This is why I have the upmost respect for Ford Motor Company.
True capitalism is about failure vs reward. The possibility of failure keeps entrepreneurs humble in not taking miscalculated and excessive risks. Sometimes, businesses fail, because they aren't alert enough to see the blowing winds of change. In 2009, General Motors and Chrysler didn't move fast enough to restructure their business model and labor costs to meet the downturn in the automotive sales climate due to the souring economy. Because of their actions, they went to congress and Obama with their tin cans out looking for a bailout from the American tax payers. Ford took a different route. They aggressively cut costs and laid out the situation of the company to the United Auto Workers Union. The union took concessions to save their union jobs, and management was able to steer Ford back into profitability this year. Because the executives at Ford didn't go to Washington to be bailed out, Ford doesn't have any government owners of it's stock. Ford just came out with a new commercial that shows the main difference between them and their government owned rivals Chrysler and General Motors.
They're people who say that the bailouts of GM and Chrysler was not only a success but the right choice by Obama and the federal government. I guess is it worth it to save your life if it means selling your soul in the process? I believe Ford did it the right way, and I applaud them for it.
They're people who say that the bailouts of GM and Chrysler was not only a success but the right choice by Obama and the federal government. I guess is it worth it to save your life if it means selling your soul in the process? I believe Ford did it the right way, and I applaud them for it.
posted by Alpha Conservative Male at 6:04 PM
21 Comments:
I'll never buy another GM or Chrysler product. I don't care how cheap it is.
I'm with you Joe. It's bad enough that the government on every level has a least one tentacle attached to us in our daily lives. I will not buy a car that the United States government has an ownership stake in. When automobiles companies like Chrysler and GM have to answer to a federal government "car czar", that is where I draw the line in my purchasing decision of a new vehicle. No way in hell will I buy a car from those two.
ROFLMAO!!!!!!
You'll never buy a GM or Chrysler product??? LOOOOOOOOOL!!!!
Guess what guys? You've just proven the theories that guide Madison Avenue advertisers.
What you fail to realize is.... IT'S A "COMMERCIAL"!!! A product AD!!
First off, GM and Chrysler are back to profitability. Ford see's this, so now the gloves are off. Secondly, Ford knows that there's a politically active conservative movement that did not agree with the bailout loans. Although small, there's a possible market percentage of malcontents that feel the same way as you all. So what do you think the market strategy would be? Right!!! Sell them cars!!
"Madison Avenue is a very powerful aggression against private consciousness. A demand that you yield your private consciousness to public manipulation".
-Marshall McLuhan-
Moreover, "Chris" is not as well informed about government "LOAN" money to the auto industry. It's safe to say that Ford wasn't going to enlighten ole' Chris either. In January of this year Ford Motor took a $5.9 billion LOAN from the U.S. Government.
Apparently Chris is not an actor, or a Ford employee. He just a guy touting his personal ideology. That's perfectly fine.
Yet, Ford possibly stands to make millions off his statement. Chris' sudden claim to "conservative fame" can only benefit him if he get's to appear on conservative talk shows and political speaking engagements. He can go the way of a "Joe the Plumber", or "The Octo' Mom." Otherwise, Ford Motor company owns him nothing.
The reality is that Ford hourly workers earnings are basically the same as GM and Chrysler. They all took similar concessions. Moreover, Ford execs sat in support right along side GM and Chrysler in D.C. during the bailout talks.
Hey, it's needless for me to tell you, or any one else what company you should spend your money with. However, I would never weigh a factor like, "whether the government loaned a manufacturer money" against a factor like... let's say a company that's had The largest amount of recalled vehicles of all time.
Being a conservative seems to be very easy. It appears that you don't need to "think for yourself" even when it comes to where and how you spend your money. I'll wait and see if the FOX News talking head shows will pick up on this "COMMERCIAL", and run entire segments giving Ford Motor free commercial ad time. Hell, I have friends and relatives who work for Ford. They'll love to get more overtime pay!!!
"There's a sucker born every minute".
-P.T. Barnum-
CB;"It's bad enough that the government on every level has a least one tentacle attached to us in our daily lives".
Mean ole' meddling pesky guberment, got their nose poked in everything we doo! You should start a protest movement Tyrone. Better still, A BOYCOTT!!! Yeah that's it. Boycott everything the government has anything to do with.
Don't drive your "non GM or Chrysler" vehicle on any government built roads or bridges. Don't take a bus, train or an airplane that has any government employee's involved in it's operations. It would be best if you didn't take any form of air transportation in the United States because air traffic controllers are government employees.
Boycott all government run (and those that accept government funds) Fire, Police, EMS, schools, Health Clinics and hospitals. Never accept medi-caid, medi-care or Social Security. You might be able to convince your parents and grandparents to give theirs up!
Don't eat or drink anything prepared, approved or inspected by the U.S. Government. Don't take and drug or medication approved by the U.S. Government.
Don't forget to close your eyes at night so you wont be accused of using public lighting. Oh yeah...ask permission to walk on the grass of all your neighbors so you won't have to use the public side walk.
There's a lot more government meddling going on, and I could site more, but I think you got the message...
That is an awesome commercial!
The bailouts of GM and Chrysler could only be considered a success by the unions and owners now fat with our tax money. They still owe us over $40 billion, btw.
What is ironic, many years ago, Chrysler was on the verge of bankruptcy until Lee Iaccoca came along and got the company turned around. It's too bad that they did not ask him to come back and helped them with their financial situation.
I don't own a vehicle, but I too would never buy a car from Chrysler and GM.
But what I thought was funny was when the Chrysler and GM executives came to the Senate and asked for a bailout. One of the questions was asked was if they were willing to give up their private jets and their other luxury items. Their jaws dropped to the table.
To P. Anthony Allen: Look around and tell me how many brand new Chrysler and GM vehicles are running around the streets.
Don't ask the dealers, because my guess is that they will tell you a lie that they have been "selling like hotcakes".
Sure P.Allen, because the Gov't bailing out failing car manufacturers is COMPLETELY ANALAGOUS with infrastructure (which everyone knows, the government is actually responsible for.)
What was that about "a sucker born every minute"? Thanks for using yourself as an example.
It was the unions that brought GM and Chrysler to the brink of bankruptcy in the first place. Obama's union buddies are only concerned about their fat tax payer paid paychecks.
I said from the outset that GM and Chrysler should have been left alone to restructure, which at the time I believed would have happened. Now I hope that they fail. It would serve this administration right if all those lazy union slobs were put out on the streets.
To me a Ford union slob is no different from a GM or any commie union. I suggest that you dont buy anything made by the socialist unions.
Tyrone... Love your blog and keep up the good work!
I'm with Joe and won't buy a GM or Chrysler either and the bailout is a big reason. Last year, I got rid of my Civic and bought a Mustang. I went through 2 rear passenger side tires in a year on the Civic and there were some other minor nuisances that I didn't care for either. Haven't had a SINGLE problem with the Mustang...
P. Anthony...Learn how to read. That so-called bailout article you referenced was dated June 2009 and is about Ford taking a loan out of a government fund used to help fund green car research and production.
Ford should have funded the research on their own without government help. As one of the 50% of tax filers that actually pays taxes, the government needs to get out of the green jobs business completely and quit using my tax money to help pay for stuff that the free market says is suspect.
And I love your recall reference too. The 1971-1976 Pinto (recall in 1978)? 1991-2001 Explorer (recall in 2001)? That's some damned fine and timely research... Damned fine.
Again Tyrone, Great Blog!
Scott
Also P.Allen, I would have MUCH preferred the gov't using the money they spent on bailing out Chrysler and GM on repairing our falling apart infrastructure!
The Government took GM away from it's bond & stockholders, stiffed them (or gave them pennies on the dollar), and then turned the company along with $50b in taxpayer loans to the UAW. Then they stiffed the car owners and voided all their warranties.
No I will NEVER buy another GM or Chrysler product. EVER.
Anon;"To P. Anthony Allen: Look around and tell me how many brand new Chrysler and GM vehicles are running around the streets".
I was born, raised and still live here in Detroit. As I drive around in my "Cadillac" I bought new 4 years ago, I see lots of new autos on the road. I have no idea what people drive where you live.
HERE'S GM's sales figues for 2010. You can Google Chrysler's figures on your own.
Anon;"What is ironic, many years ago, Chrysler was on the verge of bankruptcy until Lee Iaccoca came along and got the company turned around. It's too bad that they did not ask him to come back and helped them with their financial situation".
Okay... Another misinformed conservative!! Turn the channel! FOX News is really making some people appear very stupid. Where do you think Lee Iaccoca got the money to turn Chrysler around? Here's a Link to a source that's obviously more reliable than FOX News.
Anon;"P. Anthony...Learn how to read. That so-called bailout article you referenced was dated June 2009".
My mistake! I typed January instead of June. Going back and forth between the web pages could have made me think I saw January... but who knows... However, the fact that I made a mistake doesn't mean I can't read!
Anon;"and is about Ford taking a loan out of a government fund used to help fund green car research and production".
So, I guess a "LOAN" is really not a "LOAN?" And a "GOVERNMENT" loan is really not a "GOVERNMENT" loan? Okay fine! A government loan really isn't a government loan... (if you don't want it to be). See how easy I am to get along with?
Anon;"And I love your recall reference too. The 1971-1976 Pinto (recall in 1978)? 1991-2001 Explorer (recall in 2001)? That's some damned fine and timely research... Damned fine".
Thank You!
I vividly remember both those recalls. It took Ford some time to admit that there were problems with the vehicles in both cases.
But that wasn't the reason why I posted the link in the first place. My intention was to show how totally stupid it would be, when spending ten's of thousands of dollars, to factor in rather or not the U.S. government has a stake in a product.
I mean really...are you willing to either spend more money for a lesser product good just to satisfy an ideology, which is basically just an idea? Would you be willing to spend your money on a lesser product that could possibly harm you or your family, just to satisfy an idea?
Why would you even consider such a factor, especially if your alternative is buying a product from,... lets say Singapore's Temasek Holdings? Or a company partly, or solely owned by any other foreign government. I seriously doubt if any one here checks every product they buy, to see where it came from, and who owns the company.
Conservatives (the ones who are not millionaires) are really simple minded and twisted when it comes to going against your own best interest. Honestly, AS AN AVERAGE AMERICAN WORKER, WHAT GOOD WOULD IT DO YOU, if GM or Chrysler went out of business? Even if you owned a small business, what positive economic benefits could you reap from GM and Chrysler going under?
Since 2000 almost almost 8 million jobs have been lost in the U.S.. HOW DID THOSE JOB LOSSES BENEFIT YOU????
If those job losses did not benefit you, your argument for more job losses is completely and utterly ass-backwards, and quite frankly STUPID!!!
Since you wont buy a car manufactured by an American worker, FOR WHAT EVER REASON, it obvious you want the company to fail. Thus, you're hoping for more people to be put out of work. Spin anyway you wish, but the proof is in the putting.
p allen "You'll never buy a GM or Chrysler product??? LOOOOOOOOOL!!!!"
I know allen, isn't funny that people actually make purchasing decisions based on certain things that are important to them? I mean how insane is that?
p allen "Guess what guys? You've just proven the theories that guide Madison Avenue advertisers. "
As usual, wrong as two left shoes. A lot of people got turned off from GM and Chrysler the moment the government bailed them out. This commercial merely reinforces what many people feel allen. Madison ave is about finding the message for a product that appeals to the targeted audience. The non bailout message was designed for people who didn't like the government taking over GM and part of Chrysler. You talked about madision ave, yet you have no idea how advertising and marketing works. lol
p allen "First off, GM and Chrysler are back to profitability. Ford see's this, so now the gloves are off. Secondly, Ford knows that there's a politically active conservative movement that did not agree with the bailout loans. Although small, there's a possible market percentage of malcontents that feel the same way as you all. So what do you think the market strategy would be? Right!!! Sell them cars!!"
So they claim to be back to profitability. The fact of the matter is that I don't care allen. Thanks to the bailout, a federal "car czar" was created. If Walmart falls on tough times, would you support a bailout of them? Of course you wouldn't allen. Look at the stock price of GM. It's trading way below it's IPO price and trending lower. If the company is back to profitability, why is that happening oh great knowing one? Furthermore, the American people have been lied to when Obama and company said that the tax payers got back all the money that was "invested" into GM and Chrysler". More money was borrowed in order to pay back the original loans, and they called that being "paid back".lol Saving GM and Chrysler was never about saving those companies because of who they are. It was nothing more then Obama Democratic special interest union jobs, that's it and nothing more. As for Ford getting money from the federal government, was it a bailout allen? Yes or no. What is the percentage the federal government owns in Ford Motors Allen?
p allen "Since 2000 almost almost 8 million jobs have been lost in the U.S.. HOW DID THOSE JOB LOSSES BENEFIT YOU????
If those job losses did not benefit you, your argument for more job losses is completely and utterly ass-backwards, and quite frankly STUPID!!!"
Ah calm down allen, it will be ok. Here's a picture of Obama to calm your nerves. The unemployment rate for most of the 2000's was at and sometimes near under full employment. So pardon me if I laugh at MSNBC of all places saying that 8 million jobs were lost during 2000, when the federal department of labor statistics says otherwise.
P. Allen... Fair enough reply on the typo but the year and context are still wrong...
You're right - a loan is still a loan. My complaint was calling a green jobs loan a bailout loan... I'll chalk it up as another typo.
My complaint also poked and jabbed at Ford for using taxpayer money to fund research and production of green cars. If Ford or GM or Chrysler or Toyota or Whomever wants to build and sell green cars, then have at it. But don't use taxpayer money to build them. And I also don't want to hear about federal tax credits being offered to incentivize their purchase. Someone has to pay for them - taxpayers like me. To anyone who got a credit for their hybrid car, you're welcome but I want my taxpayer money back...
As a simpleton non-millionaire conservative, I'm not in favor of seeing companies go under but I don't want government bailouts to find their way into the coffers of struggling businesses either. Competently using the existing system of bankruptcy laws to re-negotiate contracts with suppliers, unions, creditors, etc. is enough. Will jobs be lost in any reorganization? Absolutely. Will all jobs be lost as a result of the reorg? Only a robot who succumbs to hysteria flamed by demagogues would say yes.
I happen to live in a town (Dayton) that has been rather heavily hit by the reductions of GM's and Delphi's workforce. It hasn't helped the local economy and the Hospital network I am lucky enough to work for is one of the area's largest employers. It makes it harder on taxpayers like me to have to fit the bill for people that depend on government at the local and state levels. It's pretty irritating whenever I hear about tax levies coming up followed almost instantaneously with stories of how past tax monies weren't spent properly or efficiently. Soooo, I'm not sure who you're jabbing at when you're asking the 'how did these job losses benefit you' question but it's definitely not benefiting me and it wouldn't benefit any reasonable person either.
And, er, uhm, my Mustang was built by Ford, a company that happens to be American. In fairness, there are likely foreign built components in it but it's still You may want to direct your question at Debbie Wasserman Schultz and ask her why she drives an Infiniti, while deriding those companies who have the audacity to ship our jobs overseas.
Since I am enjoying our conversation so much, how about I go as far to break up the sniping back and forth routine and actually make a recommendation that we lower or eliminate business taxes altogether to reduce the liklihood that American jobs go overseas? And how about I start harping for the replacement of our current asinine and overly complex tax system and replace it with a job creating consumption based tax such as the FairTax, which just happens to have been proposed under HR25 - The Fair Tax Act of 2011? Wouldn't it be a great problem to have to worry about how to spend your paycheck instead of worrying where your next one will come from?
Scott
CB;"As usual, wrong as two left shoes. A lot of people got turned off from GM and Chrysler the moment the government bailed them out. This commercial merely reinforces what many people feel allen. Madison ave is about finding the message for a product that appeals to the targeted audience".
Huh??? OOOhhhh..I get it. You had no idea what I meant by; "you've just proven the theories that guide Madison Avenue advertisers", so you looked up what Madison Avenue is noted for.
That's right, Madison Avenue advertisers are "about finding the message for a product that appeals to the targeted audience." What other reason would there be for a COMMERCIAL? Do you think Fords intention was to make a political statement? Do you really believe that Ford made the commercial just to make a political statement?? Are you really that naive?
Ford knows that there are, as you said; "a lot of people who got turned off from GM and Chrysler the moment the government bailed them out." As it was with "Chris", the "target audience" are those who will buy a Ford based on the "message" that government bailout loans went to GM and Chrysler, not Ford! The Madison Avenue styled idea is to GET YOU (like Chris) TO BUY A FORD! Not a GM or a Chrysler, or Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, Mercedes, or a Porsche....A FORD!
So go out a buy a Ford Chris! The American UAW union workers are more than happy to take your money!
Here is why Socialism will not work here and i pointed this fact out with a long conversation i had with my mom today. It was kind of a mishmash of things but think of Japan and Europe and how there lifestyles and commerce differs from ours in the US and see the divide here. In Europe you have less people in a more localized area with high speed railroads with local shopping, farms and businesses. More people taking the train, riding there bikes and just walking were they need to go. They are more healthy then we are so less meds, less trips to the doctor and less surgery. The Taxes are higher but when there lifestyle can dictate that by what i just pointed out then it is not so much and issue. What can be a issue however is the system by which Socialism is ran by is not sustainable as in the case with Greece, the demands and spending makes a breaking point and the folks get angry over it. Green Socialism ruined Spain as well. Rushing into green jobs that end up more costly and hurt the folks more then it benefited them. You never rush into a new economy unless you know what you are doing first. The transition must be slow and the commerce must adapt with a smart layout while still benefiting for everyone and they can keep them working. Not to say Capitalism does not have it's issues but as opposed to Socialism when you run out of other peoples money to try and be fair. Fair to who, the hard working that deserve the reward or the poor that deserve the same reward under there circumstances as the poor taken forcefully from the hard working rather then charity and a localized low-regulated job market of ideas that gives everyone a chance and not some fascist conglomerate owned by some suits in DC. There is Capitalism based on success, competition, work that is rewarded then there is crony Capitalism based on the system being abused. You can sustain a open market system controlled by local commerce and fairness for the folks but when Government takes control and favors there prized Union, Lobby Group or Social Cause, then this is when things can become corrupted. When a Union makes more demands in a bad economy, when are they happy? Until the next wave of strikes when there previous demands kept them pleased for a while, then the pleasure runs out as prices go up and they need larger pensions, a pay raise or additional benefits to pay for there big car, house and huge family or just living outside of there means? The question is why is the prices of things going up and at what extend. Until we price ourselves from existence? I think the overall picture here is a lack of morality dashed with some common sense. To some extent out post-modern culture has seemed to have left these ideals behind and our living in some type of fantasy land.
Well, most of America are these "Conservatives (the ones who are not millionaires) are really simple minded and twisted when it comes to going against your own best interest." What say you about that unless you buy into the idea that they are center-left or far-left liberal which i would like to see empirical evidence of that.
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