Comments on: The “Looming Disaster” At GM

By: Herb

Herb — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 20:31:14 +0000

GM's predicement can be summed up with two words.

BAD MANAGEMENT

By: bryan

bryan — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 19:26:01 +0000

I would argue that GM's inability to produce quality vehicles and sell them without giving away the store is the reason they are in the predicament they are in. "Overly generous pension benefits" don't mean a damn if they don't pay them (see United Airlines).

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:35:44 +0000

While GMâs current managers have made some poor decisions, much of the American auto companiesâ problems comes from overly generous pension benefits and other deals they made with the United Auto Workers and other unions in the 1940s. Theyâve boxed themselves into a corner and they havenât figured out a way to come up with a new paradigm for labor relations.

James, I would argue that by agreeing to those union contracts were the epitome of bad management decisionmaking.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:31:30 +0000

Cathy: While GM's current managers have made some poor decisions, much of the American auto companies' problems comes from overly generous pension benefits and other deals they made with the United Auto Workers and other unions in the 1940s. They've boxed themselves into a corner and they haven't figured out a way to come up with a new paradigm for labor relations.

By: cathy

cathy — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 03:41:52 +0000

It is probably best for the world to see GM go out of business. Americans simply do not value production. It is beneath them. They are too god to make anything. Why should an American manager deal with production? It is messy.

Seriously, it is a great tragedy to see GM in the mess they are in. My suggestion is demanding senior management resign. How do they tell their family and friends that they have destroyed one of the greatest US companies? How will they tell their grand children that they led the demise of the US auto industry. How do they tell them that their stupidity, arrogance and greed blinded them form acting in a rational manner?

A terrible tragedy is unfolding before us. Their only response is to blame others. Appalling!!!

By: Robert Prather

Robert Prather — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 03:32:29 +0000

If GM goes into bankruptcy and is able to shed some of its debt, I might then believe that Toyota would buy it. Of course, once the debts have been given a "haircut", the managers will likely say "problem solved" and go back to business as usual.