less, outright greed and deception. But now that they've f*#*ked everything up, I would hope they had at least enough shame to shut the f#*k up, and give others a fair chance to try and fix it.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/finger.gif)

If this is an assertion that any kind of deregulation under republican administrations is responsible for the plight of the auto industry, I would love to hear that expounded upon. I'm not at all trying to be contentious, but I just don't think that argument can be made very well. For the banking industry maybe, but I would suggest that most people here are referring to the UAW being complicit in GM's demise by making them uncompetitive. UAW interest in American carmakers will do nothing but ensure that US companies are never competitive again. Also, while previous administrations may have allowed a little too much deregulation in certain areas, people still have every right to disagree with the path that this administration is taking, which is to declare that big government is the answer to everything rather than simply reinstating or strengthening regulation in targeted areas to fix the problems. It's a power grab. I too am sorry to see Pontiac die since they make the only cool cars that GM offers. Oh well.

I'm your huckleberry...

It is indicative of the b.s. ideology that those administrations promoted to the American people. Buy Buy Buy, Use it up in 2-3 years throw it in a land fill and Buy Buy Buy!!!! Unsustainable growth leading to an inflated economy built on projections of sales and profit that didn't exist. It goes back to the conservative trickle down models that were devised in the 40' and 50's when a bunch of hacks read John Maynard Keynes and decided that supply side economics is what we should base our economy on.
Love him or hate him Carter saw the writing on the wall and wanted to bailout/regulate the auto industry. The Carter administration actually did what we are doing today but with Conrail, turning it into a very profitable company that was considered a prized asset by the mid 80's. However in 1980 we got Ronald "Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem," Reagan and all that was filed in the round bin and we went back to supply side economics. However this time it was called Trickle Down Economics. But we all know what trickles down right.... yep..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) right on the face of the middle and working class. Thanks guys way to crap on the people that built this country.

And that's enough from me because this is a fun site for entertainment... not politics.. and I don't want to (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) on the playground (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[dbgriffith75]

I'm your huckleberry...

It is indicative of the b.s. ideology that those administrations promoted to the American people. Buy Buy Buy, Use it up in 2-3 years throw it in a land fill and Buy Buy Buy!!!! Unsustainable growth leading to an inflated economy built on projections of sales and profit that didn't exist. It goes back to the conservative trickle down models that were devised in the 40' and 50's when a bunch of hacks read John Maynard Keynes and decided that supply side economics is what we should base our economy on.
Love him or hate him Carter saw the writing on the wall and wanted to bailout/regulate the auto industry. The Carter administration actually did what we are doing today but with Conrail, turning it into a very profitable company that was considered a prized asset by the mid 80's. However in 1980 we got Ronald "Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem," Reagan and all that was filed in the round bin and we went back to supply side economics. However this time it was called Trickle Down Economics. But we all know what trickles down right.... yep..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) right on the face of the middle and working class. Thanks guys way to crap on the people that built this country.

And that's enough from me because this is a fun site for entertainment... not politics.. and I don't want to (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) on the playground (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I agree with what you're saying here. I'm not [no offense] old enough to remember the Carter administration- namely because I wasn't born yet-, but I never fully understood how car manufacturers managed to stay in business when they were producing waaaaay more cars than they were selling. It's not like they're making bread and have a guaranteed sales clientele.

A big name dealer around here is Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny- this place has at least 20 acres full of brand new Chevy's; and I just don't get how they can stay in business, because while they may do better than most dealers around here, it's not like they've got somebody buying a new car every single day. If you ask my dad he'll tell you that it's because Karl himself has ties to the mob, but I doubt if even the mob can finance this place. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

You know it really does bother me that a lot of people are going to [or already have] lose their jobs thru this ordeal, and that it's come down to discontinuing brands of cars to keep the industry going. But all in all the auto industry is responsible for its own demise. They kept approving people who aren't financially responsible to buy cars on their credit, and now they're up shit creek without a paddle because of it. I remember hearing on the radio about two months ago that car loans 30+ days past due make up for something like 7 billion dollars of our debt. What were they really planning to do with that bailout money they've been begging for? Straighten themselves out financially, or scream out to the American public "HEY! We've got money now! Go to your local dealer for pre-approval today!"

Personally I think it's the latter. But that's just me.