15th Nov 2009, 16:43
It's true. What has already severely weakened this country is an entrenched culture of corporate greed and focus on short-term profits for stock holders, and unjustified golden parachutes for incompetent executives at the expense of quality and longevity.
GMs management absolutely deserved to be sacked for running the company into the ground, and then simply asking for a government handout while blaming unfair competition rather than making better products and embarking on cost saving measures. At least Ford foresaw the coming storm several years ago and sold off extraneous brands to raise cash, and increased quality.
I guess if you want to feel good about America, you can buy a Ford with the knowledge that they took no bailout money, and they have a good product. Most cars made these days are pretty good, but any source will say that Fords are among the best.
15th Nov 2009, 23:42
Interesting. So advocating the destruction of 90% of the auto related jobs in the U.S. by buying from foreign industry is supposed to SOLVE our problems?? I'd hardly think destroying the U.S. economy would be classified as patriotic by any stretch of the imagination. Besides, this is a Ford Fusion site. The Ford Fusion ranks higher in reliability than any Japanese brand and Ford DID NOT take any bail out money (incidentally, Honda, Toyota and Nissan DID get bail out money from the U.S.).
16th Nov 2009, 14:57
"Besides, this is a Ford Fusion site."
Well, this is an automotive review site. Me thinks some people are trying to turn it into a "Fordpublicans" site, with all of this political nonsense.
16th Nov 2009, 15:06
So, how would you solve our economic problems? Just sweep all of the mismanagement and wasteful overspending under the rug? Yeah, lets just forgive and forget. Well I guess that is the great American way though isn't it?
Your "solution" is only a temporary fix to a long standing problem. The boat is sinking faster than you can ever bail it out. People seem to think that closing the borders and "buying American" is the big solution to all of our economic woes. Too funny.
How do you think those cars will get built without foreign intervention. Who's going to build many of the cars like the top ranked Fusion? U.S. workers? Not if Ford and GM can save money outsourcing those jobs to foreigners... Oh wait they already do that. Where are they going to get the electronics and various other parts they can't produce here from? Hmmmmm, they'll have to import those parts from foreign countries... Wait they already do that!! Seems to me that without imports, domestics wouldn't survive... and without Mexican workers Ford would have no top ranked cars! So Yes Ford did not take any bailout money.... but they also provide "0" jobs in assembling their high and mighty Fusion. That is something to be proud of!! Way to go U.S.A.!!
16th Nov 2009, 15:16
"DETROIT — General Motors Co. says it lost $1.2 billion from the time it left bankruptcy protection through Sept. 30, far better than it has reported in previous quarters and a sign that the auto giant is starting to turn around its business.
The company also says it will begin repaying $6.7 billion in U.S. government loans with a $1.2 billion payment in December. It could pay off the full amount by 2011, four years ahead of schedule, but the money will come from funds loaned by the government."
An excerpt from a Yahoo story today. This is what American business is all about. GM loses $1.2 Billion... yes that is BILLION and they think things are turning around and they are doing well.
Now read that second paragraph carefully. They will repay bailout money with loans from the government. So in effect they are paying back the government with government loaned money and will still owe the government the same money!! Did they miswrite this? Did I read it wrong?? And this is what you want to support wholeheartedly as the great American way?? You really need to wake up people... seriously!
16th Nov 2009, 16:02
" (incidentally, Honda, Toyota and Nissan DID get bail out money from the U.S.)."
Since you've clearly stated that Honda, Toyota, and Nissan are not U.S. companies, then why would the U.S. have to bail them out? You're wrong. They got a loan from JAPAN for their U.S. based markets!
16th Nov 2009, 21:30
"It's nice to not make excuses as those driving Hondas have to make. Seems tiresome. When it takes more and more away today, what's the argument? It's like digging your own grave deeper."
I couldn't have said it better. THANK YOU!!
17th Nov 2009, 16:22
Thank the good lord. It's such a relief to see that there are people out their who see the whole picture.
17th Nov 2009, 18:37
So expecting honesty and integrity in business is making excuses huh? Believe me, the grave has been dug deep enough... by the domestic car companies!
18th Nov 2009, 11:01
Ford is no better or no worse than most cars on the market, however if you really believe that because you bought a Mexican built Fusion, you can look down your nose at your neighbor who owns a Honda or Toyota, you are mistaken.
18th Nov 2009, 13:57
No it's easy quit buying Hondas is the message I saw. If you want to look at where you live, get raises again, maybe that is a direct comment as well. Again it seems people want to justify their newest import. Look in your wallet and ask if there is enough there. You can spend anywhere, but is it improving your employment and quality of life? I have a good job, but if others lose theirs overseas, I cannot get paid.
19th Nov 2009, 21:51
Import buyers never seem to get the message that destroying U.S. jobs destroys the U.S. standard of living. Buying a Honda (or ANY Japanese or German vehicles) hurts 90% of those employed in the U.S. automotive sector. If hurting 90% of our people and helping 10% makes ANY sense, I'd love to hear that explained. If another country took 90% of your income, would YOU be happy about it??
20th Nov 2009, 16:10
And domestic buyers don't seem to get the message that without some competition, the economy would be even WORSE than if some people bought Honda's. Not to mention that if we only bought domestic vehicles, the quality would drop on them by a huge amount (not that it could go much LOWER anyways) but without the Japanese or other foreign brands in the picture, the Big 3 could slack off (again) and produce terrible vehicles like they always have. Only worse this time. Some people need to buy imports, or the Big 3 would be EVEN MORE of a joke.
15th Nov 2009, 11:15
It's nice to not make excuses as those driving Hondas have to make. Seems tiresome. When it takes more and more away today, what's the argument? It's like digging your own grave deeper. Why not begin today each person making a difference and having better quality of life, better homes cars etc instead of being herded into driving little potato shaped cars. People bought elsewhere and wonder why they see life eroding where they live. If low paying import jobs appear little or no benefits, don't worry, you got what you wanted, correct?