Comments on: GM’s closing of the Janesville plant http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/ To a sufficient degree; in an evenhanded manner. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:53:23 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Grant http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5107 Grant Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:56:37 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5107 Doyle's babbling on the news was disgusting. This guy has the charisma of a tree stump! He seemed to be accusing GM of being irresponsible and almost criminal for making a capitalist business decision. That is the problem with government careerists like Doyle that don't know how to confront financial problems by cutting costs. GM did the only thing they could do and it is a responsible action. They sure won't be putting a new line into an old dilapitated facility. Would you recommend breast implants for a 90 year old woman? Doyle’s babbling on the news was disgusting. This guy has the charisma of a tree stump! He seemed to be accusing GM of being irresponsible and almost criminal for making a capitalist business decision. That is the problem with government careerists like Doyle that don’t know how to confront financial problems by cutting costs. GM did the only thing they could do and it is a responsible action. They sure won’t be putting a new line into an old dilapitated facility. Would you recommend breast implants for a 90 year old woman?

]]> By: Cindy Kilkenny http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5092 Cindy Kilkenny Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:02:11 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5092 Man, that was well said. Everything comes at a price. I had a post half written earlier along those lines, but it sounded too preachy so I erased it. You did a better job. Man, that was well said. Everything comes at a price.

I had a post half written earlier along those lines, but it sounded too preachy so I erased it. You did a better job.

]]> By: Zaphod Beeblebrox http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5091 Zaphod Beeblebrox Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:47:04 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5091 For those who want to gripe about GM being "behind the times", answer this question. Q: Which automaker most recently (i.e. in the last 18 months) opened a new vehicle manufacturing plant to make large pickups and SUV's? A: Toyota (Tundra plant in San Antonio, TX) Gee, by that standard, guess they're not too smart either... Seriously, GM's main problem was the idiotic crew of "brand managers" they hired from Procter & Gamble in the mid-to-late 90's. These guys didn't know the car industry at all, but thought they knew marketing. They're the ones who pretty much gave up on competitive smaller vehicles - their mantra was, if there's not large profit potential behind it, let's not invest in it. Whoops... BTW GM is not immune to gas mileage decreasing. Most mid-90's cars got better mileage than their current models - from all manufacturers. This is primarily related to: a) horsepower - in the mid 90's you'd be hard-pressed to find a family sedan with 140-160 hp. Today's models regularly are in the 260-300 hp range for V6's. b) luxury/amenities - power everything comes with a cost in efficienty (weight). c) safety standards - add in all of the head/side curtain airbags, crumple zones, et. al. and you'll find that most modern cars are 300+ lbs heavier than their previous generations (not factoring in the increasing waistlines of Americans :) For those who want to gripe about GM being “behind the times”, answer this question.

Q: Which automaker most recently (i.e. in the last 18 months) opened a new vehicle manufacturing plant to make large pickups and SUV’s?

A: Toyota (Tundra plant in San Antonio, TX)

Gee, by that standard, guess they’re not too smart either…

Seriously, GM’s main problem was the idiotic crew of “brand managers” they hired from Procter & Gamble in the mid-to-late 90’s. These guys didn’t know the car industry at all, but thought they knew marketing. They’re the ones who pretty much gave up on competitive smaller vehicles – their mantra was, if there’s not large profit potential behind it, let’s not invest in it. Whoops…

BTW GM is not immune to gas mileage decreasing. Most mid-90’s cars got better mileage than their current models – from all manufacturers. This is primarily related to:

a) horsepower – in the mid 90’s you’d be hard-pressed to find a family sedan with 140-160 hp. Today’s models regularly are in the 260-300 hp range for V6’s.
b) luxury/amenities – power everything comes with a cost in efficienty (weight).
c) safety standards – add in all of the head/side curtain airbags, crumple zones, et. al. and you’ll find that most modern cars are 300+ lbs heavier than their previous generations (not factoring in the increasing waistlines of Americans :)

]]> By: Zach W. http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5087 Zach W. Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:41:09 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5087 Cathy, to answer your question, the state keeps handing companies like GM money because it wants to keep businesses here. To be honest, it's a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" type situation. If lawmakers don't give GM handouts they're blasted as being anti-business, and if they do give handouts only to see that company shutter its plant, they're criticized for giving too many handouts. Cathy, to answer your question, the state keeps handing companies like GM money because it wants to keep businesses here. To be honest, it’s a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” type situation. If lawmakers don’t give GM handouts they’re blasted as being anti-business, and if they do give handouts only to see that company shutter its plant, they’re criticized for giving too many handouts.

]]> By: Kathryn http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5085 Kathryn Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:02:47 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5085 GM makes money when the market embraces vehicles that GM makes well--large, smooth rolling, sedans and trucks. Their image problem in the 1980's was because their 1970's vehicles were of poor quality, and ugly too. That was the decade of high priced fuel and quick-fixes to improve fuel economy. Nobody liked the 70's cars, and GM paid for them for the next decade. The 90's were good for big vehicles and GM made money. That company doesn't turn on a dime. Guess what is coming up.... GM makes money when the market embraces vehicles that GM makes well–large, smooth rolling, sedans and trucks. Their image problem in the 1980’s was because their 1970’s vehicles were of poor quality, and ugly too. That was the decade of high priced fuel and quick-fixes to improve fuel economy. Nobody liked the 70’s cars, and GM paid for them for the next decade. The 90’s were good for big vehicles and GM made money. That company doesn’t turn on a dime. Guess what is coming up….

]]> By: Cindy Kilkenny http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5084 Cindy Kilkenny Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:48:19 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5084 GM sold cars and trucks and made money for their shareholders a good part of those 10+ years, so I don't think they're really that far behind. GM sold cars and trucks and made money for their shareholders a good part of those 10+ years, so I don’t think they’re really that far behind.

]]> By: Shawn Matson http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5083 Shawn Matson Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:43:48 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5083 Kathryn said something about extremism flourishing when things go bad a few posts back. The same goes for blame. As history repeats itself in American foreign and domestic boondoggles, a Manifest Destiny incarnate rears it's ugly head once again. Cindy, while your assessment (and blame) of the state is correct, maybe GM should try not to be 10+ years behind in innovation and market pulse in order to keep their operations running. Just a thought. In a room of pointed fingers, the only one to blame is yourself. Kathryn said something about extremism flourishing when things go bad a few posts back. The same goes for blame.

As history repeats itself in American foreign and domestic boondoggles, a Manifest Destiny incarnate rears it’s ugly head once again.

Cindy, while your assessment (and blame) of the state is correct, maybe GM should try not to be 10+ years behind in innovation and market pulse in order to keep their operations running. Just a thought.

In a room of pointed fingers, the only one to blame is yourself.

]]> By: Kathryn http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5082 Kathryn Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:48:24 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5082 And the manufacturers have blocked efforts to increase fuel efficiency, while the Right said the market will take care of it. Looks like the market has spoken. This industry is like a water balloon--squeeze one side or the other, something will bulge. There's plenty of blame to go around, but probably not one perfect solution; the variables are always in flux. And the manufacturers have blocked efforts to increase fuel efficiency, while the Right said the market will take care of it. Looks like the market has spoken.

This industry is like a water balloon–squeeze one side or the other, something will bulge. There’s plenty of blame to go around, but probably not one perfect solution; the variables are always in flux.

]]> By: Cindy Kilkenny http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5081 Cindy Kilkenny Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:36:36 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5081 I'm past ROFL and well into disgust. I’m past ROFL and well into disgust.

]]> By: Leapin http://fairlyconservative.com/2008/06/03/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5080 Leapin Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:32:31 +0000 http://fairlyconservative.com/wisconsin/gms-closing-of-the-janesville-plant/#comment-5080 The SUV represents everything the Left hates but Doyle laments the closing of the plant and will bring "good" jobs to the tax and regulatory hell of WI. The Left has blocked any effort to increase the energy supply in meaningful ways for decades and are now blaming Bush ! I'm ROFL ! The SUV represents everything the Left hates but Doyle laments the closing of the plant and will bring “good” jobs to the tax and regulatory hell of WI. The Left has blocked any effort to increase the energy supply in meaningful ways for decades and are now blaming Bush ! I’m ROFL !

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