Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

He will criticize Toyota occasionally, but always with a qualifier or apology it seems. He picks easy targets generally. It seems like his clientele are bargain buyers.

explorerx4 · March 2019

Is it just me who edit posts?

ab348 · March 2019

explorerx4 said:
Is it just me who edit posts?

No, I do it all the time for typos. Works for me.

oldfarmer50 · March 2019

explorerx4 said:
Is it just me who edit posts?

I edit mine all the time so that I can misspell the same words in different ways.

imidazol97 · March 2019

houdini2 said:

graphicguy said:
Agree with most everyone here about tariffs. Terrible idea. And, you’re all right. The biggest losers? All of us who will pay more for everything from cars to refrigerators.
Everyone seems to know exactly what to do with the bull, except for the guy who actually has the bull by the horns.

The past handling by allowing undervalued currency, dumping, stealing product and intellectual secrets does not seem to have worked too well for the past several "bullfighters." How'd those guys' tactics work out again for trade with China (and other countries)?

I think of Ross Perot and his assessment of NAFTA in the debate with another candidate: "Giant sucking sound" of jobs leaving. We have to bring back higher pay manufacturing jobs.

fintail · March 2019

Just because it has never worked before in history doesn't mean we shouldn't trust a gang of grifters, nepotists, and cronies, few who have ever read history themselves, to make it work now, right?

I'll believe any regime cares about the violations committed by our "most favored trading partner" when they do something about the influx of sketchy capital from that region destroying several west coast real estate markets, while still allowing pay-for-play residency. All I see and hear so far is a field of crickets.

graphicguy said:
Agree with most everyone here about tariffs. Terrible idea. And, you’re all right. The biggest losers? All of us who will pay more for everything from cars to refrigerators.

Sandman6472 · March 2019

Funny about the a/c filter and where it's located. Ours is also up about 9 ft. and need a longish ladder to change it. During the hot months, usually April through November, must change it monthly. Was easy when the kids were living here or close by, they'd help me with the ladder and swapping it out. But now, only me & the Mrs., so she helps me. Last month, an old co-worker was here dropping his tax papers off, so I grabbed him to help me. Dumb design really and at my kids new house near Orlando, in a much better place...in a closet area on the air handler.
On getting the wife to buy a new vehicle, also a longish ordeal. But, just give her a list of vehicles I think she'll like, and she runs with it. She likes to go back multiple times and test drive 'em until she gets it down to the last two. Then she has me come and test drive the particular units that she could buy and I drive 'em. When she finally pulls the trigger, she again asks me to come and drive "her" unit to make sure things are fine, the alignment, infotainment center, making sure the trim pieces fit properly...things like that. Then I sit there as she negotiates. She usually only does this every 8 to 10 years and with the Audi, took her a couple of months to finally decide. When her a/c finally crapped out, she bought!

Sandman6472 · March 2019

Both of those BMW's are sweet! A bit expensive new so a CPO unit is definitely the way to go. Let someone else take the depreciation hit and then you enjoy it for a few more years. As nice as they both are, there's something to be said about Japanese/Korean "cheap to keep" ownership after the sale that needs to be looked at. Some vehicles cost an arm and a leg to keep maintained "properly" and I personally maintain my vehicles. Inside and outside, maybe wax them a bit too much but like a clean looking vehicle. Always garage them at night and on weekends. So far, the Golf and A3 cost the most to maintain but no too outrageous yet.
And as for me, not sure how long it'll stay. All depends on how well it behaves and how long I intend to keep my Hertz gig. Found on Indeed an ad about a shuttle driver at the local Toyota dealer but not really sure how old the ad is. Need to finish filling out my resume and see where things go from there. Have applied there in the past but as usual, my cane gets in the way. And at the point where I'm needing it more and more. Doesn't effect my driving one bit but we'll see. They usually hire older retired gents like myself and it being about 5 minutes door to door is a wonderful perk. Sure, I love the Hertz position as I get to drive so much new iron and never know what each day will bring...like that unknown. But being a shuttle driver could be fun also. They go from south Palm Beach county to northern Miami-Dade county which covers all of Broward county also. That works for me. And my thinking is if I do get hired there, could push out my next retirement date to somewhere towards the end of 2020. The 1/2 hour to 45 minute drive each way is starting to get to me and with the price of petrol and the tolls always rising, looking to stop sooner than later. And now with the new hours we're doing, might just be the time to go to something new. I know the wife's all for it as , she's already told me so and working longer fits in with her plan of retiring together.
So, we shall see as will finish the resume tomorrow and get the ball rolling. Have no clue how many hours/week their looking for and if the position is still open.

tjc78 · March 2019

The shuttle driver at the Buick dealer I use is a retired salesman. He told me he loves the job. He works M-F 7-12. He said he gets to meet a lot of nice people to talk with and all he has to do is drive around the local area. They give him an Enclave to shuttle the customers.

oldfarmer50 · March 2019

Sandman6472 said:
Funny about the a/c filter and where it's located. Ours is also up about 9 ft. and need a longish ladder to change it. During the hot months, usually April through November, must change it monthly. Was easy when the kids were living here or close by, they'd help me with the ladder and swapping it out. But now, only me & the Mrs., so she helps me. Last month, an old co-worker was here dropping his tax papers off, so I grabbed him to help me. Dumb design really and at my kids new house near Orlando, in a much better place...in a closet area on the air handler.
On getting the wife to buy a new vehicle, also a longish ordeal. But, just give her a list of vehicles I think she'll like, and she runs with it. She likes to go back multiple times and test drive 'em until she gets it down to the last two. Then she has me come and test drive the particular units that she could buy and I drive 'em. When she finally pulls the trigger, she again asks me to come and drive "her" unit to make sure things are fine, the alignment, infotainment center, making sure the trim pieces fit properly...things like that. Then I sit there as she negotiates. She usually only does this every 8 to 10 years and with the Audi, took her a couple of months to finally decide. When her a/c finally crapped out, she bought!

What would you expect from an accountant?

Say, have you decided if you want to come over to the dark side and work for Enterprise yet? Since we talked last I found out that some offices work (3) 8 hour days instead of the (2) 12 hour days that our office does. That might be easier on your back.

The last couple of months our office had such a backlog of sold cars that they asked people to work 3 days a week. I was working almost 40 hours and it just wore me out. Driving a Mitsu Mirage 300 miles to a dealer in a snow storm exceeded my retirement dedication.

oldfarmer50 · March 2019

Sandman6472 said:
Both of those BMW's are sweet! A bit expensive new so a CPO unit is definitely the way to go. Let someone else take the depreciation hit and then you enjoy it for a few more years. As nice as they both are, there's something to be said about Japanese/Korean "cheap to keep" ownership after the sale that needs to be looked at. Some vehicles cost an arm and a leg to keep maintained "properly" and I personally maintain my vehicles. Inside and outside, maybe wax them a bit too much but like a clean looking vehicle. Always garage them at night and on weekends. So far, the Golf and A3 cost the most to maintain but no too outrageous yet.
And as for me, not sure how long it'll stay. All depends on how well it behaves and how long I intend to keep my Hertz gig. Found on Indeed an ad about a shuttle driver at the local Toyota dealer but not really sure how old the ad is. Need to finish filling out my resume and see where things go from there. Have applied there in the past but as usual, my cane gets in the way. And at the point where I'm needing it more and more. Doesn't effect my driving one bit but we'll see. They usually hire older retired gents like myself and it being about 5 minutes door to door is a wonderful perk. Sure, I love the Hertz position as I get to drive so much new iron and never know what each day will bring...like that unknown. But being a shuttle driver could be fun also. They go from south Palm Beach county to northern Miami-Dade county which covers all of Broward county also. That works for me. And my thinking is if I do get hired there, could push out my next retirement date to somewhere towards the end of 2020. The 1/2 hour to 45 minute drive each way is starting to get to me and with the price of petrol and the tolls always rising, looking to stop sooner than later. And now with the new hours we're doing, might just be the time to go to something new. I know the wife's all for it as , she's already told me so and working longer fits in with her plan of retiring together.
So, we shall see as will finish the resume tomorrow and get the ball rolling. Have no clue how many hours/week their looking for and if the position is still open.

Doesn’t driving passengers require a Class B or at least a C CDL in Florida?

Speaking from experience a regular route is easier because there’s no worries about directions and you know exactly when your shift is ending. It can get boring after awhile especially if the route is a short one.

graphicguy · March 2019

fintail said:
Just because it has never worked before in history doesn't mean we shouldn't trust a gang of grifters, nepotists, and cronies, few who have ever read history themselves, to make it work now, right?

I'll believe any regime cares about the violations committed by our "most favored trading partner" when they do something about the influx of sketchy capital from that region destroying several west coast real estate markets, while still allowing pay-for-play residency. All I see and hear so far is a field of crickets.

graphicguy said:
Agree with most everyone here about tariffs. Terrible idea. And, you’re all right. The biggest losers? All of us who will pay more for everything from cars to refrigerators.

You’re more eloquent than I am!

houdini2 · March 2019

fintail said:
Just because it has never worked before in history doesn't mean we shouldn't trust a gang of grifters, nepotists, and cronies, few who have ever read history themselves, to make it work now, right?

I'll believe any regime cares about the violations committed by our "most favored trading partner" when they do something about the influx of sketchy capital from that region destroying several west coast real estate markets, while still allowing pay-for-play residency. All I see and hear so far is a field of crickets.

graphicguy said:
Agree with most everyone here about tariffs. Terrible idea. And, you’re all right. The biggest losers? All of us who will pay more for everything from cars to refrigerators.

Yes, but thankfully the U.S voters were smart enough not to elect that gang back in 2016.

imidazol97 · March 2019

When countries have blocked imports from our country with high tariffs while our tariffs on their import products into our country are lower, there seems to need to be a change. I don't see that anyone earlier has solved the problem. Is there another solution other than tariffs?

.

houdini2 · March 2019

Yes, declaring our tariff strategy a failure before the game is over seems premature, to say the least. Back when the tariff strategy was first introduced, some immediately said it was going to be a disaster. Now, both sides are still negotiating and the world hasn't exactly ended yet.

imidazol97 · March 2019

"A report published last week by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer claimed that Chinese government rules mean foreign firms have to hand over all of the key technologies used in electric vehicles if they want to sell them in China.

"Foreign companies often have to "make difficult choices about managing the trade-off of technology sharing and market access," said Parker, the US-China Business Council executive. He said that about a fifth of American companies operating in China have been asked to transfer technology to Chinese partners in the past three years."

https://money.cnn.com/2018/04/05/news/economy/china-foreign-companies-restrictions/index.html

ab348 · March 2019

imidazol97 said:
"A report published last week by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer claimed that Chinese government rules mean foreign firms have to hand over all of the key technologies used in electric vehicles if they want to sell them in China.

"Foreign companies often have to "make difficult choices about managing the trade-off of technology sharing and market access," said Parker, the US-China Business Council executive. He said that about a fifth of American companies operating in China have been asked to transfer technology to Chinese partners in the past three years."

https://money.cnn.com/2018/04/05/news/economy/china-foreign-companies-restrictions/index.html

What could possibly go wrong?

houdini2 · March 2019

ab348 said:

imidazol97 said:
"A report published last week by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer claimed that Chinese government rules mean foreign firms have to hand over all of the key technologies used in electric vehicles if they want to sell them in China.

"Foreign companies often have to "make difficult choices about managing the trade-off of technology sharing and market access," said Parker, the US-China Business Council executive. He said that about a fifth of American companies operating in China have been asked to transfer technology to Chinese partners in the past three years."

https://money.cnn.com/2018/04/05/news/economy/china-foreign-companies-restrictions/index.html
What could possibly go wrong?

A better question is, what has gone wrong in the past 20 years.

roadburner · March 2019

houdini2 said:
Yes, declaring our tariff strategy a failure before the game is over seems premature, to say the least. Back when the tariff strategy was first introduced, some immediately said it was going to be a disaster. Now, both sides are still negotiating and the world hasn't exactly ended yet.

As I've said before, I'm no fan of tariffs used only to protect a domestic industry, but if, for example, another country imposes a 10% tariff on US cars I see no problem with imposing a 10% tariff on vehicles from that country.

houdini2 · March 2019

The ideal situation is no tariffs at all, or as few as possible. This might be what the current administration is working for.

berri · March 2019

But many of the tariffs outside of metals aren't really being charged yet. They are in abeyance pending trade negotiations. China has been unfair and the US should counter those practices when unfairness exists. However, in many cases our own US businesses chose to move manufacturing overseas to cut costs. Put tariffs on China and if they stick around the stuff will just get moved to a different low cost country. When some steel came back to the US, only a fraction of the prior workers were returned because of leaps in technology replacing human hands. Basically, I think we should actively fight trade restraints (but the US plays in that game too), but expecting equilibrium in trade balances isn't going to happen because of respective current sizes of individual economies.

tjc78 · March 2019

I’m not saying much about the tariffs... but I can tell you first hand that the metal tariffs have really impacted my bottom line.

Part of my work responsibilities is buying store fixtures for a regional retail store chain. Not only have my imported fixtures gone up, but my domestic suppliers have been hit hard too. My gondola manufacturer had to hit me with an 11.5% increase across the board. We are reviewing it quarterly.

Most imported goods have gone up 10+% overall. Over two years the numbers are over 25%

I just cut a large order the other day. For the same quantity two years prior I paid $12.00. This year $16.94 plus a mandatory 10% surcharge.

ronsteve · March 2019

ruking1 said:

The POTUS has never made it a secret that one of the administrations’ priorities was to get manufacturing back on shore/to the USA. Many states, counties, cities, like to slowly to quickly KILL the golden goose/geese once it/they decide to nest. CA killed the Toyota Carolla, Tacoma plants, for example. Three examples that seem not to be being killed would be the Mercedes, KY and BMW S. Carolina, plants. VW before all the brouhaha put a $ 6/7 B plant in TN.

Mercedes in Kentucky? That's not something I am aware of. Do you mean Mercedes in Alabama or Toyota in Kentucky?

fintail · March 2019

Yeah, no nepotism and cronyism today, plenty of people with real world knowledge and credentials in positions of power and influence, and thankfully, the flow of dirty foreign capital has virtually stopped! This definitely is not the darkest timeline, nosiree.

houdini2 said:

Yes, but thankfully the U.S voters were smart enough not to elect that gang back in 2016.

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

The American voter is basically irrelevant with regards to overall policy decisions, and certainly irrelevant to economic ones, like the auto, coal or steel industry, or tariffs or monetary policy.

driver100 · March 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

Sandman6472 said:
Both of those BMW's are sweet! A bit expensive new so a CPO unit is definitely the way to go. Let someone else take the depreciation hit and then you enjoy it for a few more years. As nice as they both are, there's something to be said about Japanese/Korean "cheap to keep" ownership after the sale that needs to be looked at. Some vehicles cost an arm and a leg to keep maintained "properly" and I personally maintain my vehicles. Inside and outside, maybe wax them a bit too much but like a clean looking vehicle. Always garage them at night and on weekends. So far, the Golf and A3 cost the most to maintain but no too outrageous yet.
And as for me, not sure how long it'll stay. All depends on how well it behaves and how long I intend to keep my Hertz gig. Found on Indeed an ad about a shuttle driver at the local Toyota dealer but not really sure how old the ad is. Need to finish filling out my resume and see where things go from there. Have applied there in the past but as usual, my cane gets in the way. And at the point where I'm needing it more and more. Doesn't effect my driving one bit but we'll see. They usually hire older retired gents like myself and it being about 5 minutes door to door is a wonderful perk. Sure, I love the Hertz position as I get to drive so much new iron and never know what each day will bring...like that unknown. But being a shuttle driver could be fun also. They go from south Palm Beach county to northern Miami-Dade county which covers all of Broward county also. That works for me. And my thinking is if I do get hired there, could push out my next retirement date to somewhere towards the end of 2020. The 1/2 hour to 45 minute drive each way is starting to get to me and with the price of petrol and the tolls always rising, looking to stop sooner than later. And now with the new hours we're doing, might just be the time to go to something new. I know the wife's all for it as , she's already told me so and working longer fits in with her plan of retiring together.
So, we shall see as will finish the resume tomorrow and get the ball rolling. Have no clue how many hours/week their looking for and if the position is still open.
Doesn’t driving passengers require a Class B or at least a C CDL in Florida?

Speaking from experience a regular route is easier because there’s no worries about directions and you know exactly when your shift is ending. It can get boring after awhile especially if the route is a short one.

That got me when I drove taxis while going to Teacher's College. I had to drive people to where they wanted to go. People always telling me where to go.....yeh, I know, some things never change.

driver100 · March 2019

tjc78 said:
I’m not saying much about the tariffs... but I can tell you first hand that the metal tariffs have really impacted my bottom line.

Part of my work responsibilities is buying store fixtures for a regional retail store chain. Not only have my imported fixtures gone up, but my domestic suppliers have been hit hard too. My gondola manufacturer had to hit me with an 11.5% increase across the board. We are reviewing it quarterly.

Most imported goods have gone up 10+% overall. Over two years the numbers are over 25%

I just cut a large order the other day. For the same quantity two years prior I paid $12.00. This year $16.94 plus a mandatory 10% surcharge.

Tariffs are a new tax. All that extra money flows to the government and who ends up paying for it...we the consumer of course? Tariffs are not a zero sum game....Canadian steel has a tariff applied, Florida strawberries will have a tariff applied in Canada (Canada can buy strawberries from South America and Mexico), and the Florida strawberry growers will lose out...and the madness continues............

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

Those poor farmers in Nebraska--first the tariffs hurt them, and now the floods. What's that old saying? "When elephants fight, the ants get trampled?"

houdini2 · March 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
The American voter is basically irrelevant with regards to overall policy decisions, and certainly irrelevant to economic ones, like the auto, coal or steel industry, or tariffs or monetary policy.

Except for the fact that the voters elect those who make the policy decisions.

ruking1 · March 2019

ronsteve said:

ruking1 said:

The POTUS has never made it a secret that one of the administrations’ priorities was to get manufacturing back on shore/to the USA.

Many states, counties, cities, like to slowly to quickly KILL the golden goose/geese once it/they decide to nest. CA killed the Toyota Carolla, Tacoma plants, for example.

Three examples that seem not to be being killed would be the Mercedes, KY and BMW S. Carolina, plants. VW before all the brouhaha put a $ 6/7 B plant in TN.

Mercedes in Kentucky? That's not something I am aware of. Do you mean Mercedes in Alabama or Toyota in Kentucky?

Hope the larger point was/is well taken? Where the plants (foreign & domestic) all are in the USA seems the small point to the greater, main point & wider audience. So for example, nobody even acknowledged where the Tacoma plant was, used in my original example. But indeed one could Google it, or the Tuscaloosa, AL, MB plant.

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

Only in theory, not at all in reality. That's merely an illusion.

Let's say 100% of Americans want to put a tariff on trucks imported from China. Chance of passage, statistically? About 1 in 3 chance.

Let's say 0% of Americans couldn't possibly care less about trucks coming from China. Same result. About 1 in 3 chance of a tariff.

No matter how you vote, or who you vote for.

Think of the American voter as one of those little kids with the toy steering wheel riding around in a shopping cart. They think they're driving.

imidazol97 · March 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
Only in theory, not at all in reality. That's merely an illusion.

Let's say 100% of Americans want to put a tariff on trucks imported from China. Chance of passage, statistically? About 1 in 3 chance.

Let's say 0% of Americans couldn't possibly care less about trucks coming from China. Same result. About 1 in 3 chance of a tariff.

No matter how you vote, or who you vote for.

Think of the American voter as one of those little kids with the toy steering wheel riding around in a shopping cart. They think they're driving.

To that problem, I heard a commentary recently that the problem that tears down this country is not that people in different parts of our country think differently or that different groups are different. But rather that the politicians in the swamp are running things to benefit them, not the people, now and future, in the US.

The politicians love splitting us rather than helping us see we may have a common goal as people of the electorate. Makes it easier for them to gain wealth with donations to their foundations or giving financial benefits from some source to their children as kickbacks. Count the swamp dwellers who have gotten old and rich being in DC.

And then there are those who have left to go to lobbyist groups.

So when we think our politicians aren't doing what we want, they're doing what the Chamber of Commerce groups or other lobbyists want because it's going to benefit their members of wealth and importance in terms of the 1%ers.'

imidazol97 · March 2019

For those calling the increased costs of a few tariffs to work toward equalizing trade between a few countries taking advantage of us as a tax, there already is a great tax due to that same trade imbalance. It's the cost of lost jobs in the manufacturing areas. It's the broken families because of no income. It's the cities and small towns that are no longer there. They are rundown homes looking like a third world country in many cases.

There's already a tax on the rest of us paying for various welfare costs and other programs to support those same people who no longer have living wage jobs or middle class jobs because they were moved out of the country by their wealthy business owners or CEO's. Those of us in flyover country have been well aware of this for years.

ruking1 · March 2019

fintail said:
Yeah, no nepotism and cronyism today, plenty of people with real world knowledge and credentials in positions of power and influence, and thankfully, the flow of dirty foreign capital has virtually stopped! This definitely is not the darkest timeline, nosiree.

houdini2 said:

Yes, but thankfully the U.S voters were smart enough not to elect that gang back in 2016.

It’s not like the electoral process are electing the elders in your church? Even if we were, we are probably in deeper kimchi that we even ever imagined.

ruking1 · March 2019

imidazol97 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Only in theory, not at all in reality. That's merely an illusion.

Let's say 100% of Americans want to put a tariff on trucks imported from China. Chance of passage, statistically? About 1 in 3 chance.

Let's say 0% of Americans couldn't possibly care less about trucks coming from China. Same result. About 1 in 3 chance of a tariff.

No matter how you vote, or who you vote for.

Think of the American voter as one of those little kids with the toy steering wheel riding around in a shopping cart. They think they're driving.
To that problem, I heard a commentary recently that the problem that tears down this country is not that people in different parts of our country think differently or that different groups are different. But rather that the politicians in the swamp are running things to benefit them, not the people, now and future, in the US.

The politicians love splitting us rather than helping us see we may have a common goal as people of the electorate. Makes it easier for them to gain wealth with donations to their foundations or giving financial benefits from some source to their children as kickbacks. Count the swamp dwellers who have gotten old and rich being in DC.

And then there are those who have left to go to lobbyist groups.

So when we think our politicians aren't doing what we want, they're doing what the Chamber of Commerce groups or other lobbyists want because it's going to benefit their members of wealth and importance in terms of the 1%ers.'

Some small examples, senators and congressmen CAN trade stocks, bonds, etc. on specifically, INSIDER information. To wit, they even can trade on insider information, even on the industries & stocks they DIRECTLY regulate, OR are busy shaking down.

A past presidential candidate spouse & offspring while Secretary of State, etc did exactly that in one of America’s uranium stocks. It was allegedly to the tune of $ .5 B.

Like to sexually harass people? No worries! the senate and house have separate but equal slush $ funds. Those pretty much keeps things totally secret.

PARANOID? There doesn’t seem to be any worries there either. A hastily arrange suicide/accident/over dose/ wrong person nailed for the deed can easily be arranged, complete with “Hallmark” card message.😱 No botta bing, botta boom class operation for this set.

As part of the agreement of the last GM bankruptcy, the then POTUS gave a significant percentage of ownership (shares) to the auto unions & pension funds: management, union, etc,. & two KNOWN seats on the GM Board of Directors. Who really knows how many other B of D’s seats does the cabals bidding. So it’s really entertaining to see the unions & pension funds are in effect sending many of these union jobs ,...offshore & NON union.

ruking1 · March 2019

imidazol97 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Only in theory, not at all in reality. That's merely an illusion.

Let's say 100% of Americans want to put a tariff on trucks imported from China. Chance of passage, statistically? About 1 in 3 chance.

Let's say 0% of Americans couldn't possibly care less about trucks coming from China. Same result. About 1 in 3 chance of a tariff.

No matter how you vote, or who you vote for.

Think of the American voter as one of those little kids with the toy steering wheel riding around in a shopping cart. They think they're driving.
To that problem, I heard a commentary recently that the problem that tears down this country is not that people in different parts of our country think differently or that different groups are different. But rather that the politicians in the swamp are running things to benefit them, not the people, now and future, in the US.

The politicians love splitting us rather than helping us see we may have a common goal as people of the electorate. Makes it easier for them to gain wealth with donations to their foundations or giving financial benefits from some source to their children as kickbacks. Count the swamp dwellers who have gotten old and rich being in DC.

And then there are those who have left to go to lobbyist groups.

So when we think our politicians aren't doing what we want, they're doing what the Chamber of Commerce groups or other lobbyists want because it's going to benefit their members of wealth and importance in terms of the 1%ers.'

http://www.globalrichlist.com/

According to this little table, all one needs is less than $35,000 USD income or $750,000 assets to be one of the global 1%.

ruking1 · March 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
Only in theory, not at all in reality. That's merely an illusion.

Let's say 100% of Americans want to put a tariff on trucks imported from China. Chance of passage, statistically? About 1 in 3 chance.

Let's say 0% of Americans couldn't possibly care less about trucks coming from China. Same result. About 1 in 3 chance of a tariff.

No matter how you vote, or who you vote for.

Think of the American voter as one of those little kids with the toy steering wheel riding around in a shopping cart. They think they're driving.

Hence, the beauty of the vote of the rule of “the mob” and the vote of the ELECTORIAL College.

Sometimes you’re the bug, 😱 sometimes you’re the windshield.🥽

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

Unions are dead in America, so beating that horse is really pointless. Only 3% or so of workers in private industry are supported by unions.

Quite frankly, in the case of GM, I would have been delighted to let the workers own and run the company--how could they possibly do worse than management did?

GM's market share is now at a 90-year low.

ruking1 · March 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
Unions are dead in America, so beating that horse is really pointless. Only 3% or so of workers in private industry are supported by unions.

Quite frankly, in the case of GM, I would have been delighted to let the workers own and run the company--how could they possibly do worse than management did?

GM's market share is now at a 90-year low.

It does beg the question. Why was life support of a dying days 90 year failed union experiment integral? Why was increased union ownership mandated? IF unions were that “dead” why didn’t the former POTUS make the “new” GM ...UNIONIZED as a condition OF resurrection? Even the deniers know the reasons. This misdirection would get a shot blocked during “MARCH MADNESS. ”

ab348 · March 2019

Veering back towards the third rail of political discussion again.

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

If anything, the conditions of resurrection didn't go far enough IMO. Even today, what GM is allowed to get away with strikes me as rather shameful. This idea that the "bottom line" overrules every facet of community and worker welfare doesn't sit well in my gut.

ruking1 · March 2019

ab348 said:
Veering back towards the third rail of political discussion again.

YES! & NO! ? A large/r % population of US market EV cars and trucks have been pre-ordained to be built in China. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-electric-car-showdown-officially-120019938.html I’m guessing markets, et. al., were/are/remain PO’d @ Tesla, aka, Musk for ...over promising, ...under delivering. GM has what 15% (est. 2.7 M units) of the China & 17 % (est 2.975 M units) of the US markets? The “built in China“ obstacles needs to be overcome in US markets. The USA, Afghanistan war was fought to let China secure the rare earth mining contracts ESSENTAL for “environmentally correct” EV vehicles. Aka., Mountain Pass, CA outputs are far from enough. Of course the environmentalists are hard at work trying to close this mine down, even as the environmental’s advocate EV as the power sources of the future!?

oldfarmer50 · March 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
If anything, the conditions of resurrection didn't go far enough IMO. Even today, what GM is allowed to get away with strikes me as rather shameful. This idea that the "bottom line" overrules every facet of community and worker welfare doesn't sit well in my gut.

Most people feel that way until THEIR dividend gets cut.

ruking1 · March 2019

Even UNCLE SAM made monies in the GM bankruptcy “debacle”.😱😜👍 This is a matter of public record. However, it is not commonly mentioned to hidden from public view.

ruking1 · March 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
If anything, the conditions of resurrection didn't go far enough IMO. Even today, what GM is allowed to get away with strikes me as rather shameful. This idea that the "bottom line" overrules every facet of community and worker welfare doesn't sit well in my gut.

Most people feel that way until THEY’RE dividend gets cut.

Making real money on GM (sans insider information) became a no brainer, for a good period. 🤑 The tragedies were definitely on the long “holders” side of the bankruptcy.😱😩

abacomike · March 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:

Unions are dead in America, so beating that horse is really pointless. Only 3% or so of workers in private industry are supported by unions. Quite frankly, in the case of GM, I would have been delighted to let the workers own and run the company--how could they possibly do worse than management did? GM's market share is now at a 90-year low.

Interestingly enough, GM’s before tax net income last year was extremely strong and drove their stock up significantly after their announcement of solid gains in net profits. Not bad for a company whose market share hit a 90 year low.

But, HOW and WHY a company makes profit is just as important as actually making a profit!

fintail · March 2019

Fortunately, I am not saddled with that affliction.

And yes, we are in deep kimchi.

ruking1 said:

It’s not like the electoral process are electing the elders in your church? Even if we were, we are probably in deeper kimchi that we even ever imagined.

berri · March 2019

There is a time for partisanship and a time for leadership. They are not synonyms. I think we need a leader who can help unite rather than divide the country. States may vote red or blue, but citizens are Americans either way.

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

Bottom line: The auto industry built Detroit, and the auto industry tore it down. Any city or region so heavily dependent on one industry is bound to suffer sooner or later, because technology changes faster than some industries can adapt (or care to)

No doubt by say 2025, anyone peddling fossil fuels is going to start closing up infrastructure and laying off people, or at least smell smoke in the engine bay, because as competitive pressure keeps building, neither their upkeep nor innovation costs will be recoverable.

Steam killed sails
Autos killed horse & carriage trade
mobile phones killed landlines

And the crosshairs are on fossil fuels. So if you live in Petrolia, you might think about moving to Electroville or Batteriastan.

What drives technological change? The cost of implementing new over old. At one time, a car costs a fortune until Henry Ford figured things out. The first portable phones were huge and $$$. Not any more.

And now the price of batteries and solar panels is lower than ever, and still dropping.

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

Let's stick to the auto industry and/or government influences upon it, if we can. Try to keep your posts focused on that--sometimes it blurs but keep in mind where we are----thanks. The auto industry is certainly wrapped up with the gov'mint and China is certainly in the car biz, but we don't need to talk about Russia, etc.

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