Big Three Bailout - Page 10

**Bumper** · 11-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sctx

loan Toyota, Nissan, and Honda money to buy out the Big 3

Maybe if they wait a while they can pick them up at fire sale prices, and pay for them out of petty cash.

**sctx** · 11-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumper

Maybe if they wait a while they can pick them up at fire sale prices, and pay for them out of petty cash.

E-Bay may be the answer...... opening bid for GM is $3

birdman · 11-19-2008

If anyone here is actually concerned about the economy---buy American. Pretty simple I would think but then again that would probably put Walmart, Sams Club, K Mart & a few others in a bad financial situation & we'd have to bail them out to save some jobs.
Never mind, carry on.

**Bumper** · 11-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sctx

E-Bay may be the answer...... opening bid for GM is $3

They ought to be able to do better than that. They should speak to Sarah Palin about how to maximize the price of big ticket items on E-bay.

**sctx** · 11-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumper

They ought to be able to do better than that. They should speak to Sarah Palin about how to maximize the price of big ticket items on E-bay.

there's a difference...... that jet was something of value

MWC · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdman

If anyone here is actually concerned about the economy---buy American. Pretty simple I would think but then again that would probably put Walmart, Sams Club, K Mart & a few others in a bad financial situation & we'd have to bail them out to save some jobs.
Never mind, carry on.

It's harder to do than it looks ... I think we could count on both hands those products or product lines that are "pure American" ... maybe even have fingers left over.
But I agree with you, that most of us are in WTF mode. As a consumer, I have cut our household spending back drastically ... then I read in the paper

that consumer cut-backs are putting the economy further in the sh*tter. Well, that just tells me that our consumer economy had become way too overheated, and needs to readjust ... so what, exactly, should a responsible, patriotic consumer do right now?

**sctx** · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWC

... so what, exactly, should a responsible, patriotic consumer do right now?

Mandatory government classes for personal finance

farmgirl · 11-20-2008

Good question asked on the news last night when the top execs met with the govt. They asked how many of them had flown to the meeting on a commercial airline, not one had!! All private jets. Makes you really shake your head and wonder why our tax $$ need to spent to bail them out!!!

roni · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWC

It's harder to do than it looks ... I think we could count on both hands those products or product lines that are "pure American" ... maybe even have fingers left over.
But I agree with you, that most of us are in WTF mode. As a consumer, I have cut our household spending back drastically ... then I read in the paper

that consumer cut-backs are putting the economy further in the sh*tter. Well, that just tells me that our consumer economy had become way too overheated, and needs to readjust ... so what, exactly, should a responsible, patriotic consumer do right now?

Take care of themselves. Reduce or eliminate debt. Dig a bunker

Donate time/food/money to the local food bank. Unemployment in Oregon went up nearly 1% last month. There are more parents out there who are having trouble feeding their children. Help them.

We never buy a lot of stuff, but we have been lately - a new digital camera (the old one was 5 or 6 years old). We are looking for good deals on appliances (fridge and dishwasher) in early 2009. We anticipate that there will be some good deals.

We've increased the amount of money that is going into retirement investments each month. We are considering increasing that again in early 2009. The market probably has more to go down, but I think if you have 10 years before you'll need the money, it could be a good move. Of course, it may not be and we could lose the 50% portion of that going into stocks. This falls under the being able to take care our ourselves portion of the answer. That is the most patriotic part of it, I guess. Try not to be a burden on others.

What you are doing, MWC, upgrading skills, getting certified to teach, being prepared for changes in the job market - those are all important things. At the age of 57, if I got laid off, I suspect we would sell out and move to Mexico - of course, I would get anywhere from a 6 month to a years notice - being union and all.

That is what this responsible consumer is going now. Patriotism does not enter into the equation for me when making those consuming decisions.

**ryberg** · 11-20-2008

Yeah, I remember those "Hungry? Eat your import!" bumper stickers from when I was a kid or maybe a teenager. Thing is (thing number 1), that's not capitalism and the free market, and people are going to buy what's better, or cheaper, or better and cheaper, for those reasons, not because of where it was made, at least in most cases.

And thing number 2 is what Martha just pointed out: globalization in business has so blurred the lines involved, especially with something as complex as a car, that you'd have a hard time buying truly American even if you wanted to do so at the expense of thing number 1.

That whole view appears to be the equivalent of isolationist sentiment prior to WWII: maybe tenable in an older, simpler world, but not realistic any longer.

Steve

melliedee · 11-20-2008

I have never bought a foreign car because of my Dad. No one in our family has.

He is the most difficult person to buy gifts for, because he flips everything over to read the fine print then mutters "China," like it's the biggest insult to him. I got him a book last year called "Made in America," and there are still quite a few companies out there.

I agree that consumers should buy the best deal out there with regard to vehicles. If the big three can go more feul efficient in a hurry and US consumers have their back, they might have a chance.

**sctx** · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by melliedee

I agree that consumers should buy the best deal out there with regard to vehicles. If the big three can go more feul efficient in a hurry and US consumers have their back, they might have a chance.

It's not just fuel economy, it's quality and resale value retainage. I think Blue Book just came out with their value retainage rankings yesterday. Not a single American manufacturer in the top 10. Chrysler came out at like 23% retainage and the leader was Honda I believe at 44%. As far as the term, I think it was 5 or 6 years....... all numbers approx,. someone can post a link for actuals if they want

**ryberg** · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmgirl

Good question asked on the news last night when the top execs met with the govt. They asked how many of them had flown to the meeting on a commercial airline, not one had!! All private jets. Makes you really shake your head and wonder why our tax $$ need to spent to bail them out!!!

Quote:

"There's a delicious irony in seeing private luxury jets flying into Washington, D.C., and people coming off of them with tin cups in their hands," Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.) advised the pampered executives at a hearing yesterday. "It's almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in high-hat and tuxedo. . . . I mean, couldn't you all have downgraded to first class or jet-pooled or something to get here?"

The Big Three said nothing, which prompted Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) to rub it in. "I'm going to ask the three executives here to raise their hand if they flew here commercial," he said. All still at the witness table. "Second," he continued, "I'm going ask you to raise your hand if you're planning to sell your jet . . . and fly back commercial." More stillness. "Let the record show no hands went up," Sherman grandstanded.

Steve

Rissask · 11-20-2008

We both own Chevys.

But I sure miss my Suzuki

...and my next car will likely be a Mazda...sorry.

I try to 'buy Canadian' whenever I can, but it is really hard....so much stuff is made in China, MOST stuff, actually.

I do try to not buy useless crap, period, as much as possible.

Not using credit has to be the single most important thing we can all do right now, and trying to lessen our household bad debt loads.

See Turtle · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rissask

We both own Chevys.

But I sure miss my Suzuki

...and my next car will likely be a Mazda...sorry.

Until yesterday, that Mazda was a Ford.

Link

11-20-2008	#145 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: real America Posts: 13,956	Yeah, I remember those "Hungry? Eat your import!" bumper stickers from when I was a kid or maybe a teenager. Thing is (thing number 1), that's not capitalism and the free market, and people are going to buy what's better, or cheaper, or better and cheaper, for those reasons, not because of where it was made, at least in most cases. And thing number 2 is what Martha just pointed out: globalization in business has so blurred the lines involved, especially with something as complex as a car, that you'd have a hard time buying truly American even if you wanted to do so at the expense of thing number 1. That whole view appears to be the equivalent of isolationist sentiment prior to WWII: maybe tenable in an older, simpler world, but not realistic any longer. Steve Last edited by ryberg; 11-20-2008 at 08:05 AM..

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11-19-2008	#138 (permalink)
birdman añejo Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wa state Posts: 1,968	If anyone here is actually concerned about the economy---buy American. Pretty simple I would think but then again that would probably put Walmart, Sams Club, K Mart & a few others in a bad financial situation & we'd have to bail them out to save some jobs. Never mind, carry on.

11-20-2008	#143 (permalink)
farmgirl reposado Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,440	Good question asked on the news last night when the top execs met with the govt. They asked how many of them had flown to the meeting on a commercial airline, not one had!! All private jets. Makes you really shake your head and wonder why our tax $$ need to spent to bail them out!!!

11-20-2008	#146 (permalink)
melliedee añejo Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,238	I have never bought a foreign car because of my Dad. No one in our family has. He is the most difficult person to buy gifts for, because he flips everything over to read the fine print then mutters "China," like it's the biggest insult to him. I got him a book last year called "Made in America," and there are still quite a few companies out there. I agree that consumers should buy the best deal out there with regard to vehicles. If the big three can go more feul efficient in a hurry and US consumers have their back, they might have a chance.

11-20-2008	#149 (permalink)
Rissask Canada Dry Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 27,159	We both own Chevys. But I sure miss my Suzuki ...and my next car will likely be a Mazda...sorry. I try to 'buy Canadian' whenever I can, but it is really hard....so much stuff is made in China, MOST stuff, actually. I do try to not buy useless crap, period, as much as possible. Not using credit has to be the single most important thing we can all do right now, and trying to lessen our household bad debt loads.