Free cars?
David Hurlocker, Emporia
Saturday, December 20, 2008
IT SEEMS a pretty simple solution to me (which means I could never run for political office). If Washington is so determined to rescue the failing auto industry in spite of the rampant greed and graft from management and the UAW, in spite of them having the financial foresight normally associated with landscaping bark and in spite of the fact that no one, including the federal government, has that kind of money, at least make the bailout help the whole auto industry.
Washington should send each taxpayer a certificate for a free car. The dealers cash them in to pay their normal supply chain. Surely giving away free cars would help out the auto makers (not to mention whichever party jumped on the idea).
This may not be the best idea out there but it does make more sense than funding even nicer retreats for the leaders of the failed companies the government has already bailed out. Of course expecting the government to help a company regain fiscal responsibility is much like looking to the captain of the Titanic for navigational tips.
methusla (anonymous) says...
David Hurlocker:
I am afraid that no matter what kind of plan is concocted by whom-ever, the U.S. taxpayer is the one that is going to end up biting the bullet !
December 20, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
At least with this plan we'd have a car to show for it.;) I like the idea but what I like apparently doesn't matter.
December 20, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mikkokantonen (anonymous) says...
"American Made" means today what "Made in Japan" meant 40 years ago.
December 20, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outdoorguy (anonymous) says...
Take the "bail out " money amount and divide it by that number of american tax payers. The dollar amount to each taxpayer will amaze you!!!
December 20, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Our government leaders would never do such a thing: it makes too much sense and would benefit too many!
December 20, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnDoe (anonymous) says...
If your keys say "Nissan" "Honda" "Hyundai" "Kia" etc you can thank yourself for this disaster. I guess buying American wasn't such a bad idea after all.
December 21, 2008 at 2:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PocketKings (anonymous) says...
It would be better to bite the bullet today by loosing these companies than have to bite the bullet later when our dollar doesnt buy anything. Why bail out failing companies that made bad decisions, the government doesnt bail out the smaller companies that fail all the time.
And another thing I dont quite understand is how come the executive branch has the power to lend out money while the senate rejected it?
(Not getting into specific political parties or anything but executive branch in general has too much power?).
Another thing is why do lawmakers think money grows on trees when they pass these bills and legislations, they are forgetting that the taxpayer has to grow this money.
December 21, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EsqEB (anonymous) says...
JohnDoe,
My keys say "Nissan" on them. Explain to me how purchasing a Titan that was made in Ohio by Non-union American workers somehow caused this disaster?
The greedy and lazy uinions caused this disaster, not just by biting the hand that feeds them, but by eating the hand that fed them.
December 21, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
My keys say Kia because I refused to get myself further into debt by buying an overpriced car and who else has a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty? I had to budget so I could afford a mortgage. You know, a house payment. And I got a mortgage for a house that I could afford on our incomes and I was smart enough to read the fine print. So because of all that, I don't qualify for a bailout and somehow, I probably wouldn't qualify for a free car, either.
But the girl driving the Dodge Magnum while using her State-paid daycare card probably did do it right.
Melissa
December 21, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
swoozie (anonymous) says...
I bought American. My car was built & assembled completely in the US. It happens to be a Subaru.
December 22, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnDoe (anonymous) says...
Here is your answer as to why buying an asian import caused this. Nissan and Honda are headquartered in Tokyo, Kia and Hyundai are in Seoul, South Korea. Ford, Chrysler, and GM operations are all located in US cities(Detroit etc). It's hard to keep American jobs and businesses afloat when the money is sent overseas. Selling-out and buying an import diverted money from our economy and now we are feeling the hurt. Simple as that. MelissaE, looks like you're paying back the difference you claim to have saved by buying a KIA. And by "you're paying back" I mean "we" as taxpayers.
Esq- I am aware that your Titan is assembled in the United States but the money is still sent back to Japan. A vehicle that big was likely too expensive to ship.
December 24, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )