Oh man... this is great! Blaming people in a free country for NOT buying lower quality built cars. WHY would I want to buy a car that has lower enforced quality control standards that cost the same as a foreign car, which has higher standards and better overall resale value (just to name a few)? Just b/c it's "American" built? Ha, that tired rhetoric has LONG been sold out. Unfortunately, again these monolithic giants are STILL trying to use the same old 1950's model of "Made in the USA" standards and patriotism that NO longer apply. The model is out dated and frankly ignorant in these times. Again, blaming the blue collar and lesser workers is ridiculous. And as usual, I don't here anyone complaining about the well overpaid management/execs that get to jump ship and float off on silver/golden parachutes. BLAME the ape workers! Speaking of quality control... GM, Ford and the like COULD and can build much higher quality produced vehicles, if they so choose. But being that they are giants that wield a big club, their model is based on profit from mass production, not tight quality control standards. I know, I've SEEN how the cars are built... Hell I have help build them, but when you're NOT the quality control agent/manager, you have no say in what is glued Vs riveted Vs seem welded instead. Take ford for example; many of the EUROPEAN fords are VERY well made and last decades longer than their American built counter parts. The Merkur was built to compete with BMW and Audi in the USA, but they had did not have the proper show room model to display the much high improved standards, and dumped them off to Lincoln dealers, who had little clue as to what they were selling, other than some "Euro-Ford." I happen to own a Merkur and they are very solid cars. Much more so than what is even being produced today by Ford. A shame, but again it's NOT the worker's fault- it is a MANAGEMENT mistake. But seeing as people in this country have been inbred into believing that only the supposed "ignorant worker," is to blame, I can see why management/execs and the like are invisible to proper criticism. And as someone also pointed out, EVERYONE that works for GM HAS to be referred & given a DNA based drug screen. You will NOT be hired w/o being referred 1st. So the misconception of junkies and ogres working the line and doing jobs a 16yr old girl could do are hardly applicable. And furthermore, many of these jobs are in a very hostile and dangerous environment where the typical said "idiot" would get him/herself KILLED and or severely injured. Make no mistake, not everyone that works for GM and the like are rocket-scientists, but they are far from what most would depict as said " ignorant factor worker." With that said...I hate to inform some of you, but many of those workers, say the ones that have been working there for at least
15years: STARTED working there with little skill, and b/c GM could afford to pay so well, many of them earned degrees and other kinds of skilled certifications outside of work; but none of these jobs could match the pay and benefits package of GM at that time. Again these people had/have families to feed and quitting their SECURE and high paying GM job with an uber health benefits package was NOT and for some, still is not an option. My father happens to work for GM and has
2 degrees and a Masters, I have 2 degrees and numerous computer certs. We are hardly "ignorant." The persons that like to blindly assume and point out said ignorance, more than show their own in doing so. Unfortunately the mounting classism in this country is appalling. Even people in the same "class" or income bracket (since income doesn't always indicate an individual's amount of "class") are stupid enough to be turned against their follow man/woman in a condescending attempt to distance themselves, as IF you are any better than said worker. Ha, think LOGICALLY about what you are attempting to allude, by pointing the finger and turning a blind eye to people that have sustained many of the small towns and cities in this formerly "free country." I say formerly b/c about 20-30% of it is now owned by debtor-default to China, Japan and some other Euro/Asian countries. Just WHO are you people to point fingers at anyone? Persons with REAL class/tact are actually informed BEFORE they post and wouldn't attempt to look down on another for purposes of belittlement and pure malice. It's unfortunate that so many people these days, waste valuable time trying to falsely separate themselves from others, as if doing so makes you any better? Get real! I've wasted plenty of time even obliging these Socratic taunts... I doubt that any of this will change anyone's point of view, but again let it be said that blaming HARD working men and women, for the past and present mismanagement (again there's that word - management!) of a former auto-industry leaders seeming demise, is hardly informed nor worthy of attention at all. Good day.