Right. I own my own business too, so I am right there with you. And they may bail out Bear Stearns for $30 billion, but they won’t lift a finger to keep us above water.

#72 ThombDbhomb:

Yeah, I know. I was just trying to be funny myself. Sorry if it didn’t work.

You don’t think that the CIA or the FBI or the NSA, or whoever, are reading this blog? Frankly, I wish that they were. They might learn something.

#68 N Riley
Yes, my point was “We are ALL to blame.” Some blame management, some blame labor, some blame government. We are all in this together. The system results in what it resulted in.

#70 noel park
My “cockiness” was meant as “I am right, others are wrong” satire.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!

I said that is what they are “supposed” to do, not what they are actually doing…………..

I also do find it amazing that the American auto makers do not have an entire class of reasonably priced cars that get 40+ miles per gallon already in the showrooms. I am hardly an expert in world oil production and supply, but I sure knew this day was going to be here, and all I do is read the local newspaper, watch the news on TV, and read a few magazines. I am actually surprised it took this long to get to $3.50+ per gallon!

In early 2004, when gas first hit $2.00 per gallon, they should have each started putting together a design team with one goal – to squeeze out as many miles per gallon as possible from an ICE based car to seat four or five people. It would already be, or just about to be in the showrooms right now. And they would not be losing all those sales right now to the Asian rim manufacturers!

And the real difference between those executives and owners like me of a small company? When our business goes down, so does our salary…………… I think the BOD of all the car makers should put a similar plan into effect! GM, Ford, and Chrysler are losing money by the ton, but these guys are not affected at all!!!! What a deal…………….

Sorry for the rant!

Thanks. I finally found that one too. Alas, I am able to curb my enthusiasm over the styling. If they can get the mileage up to a decent level however, all will be forgiven.

#60 ThombDbhomb:

Don’t get too cocky. You don’t know who’s reading this stuff.

#69 Jim I:

Well I have been trying hard to be positive about the prospects of GM here recently. But, if their job is to make as much profit as possible for their stockholders, they are doing a d**n poor job iof it, IMHO.

The car companies who are making money are the ones who could see past the ends of their noses and read the handwriting on the wall about oil and gas prices. I think it’s called “strategic planning” – something $1 million+/year executives are supposed to do.

I really have to disagree with your last post. It is not GM’s job to try to convince us to be better people. It is GM’s job to make as much profit as possible for their stock holders. When gas was $1.00 per gallon, had GM put the Volt on the market, at a high price point, it would have been a complete disaster and laughed at by both the press and the public. It would have truly been a niche vehicle. And the board of directors would have fired everyone involved.

Please don’t give me the EV-1 story, or tell me to watch the movie. That car was too expensive and would not have worked anywhere but in fair weather climates. We have beaten that horse to death many times over. There are people that will never believe that, and there is nothing anyone could ever do to change their minds.

Also, lets not forget that Lithium-Ion batteries for car use were not available even a few years ago. They are barely available now…

And finally, we have to remember that in mid 2001, gas prices were still less than $1.30 per gallon. So who cared?

I guess what I am saying is that hindsight is always 20-20. GM appears to be on a better path now. I just hope they can get to the finish line ASAP!!

We are ALL to blame. But GM has to shoulder much of the blame. They should have led us, not followed us. They should have known better.

Let’s hope they have learned their lesson and we have learned ours.
We have much too much to lose.

We can throw the blame for our mess in all directions. The bottom line is that we have elected officials to office that only have two things on their mind: This election and the next election !!
No one wants to commit to a energy policy which should have begun way back in the 70’s. Before blaming GM or our government lets take hard look in the mirror.
May I quote Mr. Jay Bookman editorial editor for the Alanta Journal-Constitution: ” We don’t need leaders to tell us how great we are, we need leaders willing to tell us that we’ve gotten ourselves into a bad mess and it’s going to take hard work, sacrifice and cooperation to fix it! The alternative is the decline of a great nation!!”

Yeah, it’s old, but not quite that old. 1917.

But you are also to blame, if you have been buying big SUV’s for the last 15 years or so…..

GM will build what people want to buy. Now that people have decided to stop buying BIG gas hogs, GM will stop making them, and begin to make what people tell them they want.

The question is not if GM knows what to do. The question is: Can they do it quickly enough and in enough volume to stop millions of sales going to foreign competition????