Ford should be condemn - but not for cutting jobs.

The plants Ford are closing are operating at 70-85% capacity, with employees working as if the plants are at 100% capacity. Good economics dictate cutting back via plant closures and lay offs.

The CEO has 100% of the responsibility to make the best decision for the good of the company not for the good of an employee.

Crude oil production is not falling, the demand for the supply is increasing.

If people can afford the price of the vehicle, they can afford the price of gas.

If people can afford the price of the vehicle, they can afford the price of gas.

If gas went to $8.00 a gallon would you want to be driving an SUV?

Spoken like a true liberal. First off union demands and protection of workers who do NOT perform as if their job depended upon it (and it does), contribute more to the problem than does the CEO. That is not to say the CEO is immune and not over paid, but as another poster said he is responsible to the shareholders primarily. When ALL employees work for a common purpose instead of individual goals, the company and all who work for it benefit if the business plan and product is good.

One does not need to look back to corporate history very far to see examples of how selfish individuals killed the "Goose who laid the golden eggs." Do you recall Eastern Airlines and Frank Borman? He tried to tell the employees that the airline could not exist unless costs were cut. He was right and all lost their jobs.

As for the impact of increased energy costs and how it will impact autos: Either today's autos will be made to consume less energy, more oil will be produced, or new technology will be developed to replace the current technology. That is what is called free enterprise, and it has worked for centuries.

Finally if you want to get upset about something, get upset about the decisions made by politicians who care only about making their competition look bad. They should be asking what is good for the country rather than making decisions for political gain. Much could be said about this suggestion, but I am sure you can cite numerous examples of such behavior.

P.S. It goes without saying that CEO's that steal from the company like some have done, should go to jail. Please do not construe my comments as implying that they do no wrong.

Yes, becaue I choose to pay for the gas regardless.

What? If indeed world crude oil production is FALLING how has it reached its all time high? Perhaps you mean available production of LOW cost crude? LOL

You seem to forget gasoline is one of the lowest cost byproducts of the refining process. If the gasoline is not consumed it will need to be burned off at the refinery, as it was before it became a motor fuel, so that the far more profitable carbon byproducts can be stored and sold.

mike hunt

If, as when I was young and had a wife and five children, sure. What else would I drive, two small cars? Actually historically when the price of gas goes up it is the small cars that are driven less by their owners that can afford the gas, not the other way around.

mike hunt

It was hard to miss the "the sky is falling" doom and gloom report of this. However, this is a basic business decision which all companies are faced with at some point, be the large or small.

The jobs are not being cut overnight. They are being cut over, as I recall, a 6 year period. How many of those positions will be cut through normal attrition? That is, retirements (perhaps earlier than planned), death/injury (on or off the job), normal migration of workers to new jobs, normal relocations to new geographical locations, etc? How many due to Publishers Clearinghouse knocking on their door, or winning the lottery? (Couldn't resist tossing that in... LOL)

How many workers at plants which are closing will be offered jobs at plants which are remaining open, in order to fill vacancies developed through normal attrition... similar to Boeing leaving Seattle and offering the employees the opportunity to relocate to the new complex. It's an economic hit. One that had to be made, no matter who makes how much money. But, it's not the end of the world. How many people would lose their jobs if Ford totally folded? Not gonna happen, the government would step in and bail them out as happened in the past, because the country could not take that big a blow.

And unions, while serving a purpose for the workers, have done their fair share to bring this decision to the table.

That's utter bullshit. While what you say might have been true in the 19th century, it is not longer true. Gasoline is not a waste by-product of oil refining: it is the main product.

Jeff

Better to remove 65,000 jobs than to have the company go bankrupt, and all the jobs lost plus the retirees getting reduce pensions and no health care

You might have noticed that other auto makers are doing better with fewer employee hours per car made. Ford needs to cut down the number of employees or they will be out of business.

Jeff

But, it's not the end of the world. How many people would lose their jobs if Ford totally folded? Not gonna happen, the government would step in and bail them out as happened in the past, because the country could not take that big a blow.

I think the country could take that big a blow and still survive. Ford going out of business would not be the end of the world. It would be ugly and painful however.

Govt. bailout? I don't see that happening.

Never meant that the country would collapse, just that that would be a pretty be hit if it did... and the affects would be very widespread, touching on all communities.

No! BUT I would still be driving my 10,000 pound 2005 F-450! And I will still be driving (and driving what I want to drive) until the day the last drop of fuel is sold in this country.

Why are you blaming Ford? Blame the son of a bitch that caused this. His name is George War Bush.

Condemn that asshole !!!

You guys should get a life!!! According to you guys he is responsible for everything that goes wrong in this world. Too much rain, too cold, all world conflicts, on and on and on. Now he is responsible for FMC????? If you really believe a liberal would be better as president, you might try saying something that makes sense. Failing to do so makes readers think liberals are retarded!!

I just knew someone would blame the President sooner or later. LOL

mike hunt