It doesn't Look good for Chrysler

An article today on the MSNBC site just made me laugh.

HOUSTON - The stalwart. The bargain-hunter. The skeptic.
As Chrysler dealers across America try to sell vehicles with the auto manufacturer in bankruptcy, they're meeting different types of customers: loyalists who aren't fazed by the troubles, those simply seeking the best deal in a bad economy, and some who are
willing to look, but aren't sold on the company's prospects...
Chrysler, the nation's third-largest automaker behind General Motors and Ford, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday after months of surviving on government loans. The company hopes to emerge in as little as 30 days, allied with Italian automaker Fiat to build leaner, cleaner cars....
For some, a good deal on a new car trumped the possibility that Chrysler may not survive. Rebecca Jeffries wasn't even looking to buy when she went for an oil change Friday at Day's Baum Boulevard Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep in Pittsburgh The 66-year-old computer-company clerk has always loved the looks of Chrysler's Crossfire convertible, but the $40,000-plus tab was out of her price range. Not these days. When a sales representative made her a deal for $27,900...
Not everyone is so optimistic, and that's not surprising given the state of the automotive industry. Overall U.S. auto sales fell 34
percent in April from a year earlier, and Chrysler had the worst showing among Detroit's Big Three, down 48 percent...
Chrysler's roughly 3,200 dealers are trying to remain upbeat and talk the company line, but uncertainty lingers. For one thing, not everyone is going to keep their franchises and details on how the reorganized company will look have yet to emerge. (MSNBC)

Its about damn time they forced these crappy run companies into bankruptcy. Only problem is nobody wants a Damn Chrysler. I find it funny that the article mentions Chrysler Loyalist. Maybe I live in the wrong part of the country to understand that, but I have never met a person that will only buy a Chrysler. if that was the case there choice would be. The 300, Sebring, Sebring Convertible, and the Town & Country. Not many nice choices. I have met people that will only purchase Fords, Chevrolet's, or Dodges but not Chrysler. No i am not considering Dodge a Chrysler. Different plant, different logo, a subsidiary but otherwise independent. In fact the only reason Chrysler hasn't gone down the drain years ago is due to the Jeep and Dodge loyalist who I imagine if you asked them would not buy a Chrysler.
The Rebbeca Jefferies story is hilarious that the vehicle she wanted and bought is no longer made by Chrysler, and has a Mercedes Benz engine in it instead of the shitty Chrysler motor. One of the successes out of the failed Daimler-Chrysler partnership that ended a couple years ago after Daimler realized that Chrysler added nothing to the partnership. Why is there a need for 3,200 Dealerships, what is the purpose. No wonder why cars cost so much, it is to cover the cost of having to many dealerships. That's approx. 65 dealerships per state, not including Alaska because I assume there might be 2 dealerships up there. Outside of other large states California and Texas, where can 65 dealerships fit? Hopefully that is part of the bankruptcy, the world could always use less car salesman. To any Salesman I offended......GOOD. Your success is contingent on lying to people.

Detroit just ended their recovery plan.

Michigan is thinking the best way to make the state better is cut education reports USA today.

"More than 7,500 Detroit children may have to change schools in the fall as a result of 23 proposed school closures and one relocation, according to a proposal to be publicly unveiled today. In an unrelated announcement, Robert Bobb, the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools, said that 600 teachers will get layoff letters as DPS wrangles with a $305-million deficit."

I don't think it is possible to Wrangle a 305 million dollar deficit, its time to prioritize. 600 teachers are getting laid off and somehow the New York teaching union has it to where less than 12 teachers lose their jobs a year, even if they are a danger to the kids. No wonder why education is going to continue down the path of nationalization. First that counterproductive policy known as no child left behind which deprioritizes a liberal art education which naturally encourages critical thinking development. Meanwhile the No Child Left Behind focuses on primarly Math and Science, things that are easy for the state to quantify. With such a focus on Math and Science you would think our energy policy would be alot more proactive. Maybe that is the goal, to just produce a larger working class to exploit.

Unions, Corporations, Government, Government, Government

Last time someone said "Uncle Sam may have more say in (Private Buisness) operations."[Buisness Week]
It was in 2001 they said this and in the present that company is still unprofitable spending Tax payer money. American Airlines; the benefit of years of socialized loses. How do they get off charging luggage fees?

GM to close stamping plant near Grand Rapids[AP, CapeCodTimes.com]
Auto Unions don't mean anything if this is really happening. Didn't they just sign a new labor agreement in 2007?

GM Timeline

2005 - GM pays $2 billion to Fiat to cancel "put" option under its deal and buy its way out of the alliance.
2007 - GM signs a landmark four-year agreement with the UAW, which includes shifting of GM's retiree health care liabilities to an independent trust.
June 2008 - GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner announces GM is reviewing Hummer and considering all options, including selling the brand.
July 2008 - GM announces plans to cut costs by $10 billion and raise $5 billion through borrowing and asset sales.
October 2008 - GM holds talks with Chrysler about a deal to combine the two American automakers, according to sources familiar with the situation. GM declines to comment.