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Originally Posted by JusticePete
I am a a free market guy to the bone. The out bailouts rub me the wrong way on so many levels. What the government did for GM is less than what the government OWED them. The incentives that state governments provided to Toyota and the rest of the transplants early on put the BIG three at a disadvantage. On a national scale we have open markets, yet we fail to provide open markets in foreign countries. Combine that with a pathetic fiscal policy and the government owed GM. GM took the brunt of all these government actions because they were the largest domestic auto mfg.
Ford had a different series of issues. They were on the ropes when Bill Ford brought in Mulally. They were a mess. The loans Mulally took out were out of necessity. Without that liquidity Ford had no future with or without the beginning of a recession. Necessity turned into brilliance with the recession as liquidity evaporated over night.
Now while Ford pretends to wave the American flag and their independence by not participating in the bailout they get into an interesting position. Mulally, the same genus that took out the loans, testified that the bailout was absolutely necessary or Ford would fail too. Why? Ford would lose their key suppliers so please bailout GM and Chrysler.
The next is the relationship with Toyota. Ford has partnered with Toyota to build fuel efficient (read as some type of electric) large trucks. This is the same Toyota that pulled back from the USA to protect their interests when the economy got rough. Now the most popular vehicle sold in the USA for the last 30 some odd years will be built in partnership with Toyota??? Hey look at me. I am the last bastion of great American automotive manufacturing and technology. I didn't take bailout money. I did take government money to spend on electric vehicle technology and will gleefully share it with Toyota!
All businesses live in glass houses. All of us. Throw stones makes about as much sense as burning money for heat because you can't pay the gas bill. I have no problem with bare knuckle product to product marketing. I have been known to occasionally engage in it. On the other hand, when I start claiming my business is more virtuous than your business... stick a fork in me becuase I am done.
In the end, I hope Ford does well. There are a lot of good hard working poelpe that depend on the company. They didn't start this nonsense. I also hope that GM does better. The people that work at GM that stuck it out under the cloud of BK and Government Motors deserve a great result.
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Thanks for sharing your insight with us Pete. Unfortunately all playing fields are not equal. The "free market" is negatively affected when business and politcs combine to tip the ballance, thus impacting the outcome of the level field competition. What is important is that businesses should keep their eye on the ball and be honest without placing spin on the subject in an attempt to change reality into their own perception of what they want others to believe. I agree, all live in glass houses, and one shouldn't throw stones. But, in the end, good always overcomes evil. And to that end the truth can't be convoluted. It's plain to see. Thank you for being a part of
us, and to your commitment to the Camaro and the performance car market.
