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Politics : GOPwinger Lies/Distortions/Omissions/Perversions of Truth -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bill who wrote (147240)	11/14/2008 3:39:02 PM
From: Lizzie Tudor	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 173976

yes I know that, but as Elroy on another thread amptly pointed out, other unionized industries such as big oil who were in a decades long slump for YEARS do not have the same whine problem as the autos. I know the limitations on GM are a problem but that does not excuse their relentless lobbying and unwillingness to build what people want. Put it this way- take all of GMs obligations away and in about 5 years they will be a huge loser just like today. They have a cultural problem that anyone can see. It is the creation of TESLA that caused them to lift a finger on the Volt. Had it not been for that they would still be playing around with Escalades. Listen to Lutz on this interview and think about him as the head of a major corp. He made a real ass of himself. No skin in the game like Musk of Tesla. Nothing. Tesla might fail but not for lack of trying. With GM, all their execs have 2 planes and sit around lobbying all day. GM sucks. cbsnews.com

To: Bill who wrote (147240)	11/14/2008 3:45:12 PM
From: Nicholas Thompson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 173976

it is $73 an hour including all benefits and i think that includes pension and pensioneer health benefits as well. what has happened is that the US auto companies are responsible for all health benefits and that is probably about $18 to $22 an hour of the 73 per hour .The newer Japanese companies have much lower health benefit costs because they do not have a lot of retirees. The new companies total labor costs per hour are around $47.50 . They are not so far apart when you adjust for health care. One of the major reasons the USa has lost so many jobs is healthcare not being paid in govt programs as in all other countries. That is simplified and there are some serious union issues but probably a 10 to 15 percent downward adjustment of total benefits and a govt health care initiative would make many of our manufacturers competitive again.