On the auto bailout

[Necromancer]

Of course, neither Subaru nor SAAB supports U.S. politicians...

That has nothing to do with the point being made (that comparing Studebaker to GM and Chrysler is like comparing apples and oranges).

[Turbo D]

non sequitur to the false analogy! Srry, just finished the Eng14 final, lol.

[blueraven]

Of course, neither Subaru nor SAAB supports U.S. politicians...

That has nothing to do with the point being made (that comparing Studebaker to GM and Chrysler is like comparing apples and oranges).

Greater scale and damage to the economy now, yes. However, My argument was not to compare the size of the two companies, I'm saying nobody helped them out.
 
The situation as to why the companies were/are going bankrupt is nearly identical. I don't think their fiscal mismanagement is apples and oranges.

[Joe Redifer]

While most manufacturers are building better, more fuel efficient (though still wimpy in that regard) cars, they still can't fly.  We're coming close to 2015, folks.  All cars must fly or be able to be converted to fly by then.

[Necromancer]

Greater scale and damage to the economy now, yes. However, My argument was not to compare the size of the two companies, I'm saying nobody helped them out.
 
The situation as to why the companies were/are going bankrupt is nearly identical. I don't think their fiscal mismanagement is apples and oranges.

Why the companies are going bankrupt is mostly irrelevant.  The bailout for GM and Chrysler is to keep their failure from pushing the economy further into recession, so comparing their bailout to the one that never came for Studebaker is akin to comparing apples and oranges.

[Joe Redifer]

I like oranges better.  Far more flavorful than apples.  However you don't need to peel apples so they are better when you are on the go.  People say that apples and oranges cannot be compared.  They totally can.

[Michael Helgeson]

[ceti alpha]

Haha. That "right-wing-SUV-drivin'-MAN" deserves a pie in the face. They're so easy to spot.

...crap! I forgot to put my patchouli oil on today. 

[nodtveidt]

Anyone who drives an SUV without reason aside from ego deserves to have their ass kicked.

[Necromancer]

Anyone who drives an SUV without reason aside from ego deserves to have their ass kicked.

If you believe that practicality always trumps desire, then the same can be said about anybody that drives anything more than the smallest economy car with the most efficient engine available (does anybody really need a V6 Camry/Accord/etc).  95% of my driving is in town, so would my ass need kicking if I were to buy a hybrid Tahoe (1mpg less than an I4 Accord), an Escape (same mileage as an I4 Accord), or an hybrid Escape (50% better mileage than a I4 Accord)?  My point being that people should buy what they want, pay at the pump accordingly, and also pay on the front end with the gas guzzler tax (no autos should be exempt).

I don't drive an SUV, but I don't exactly drive a fuel efficient car either.  I compensate by car pooling and bike riding, consequently only driving about 5000 miles per year and burning less fuel than your average four cylinder shit box owner.  Does that make me a better person?  No, it just makes me happy.

[nat]

I compensate by car pooling and bike riding, consequently only driving about 5000 miles per year and burning less fuel than your average four cylinder shit box owner.  Does that make me a better person? 

In a word, yes.

[nodtveidt]

My point being that people should buy what they want, pay at the pump accordingly, and also pay on the front end with the gas guzzler tax (no autos should be exempt).

It has less to do with personal choice and more to do with personal responsibility. It is both socially and environmentally irresponsible to drive around a whale of a car if it's not needed. Just because one can afford something doesn't mean they should actually buy it. But alas, we live in a "me first" decadent society, so such morals are thrown out the window of the newest H2.

You don't need to be driving the most fuel-efficient rat-box of a car to avoid said ass-kicking. But there is a line that certainly needs to be drawn.

I don't drive an SUV, but I don't exactly drive a fuel efficient car either.  I compensate by car pooling and bike riding, consequently only driving about 5000 miles per year and burning less fuel than your average four cylinder shit box owner.  Does that make me a better person?  No, it just makes me happy.

Actually, yes...it DOES make you a better person.

[quoth09]

I pretty much agree with the first reply to this thread; Nat's first post.

The car companies are idiots, and the people buying them are too, especially the SUV and Hummer buyers.

I'm completely opposed to the bailout, same goes for the financial bailout for banks as well. The way I see it, if they can't make it, they need to go under. The whole thing shouldn't have even been an option for them, and whichever members of the government that approved such crap need to be kicked out of their position/office.

I have been driving the same car for the last 8 years (this Febuary will be 8 ), and I was probably going to be buying another one here soon. Due to this bailout crap, and especially due to the CEO of GM's remark that if they go under, there will be a depression (BULLSHIT), I will NOT be buying a vehicle from any of the 3. It's the equivalent of me boycotting them, and if everyone else did the same thing, they would have a lot more problems than needing a bailout.


Same goes for Exxon/Mobil: I would rather walk than fill my tank with their 'record profits during a time when gas is $3 a gallon' fuel, especially when they are retiring some 60 something year old with a package of several hundred billion dollars, when he won't even live long enough to spend even 1/10th of it. Kinda funny how their gas is usually 10 cents more than everyone else anyway.

[nectarsis]

My point being that people should buy what they want, pay at the pump accordingly, and also pay on the front end with the gas guzzler tax (no autos should be exempt).

It has less to do with personal choice and more to do with personal responsibility. It is both socially and environmentally irresponsible to drive around a whale of a car if it's not needed. Just because one can afford something doesn't mean they should actually buy it. But alas, we live in a "me first" decadent society, so such morals are thrown out the window of the newest H2.

You don't need to be driving the most fuel-efficient rat-box of a car to avoid said ass-kicking. But there is a line that certainly needs to be drawn.

I don't drive an SUV, but I don't exactly drive a fuel efficient car either.  I compensate by car pooling and bike riding, consequently only driving about 5000 miles per year and burning less fuel than your average four cylinder shit box owner.  Does that make me a better person?  No, it just makes me happy.

Actually, yes...it DOES make you a better person.

Doesn't that line of think go DIRECTLY against apost from a different thread? 

Perhaps because this is supposedly the "land of the free"? 

[nodtveidt]

Doesn't that line of think go DIRECTLY against apost from a different thread? 

Perhaps because this is supposedly the "land of the free"?

Not really. This is the "land of the free", not the "land of the intelligent".