| Author | Message | ||
     Ferris_von_bueller |
Goodbye, GM ...by Michael Moore I write this on the morning of the end of the once-mighty General Motors. By high noon, the President of the United States will have made it official: General Motors, as we know it, has been totaled. As I sit here in GM's birthplace, Flint, Michigan, I am surrounded by friends and family who are filled with anxiety about what will happen to them and to the town. Forty percent of the homes and businesses in the city have been abandoned. Imagine what it would be like if you lived in a city where almost every other house is empty. What would be your state of mind? It is with sad irony that the company which invented "planned obsolescence" -- the decision to build cars that would fall apart after a few years so that the customer would then have to buy a new one -- has now made itself obsolete. It refused to build automobiles that the public wanted, cars that got great gas mileage, were as safe as they could be, and were exceedingly comfortable to drive. Oh -- and that wouldn't start falling apart after two years. GM stubbornly fought environmental and safety regulations. Its executives arrogantly ignored the "inferior" Japanese and German cars, cars which would become the gold standard for automobile buyers. And it was hell-bent on punishing its unionized workforce, lopping off thousands of workers for no good reason other than to "improve" the short-term bottom line of the corporation. Beginning in the 1980s, when GM was posting record profits, it moved countless jobs to Mexico and elsewhere, thus destroying the lives of tens of thousands of hard-working Americans. The glaring stupidity of this policy was that, when they eliminated the income of so many middle class families, who did they think was going to be able to afford to buy their cars? History will record this blunder in the same way it now writes about the French building the Maginot Line or how the Romans cluelessly poisoned their own water system with lethal lead in its pipes. So here we are at the deathbed of General Motors. The company's body not yet cold, and I find myself filled with -- dare I say it -- joy. It is not the joy of revenge against a corporation that ruined my hometown and brought misery, divorce, alcoholism, homelessness, physical and mental debilitation, and drug addiction to the people I grew up with. Nor do I, obviously, claim any joy in knowing that 21,000 more GM workers will be told that they, too, are without a job. But you and I and the rest of America now own a car company! I know, I know -- who on earth wants to run a car company? Who among us wants $50 billion of our tax dollars thrown down the rat hole of still trying to save GM? Let's be clear about this: The only way to save GM is to kill GM. Saving our precious industrial infrastructure, though, is another matter and must be a top priority. If we allow the shutting down and tearing down of our auto plants, we will sorely wish we still had them when we realize that those factories could have built the alternative energy systems we now desperately need. And when we realize that the best way to transport ourselves is on light rail and bullet trains and cleaner buses, how will we do this if we've allowed our industrial capacity and its skilled workforce to disappear? Thus, as GM is "reorganized" by the federal government and the bankruptcy court, here is the plan I am asking President Obama to implement for the good of the workers, the GM communities, and the nation as a whole. Twenty years ago when I made "Roger & Me," I tried to warn people about what was ahead for General Motors. Had the power structure and the punditocracy listened, maybe much of this could have been avoided. Based on my track record, I request an honest and sincere consideration of the following suggestions: 1. Just as President Roosevelt did after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the President must tell the nation that we are at war and we must immediately convert our auto factories to factories that build mass transit vehicles and alternative energy devices. Within months in Flint in 1942, GM halted all car production and immediately used the assembly lines to build planes, tanks and machine guns. The conversion took no time at all. Everyone pitched in. The fascists were defeated. We are now in a different kind of war -- a war that we have conducted against the ecosystem and has been conducted by our very own corporate leaders. This current war has two fronts. One is headquartered in Detroit. The products built in the factories of GM, Ford and Chrysler are some of the greatest weapons of mass destruction responsible for global warming and the melting of our polar icecaps. The things we call "cars" may have been fun to drive, but they are like a million daggers into the heart of Mother Nature. To continue to build them would only lead to the ruin of our species and much of the planet. The other front in this war is being waged by the oil companies against you and me. They are committed to fleecing us whenever they can, and they have been reckless stewards of the finite amount of oil that is located under the surface of the earth. They know they are sucking it bone dry. And like the lumber tycoons of the early 20th century who didn't give a damn about future generations as they tore down every forest they could get their hands on, these oil barons are not telling the public what they know to be true -- that there are only a few more decades of useable oil on this planet. And as the end days of oil approach us, get ready for some very desperate people willing to kill and be killed just to get their hands on a gallon can of gasoline. President Obama, now that he has taken control of GM, needs to convert the factories to new and needed uses immediately. 2. Don't put another $30 billion into the coffers of GM to build cars. Instead, use that money to keep the current workforce -- and most of those who have been laid off -- employed so that they can build the new modes of 21st century transportation. Let them start the conversion work now. 3. Announce that we will have bullet trains criss-crossing this country in the next five years. Japan is celebrating the 45th anniversary of its first bullet train this year. Now they have dozens of them. Average speed: 165 mph. Average time a train is late: under 30 seconds. They have had these high speed trains for nearly five decades -- and we don't even have one! The fact that the technology already exists for us to go from New York to L.A. in 17 hours by train, and that we haven't used it, is criminal. Let's hire the unemployed to build the new high speed lines all over the country. Chicago to Detroit in less than two hours. Miami to DC in under 7 hours. Denver to Dallas in five and a half. This can be done and done now. 4. Initiate a program to put light rail mass transit lines in all our large and medium-sized cities. Build those trains in the GM factories. And hire local people everywhere to install and run this system. 5. For people in rural areas not served by the train lines, have the GM plants produce energy efficient clean buses. 6. For the time being, have some factories build hybrid or all-electric cars (and batteries). It will take a few years for people to get used to the new ways to transport ourselves, so if we're going to have automobiles, let's have kinder, gentler ones. We can be building these next month (do not believe anyone who tells you it will take years to retool the factories -- that simply isn't true). 7. Transform some of the empty GM factories to facilities that build windmills, solar panels and other means of alternate forms of energy. We need tens of millions of solar panels right now. And there is an eager and skilled workforce who can build them. 8. Provide tax incentives for those who travel by hybrid car or bus or train. Also, credits for those who convert their home to alternative energy. 9. To help pay for this, impose a two-dollar tax on every gallon of gasoline. This will get people to switch to more energy saving cars or to use the new rail lines and rail cars the former autoworkers have built for them. Well, that's a start. Please, please, please don't save GM so that a smaller version of it will simply do nothing more than build Chevys or Cadillacs. This is not a long-term solution. Don't throw bad money into a company whose tailpipe is malfunctioning, causing a strange odor to fill the car. 100 years ago this year, the founders of General Motors convinced the world to give up their horses and saddles and buggy whips to try a new form of transportation. Now it is time for us to say goodbye to the internal combustion engine. It seemed to serve us well for so long. We enjoyed the car hops at the A&W. We made out in the front -- and the back -- seat. We watched movies on large outdoor screens, went to the races at NASCAR tracks across the country, and saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time through the window down Hwy. 1. And now it's over. It's a new day and a new century. The President -- and the UAW -- must seize this moment and create a big batch of lemonade from this very sour and sad lemon. Yesterday, the last surviving person from the Titanic disaster passed away. She escaped certain death that night and went on to live another 97 years. So can we survive our own Titanic in all the Flint Michigans of this country. 60% of GM is ours. I think we can do a better job. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
When does the "planned obsolence" start on a 1998 Chevy Silvarado? I had nearly 200K worry free miles on mine when I foolishly traded it in on a sleek little import sports car. I then traded that car in on a new truck but it too is an import.... after having it about six months I still wish i had my old chevy back. Oh the new truck is fine and dandy but it just isn't like my old truck. I was always a Ford man. My first car was a 67 Fairlane. But I never hated on the chevys. I loved my Chevy Truck. | ||
| Darthane |
Moore is a moron. Period. Why people listen to his drivel I'll never understand. | ||
| Geforce |
Don't get me started on this dweeb. Regardless of whether I agree or disagree with his above statement. I won't ever take anything he says, produces or stands behind as fact. Because of this loon, we *and I say this as a recent combat veteran who still serves* had to take the brunt of his BS propaganda, anti-american radicalism and deal with the effects. Which oh by the way, certainly don't help to win the "hearts and minds" of individuals overseas. Especially when you are working with them and they ask you why so and so did this, and so and so ordered that and you have to explain that this man created a film that was certainly taken "out of context" and wasn't in any way entirely accurate. As for GM... It's a sad day. A few years ago in the '90s my fellow Chevy buddies and I sat and mourned the loss of the F-Body and started to wonder what GM was doing? It also seems that they would give us a product and then through their own self destructive habits and possibly greed would destroy it. BUT as with everything, there's always another side to the story. I for one don't care about the company itself. I feel for the families and workers of GM. The loss of security and hurricane of instability that thousands of Americans are going through now. Then I wonder what good these unions are doing now a days...even in the Army we have unions. They apply only to federal employees, IE: Civilians. But one instance I can remember that was purely retarded was a civilian complaining that he wasn't allowed to move his things into a new office. The union forbid him to move anything himself without "professional movers" to come in and clear his office possessions and relocate them 3 doors down. I kid you not. Apparently the weight of a stapler is so great that it can cause severe injury or death if you attempt to remove it from the safety of a table top. And lets not forget the recent deaths caused by the ever venomous tape dispenser. *sigh* | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
We could only hope he would suck on the tailpipe of a GM.  | ||
| Froggy |
Indeed, I gave up after the second paragraph of missinformation
About the same time it starts on my 06 XB. | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
Read further down in the comments section of Michael's diary at dailykos.com where I post as "MobilityGeek". I ripped the electric car fanatics a few new ones. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Moore-"Two dollar tax on gas" That will be a HUGE burden on the working man that simply CAN NOT afford a new "green" vehicle. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
You are a fool if you believe that Obama give a shit about the "little guy". Guess who's going to be disproportionately impacted by the VAT? In the end, the intent of nearly ALL these policies isn't to give the low and middle class a "hand up". The intent is to give the low and middle class a "push down" to make and keep you perpetually beholden to the government and thereby most likely to vote for the party and the candidate who promises the most from the big blue tit. Odd that only SOME of the GM workers are worth saving. What happens to all those workers at the dealerships who are losing their jobs? Oh wait, they aren't part of the preferred "class". What about all those employees who are going to lose their jobs as a result of the bond holders not getting much if any money back from their investment? Oh wait, they're not part of the preferred "class". The same people who will bitch about executive pay and quantify it in the terms of annual pay of a rank and file person are the same people who will aggressively give Obama a pass on his $682,000 "date night" on the town. Since Obama now owns 70% of GM, shouldn't we be bitching about his executive comp and "perks". Shouldn't he park the "company jet" and "drive"? I don't know whether to laugh or hurl. | ||
| Froggy |
Well GM got rid of the jet a few months ago, so he won't be taking that. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Yeah, unfortunately he let the other one take a joy ride over Manhattan. | ||
| Detroitxb9sx |
This guy is from another planet....everyone isn't going to be riding bullet trains and battery powered buses for transit. Everyone can jump on battery/hybrid bandwagon, but I will enjoy sitting in my 10mpg H2 on the way to GM to work everyday!!! He is just mad because his hometown is a S#it Hole and needs to burn!! | ||
| Xl1200r |
There is so much misinformation in that article I can't even begin to take it apart. And I have to agree - MOST of his ideas keep the "little man" down. Huge gas taxes, high speed rail, tax incepntives for people who take advantage of alternative energy??? Who needs to travel between cities the most? Business travelers - not blue collar workers. Who can afford to buy new hybrid or electric vehicles? White collar workers, not blue collar. Who will be driving the same "conventional" automobile and forced to pay exorbant gas taxes? Blue collar. Who can afford it? Everyone else. Who can afford to install alternative energy systems on their home? It ain't the guy bolting the wheels on a bullet train. Garbage. | ||
| Froggy |
The beauty of America is that you can have your H2, I will ride my 65mpg XB  | ||
| Glitch |
   | ||
| Darthane |
The beauty of America is that you can have your H2, I will ride my 65mpg XB ...can you tell me how to get one?  | ||
| 2kx1 |
I do not understand why the tax rate cannot be hiked up on things imported to the U.S. The last J.D. Power survey had Buick ranked higher than Lexus. Higher than Lexus is also higher than Acura, Infinity,BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Honda, Nissan,Toyota. Don't tell me that America can't compete, that is bullshit. Micheal Moore, Is he going to make another Movie? | ||
| Stevasaurus |
I read all of your posts and was prepared to disagree, because I am one of more than a few who believe these ridiculous CAFE standards that have never worked should be replaced by a gas tax and corresponding income tax adjustment so the "little guy" doesn't get squashed. Then I read what he said and I completely agree with you all. Another blathering idiot who won't be happy until we're all driving smiley-happy-people Pelosimobiles that are powered with smiles and hugs. Ugh. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
"Pelosimobiles"....LMAO | ||
| Stevasaurus |
I've got to give credit where credit is due. I got "Pelosimobile" from Peter DeLorenzo over at autoextremist.com. He writes a column every Wednesday and is typically spot-on. Check it out. | ||
| Imonabuss |
Jesus, Michael Moore making suggestions for product design? Yeah, make those trans-America bullet trains, why didn't we think of that? Oh that's right we didn't have Moore, Pelosi and Obama running all the businesses. We really are such freakin' morons. When did the brains get bred out of this country? We are an Obamanation now. | ||
| Americanmadexb |
I will enjoy sitting in my 10mpg H2 on the way to GM to work everyday!!! One of these is discontinued and the other might as well be! Speaking of the H2 that we dont make anymore, there is an empty plant sitting there that we spent billions on 9 yrs ago only to lay off 1,000 workers and now are in the works to build TAXI'S.... yes TAXI'S. Here is your H2 replacement!  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I do not understand why the tax rate cannot be hiked up on things imported to the U.S. See Smoot-Hawley. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_A ct | ||
| Detroitxb9sx |
The beauty of America is that you can have your H2, I will ride my 65mpg XB Don't get me wrong Froggy....I ride the XB to work as much as possible. Other than the fact that it gives me a reason to take the long way to work everyday, the motorcycle parking is closer than the GM and handicap parking. No need for the 1/4 mile walk from the parking structure to my desk.  | ||
| Detroitxb9sx |
Are those 12" wheels on that H2 replacement Taxi??? | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
That taxi is one of the ugliest vehicles I've ever seen. A UPS truck is a beauty in comparison. Extreme example of function over form. | ||
| Damnut |
I for one would love to see a transit system in this country like they have in Japan. The bullet trains kick ass!! I have traveled all over and it is a SHAME that we do not have a system like they do in Japan. We're stuck in the 40's with our trains. As far as Moore is concerned, I'd like to put him, the Dixie Douches, Green Day, Susan Sarandon & her idiot husband all in a nice Ford Pinto and have a bullet train rear end it. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Why do you hate bullet trains? | ||
| Damnut |
 | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
It's an Anglo-Saxon thing I assume, there's been high speed trains in Europe for many years now, & very good they are too, clean efficient, comfortable & reliable. The UK however managed to resist such a thing until only recently. Michael Moore is far from a moron, & I don't agree with everything he says, in fact I've yet to watch more than halfway through any of his films without turning off because I've something better to do. That said, you all know he likes to be provocative, you all know he expresses an extreme point of view, & you all know that what will happen will fall somewhere between doing nothing & what he suggests. The man is a master of media manipulation, evidence is we're all talking about what he's said. It's all a bit like bending steel, you have to bend it further than you really want it to go so that it springs back to where you want it to be. (I know it's a fuzzy metaphor but I don't have a better one) Nobody has all the answers, not him, certainly not me, & I doubt you do either. It's that old chinese curse again, "May you live in Interesting Times" |
