Thread: Government Motors

Originally Posted by Minnow

Well, your first quote came from Star Trek... frankly I don't want my tax dollars going where no man has gone before.

The second is from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest while Randle P. McMurphy was trying convince mental patients to change an insane mental ward policy/schedule.

So your quotes, while cute and most certainly clever, are more apropos to an individual defending my position.

By the way, if I haven't welcomed you to the message board, then "Welcome." And I sincerely respect the way you state your positions. Cudos to you.

Thanks for the welcome, Minnow; and for the cudos. I don't want to take too much credit for my comment. After all, you pitched it; all I did was swing.

Originally Posted by RealMoneyIssues

At some point, we too, will be looking for a bailout; I hope China's GDP has grown enough by then so that there is someone with the money to provide the bailout.

Been there a long time already...Bonds. Interestingly enough other countries are so impressed with the relative stability of the good ole USA that they now give us their money without expecting ANY real return. It's an investment in stability rather than for profit. Those countries pursuing extreme austerity can NOT offer that kind of stability so they must pay higher interest rates in return for their higher risk.

Speaking of comparing apples and oranges. The US has autonomy with respect to it's currency. Countries of the European Union do not. The failures of the EU monetary system stem from a having a monetary union w/out a strong political union. IF Greece could devalue it's currency to enhance it's competitiveness the austerity would not be needed...instead, because of the Euro, Greece is limited to deflation and imposed austerity OR default and return to it's own currency, which would obviously be devalued. That is how they must "restart" their internal economy.

The US is a different story, and other countries are more than happy to give us money...money which we could be investing in our future and using to "restart" our own economy. Macro economics is a different animal from household budgets. If we wait to invest then yes, we may to resort to austerity...especially if the dynamic changes and other countries want more in return for their investments...via higher interest rates, but that's currently a choice not an imposition.

Originally Posted by Mapper

.... Ironically it was inability to look ahead and adapt to the changing market that put those companies at a disadvantage...and somehow we continue to decry the industry's efforts to adapt.

Some folks like "Change", and some folks don't like "Change". They'd rather still be riding horses. That seems to be just how it is.

Anyway- back to the subject- those are some pretty nice new cars being cranked out by GM these days.

Love that Camero.
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Originally Posted by Mapper

Been there a long time already...Bonds. Interestingly enough other countries are so impressed with the relative stability of the good ole USA that they now give us their money without expecting ANY real return. It's an investment in stability rather than for profit. Those countries pursuing extreme austerity can NOT offer that kind of stability so they must pay higher interest rates in return for their higher risk.

Speaking of comparing apples and oranges. The US has autonomy with respect to it's currency. Countries of the European Union do not. The failures of the EU monetary system stem from a having a monetary union w/out a strong political union. IF Greece could devalue it's currency to enhance it's competitiveness the austerity would not be needed...instead, because of the Euro, Greece is limited to deflation and imposed austerity OR default and return to it's own currency, which would obviously be devalued. That is how they must "restart" their internal economy.

The US is a different story, and other countries are more than happy to give us money...money which we could be investing in our future and using to "restart" our own economy. Macro economics is a different animal from household budgets. If we wait to invest then yes, we may to resort to austerity...especially if the dynamic changes and other countries want more in return for their investments...via higher interest rates, but that's currently a choice not an imposition.

Until they are not... What happens when we prove their faith unfounded?

Originally Posted by FireWeatherMet

Not too much of that around anymore...from Oil Co tax subsidies, Wall St Investors being able to write off losses, farm subsidies Renter lanlord tax breaks, etc...

All of which should be stopped... Now that everyone knows that the government will bail them out, they will take stupid chances and we, the taxpayer, will be doing the paying...

Originally Posted by James48843

Some folks like "Change", and some folks don't like "Change". They'd rather still be riding horses. That seems to be just how it is.

Anyway- back to the subject- those are some pretty nice new cars being cranked out by GM these days.

Love that Camero.

Yeah, I'd like banks and big business to stand on their own for a change. I'd like workers and potential workers to stop expecting a handout for a change. I'd like government to stay out of my wallet for a change. I'd like some forward thinking people to get elected to office and change the idiotic energy policy this country has for a change.

I'm obviously not who you were addressing because, I love progress. I dig my air conditioning. I love being able to travel anywhere in the world on a whim (or if I was rich I could). I appreciate having all the modern conveniences that I do. I respect the old ways of doing things but I can also respect a need to move forward in an intelligent way and in case you were wondering I've seen very little in that regard coming down the pike lately.

And for the sake of all that's holy Jim, you're from Michigan... it's spelled Camaro and only the Transformers movie maker thinks that racing yellow looks cool. That bada$$ car needs to be red, black or white with wide orange racing stripes. Jiminy Christmas!!!!

Originally Posted by Minnow

Originally Posted by James48843

Some folks like "Change", and some folks don't like "Change". They'd rather still be riding horses. That seems to be just how it is.

Anyway- back to the subject- those are some pretty nice new cars being cranked out by GM these days.

Love that Camero.

Yeah, I'd like banks and big business to stand on their own for a change. I'd like workers and potential workers to stop expecting a handout for a change. I'd like government to stay out of my wallet for a change. I'd like some forward thinking people to get elected to office and change the idiotic energy policy this country has for a change.

I'm obviously not who you were addressing because, I love progress. I dig my air conditioning. I love being able to travel anywhere in the world on a whim (or if I was rich I could). I appreciate having all the modern conveniences that I do. I respect the old ways of doing things but I can also respect a need to move forward in an intelligent way and in case you were wondering I've seen very little in that regard coming down the pike lately.

And for the sake of all that's holy Jim, you're from Michigan... it's spelled Camaro and only the Transformers movie maker thinks that racing yellow looks cool. That bada$$ car needs to be red, black or white with wide orange racing stripes. Jiminy Christmas!!!!

Now THAT is change I can believe in...

Originally Posted by Minnow

Yeah, I'd like banks and big business to stand on their own for a change. I'd like workers and potential workers to stop expecting a handout for a change. I'd like government to stay out of my wallet for a change. I'd like some forward thinking people to get elected to office and change the idiotic energy policy this country has for a change.

I'm obviously not who you were addressing because, I love progress. I dig my air conditioning. I love being able to travel anywhere in the world on a whim (or if I was rich I could). I appreciate having all the modern conveniences that I do. I respect the old ways of doing things but I can also respect a need to move forward in an intelligent way and in case you were wondering I've seen very little in that regard coming down the pike lately.

And for the sake of all that's holy Jim, you're from Michigan... it's spelled Camaro and only the Transformers movie maker thinks that racing yellow looks cool. That bada$$ car needs to be red, black or white with wide orange racing stripes. Jiminy Christmas!!!!

Actually, I like Bumblebee! Reminds me of my first car: 1972 Chevy Nova, yellow, with a black vinyl top. Wish I had that car now! I'm sure it's worth more than the $1500 I paid for it in 1986.

Originally Posted by Viva_La_Migra

Actually, I like Bumblebee! Reminds me of my first car: 1972 Chevy Nova, yellow, with a black vinyl top. Wish I had that car now! I'm sure it's worth more than the $1500 I paid for it in 1986.

Sweet... big block? either way definitely more than $1500... did you sport it with a denim jacket and a mullet? (that's how I looked cool in my first car, too). Those were the days.

Honestly I'm rather impressed with many of the Big 3s new models. Had an opportunity to rent and put almost 1000 miles on a Chrysler Town & Country, not something I was overtly excited about. I have to tell you though, that was one nice mini-van, it hauled 5 adults and a load of ski gear in very comfortable style. The, revamped for 2012, Charger, Durango and Grand Cherokee are all looking pretty sweet too

Back to GM.
Speaking of a return to glory. Cadillac is putting out some really nice models and concepts. Having a brand people aspire to is important...the previous crop of Cadillacs were nice enough but hardly inspirational. I think GM is doing an excellent job of appropriately filling different market niches with it's different brands and models. As boring as the everyday mid-size family car niche is, I must say I'm looking forward to what Chevy brings out to update the Malibu. While the current model was a massive leap forward for Chevy it's no longer an example of what GM is capable. Take the new Buick Regal, for example, that's an extremely nice mid-sized sedan. I bet the Malibu replacement becomes a solid competitor. I haven't driven a Cruze yet, but the ones I see on the road have a look of quality and attention to detail that was not remotely present in the Cavaliers or the Cobalt.

Camaro seems to be selling reasonably well. I see a surprising number of them on the road.

Edit: And in a nod to a previous era. You just have to respect the Chevy crate motors, drop them in just about anything for extremely reliable performance.

Originally Posted by Minnow

Sweet... big block? either way definitely more than $1500... did you sport it with a denim jacket and a mullet? (that's how I looked cool in my first car, too). Those were the days.

Letterman jacket and a white boy afro (I had REALLY curly hair back then). One of these days I'm going to run the license plate and try to buy it back, if it's not a pile of scrap in some junk yard.

Originally Posted by Mapper

The, revamped for 2012, Charger, Durango and Grand Cherokee are all looking pretty sweet too

The new Challenger is pretty hot too. I say it's about time they realized us old guys liked the look of the old cars, rather than making every vehicle look the same the way they do now.