Comments on: How Ford Was Bailed Out, Too

By: Lincoln/Mercury owner

Lincoln/Mercury owner — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:39:38 +0000

Why be so negative? Ford did what the other two companies didn’t do they cut/closed/trimmed in all areas, and still get castigated? The UAW OTOH has done nothing but continue in the same old same old. I would change the focus to the UAW, let America see their buildings, private jets, and the many holdings, and the salaries of the officers of the UAW. America needs to see just how much money the UAW extracts from its members and what the members receive in exchange. I also find it interesting that there is little mention that Toyota, Honda, and Isuzu, are heavily impacted by the downturn and are either losing money, laying off, or expecting their employees to give back to their company in order for their companies to remain viable in the future. I don’t mind looking at Ford/Chrysler/GM, but how about showing Foreign car makers and their troubles also.

By: Drake21734

Drake21734 — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:48:39 +0000

I find it funny the media keeps calling it a bailout. It’s a LOAN not a bailout. The banks got a blank check from Nancy and the other mutants who room the halls of congress. If anyone should be giving up their private aircraft and take paycuts it should be congress. They have failed at just about everything, but they sure don’t feel bad giving themselves a big raise every year why the majority of folks are loosing their jobs.

BTW Ray and the rest of you folks who want to see the big 3 fail, I hope you enjoy your spot in the breadlines with the rest of us if it happens.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:07:23 +0000

I hate all the spin and negativity in the media these days. Too much bias and personal agendas anymore than truthfully honest news. We the people must take any media publication with a grain of salt anymore to get through all the misguided opinions and to the facts/truth of the topic at hand.

Even though the author is partly true in his points, using his philosophy, he’d also have to agree the entire auto industry is receiving a bailout/concessions from the money GM/Chrysler received. This includes all auto manufacturers (domestic or import) and their suppliers, dealerships, workers (union or non-union), etc. So only to include Ford because they are one of the Big 3 or because the author has a bias, simply removes any credibility this article had.

Now I fully agree the UAW packages need investigated and brought back into line with the rest of the US manufacturing industry. They aren’t the only reason these manufacturers are in this ordeal, but they are a huge contributing factor.

Lastly, why is it that Ford is doing something good but they are still getting bashed? Why not produce something positive about Ford going it alone and not taking tax payer money? Guess that would be too hard of an article to write, because we call know it’s much easier to tear people/companies down than to prop them up.

By: bruce

bruce — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:38:13 +0000

I don’t understand all the hostility to the author and FBN in the above blogs. I was happy when my Mutual Fund dumped Ford when it was $30 a share. Back then (about one year ago) I couldn’t find one new Ford car on Seattle’s East side in a 100. The few I did see looked derivitive of the same old tired Taurus design. So cut Mr H. some slack, whether or not Ford gets a bail out is irrelevant. It’s going down the crapper with the other two detroit dino’s. Bye the way what’s Ford trading for today?

By: Old Skool Ford

Old Skool Ford — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:03:50 +0000

Ford’s Alan Mulally is the best CEO in the business at the moment, Ford were in a terrible state when he started as CEO, Ford’s workforce really has given Mulally 100% support and united behind him, they have suffered a lot of pain already to turn Ford around. Ford now match and beat Toyota & Honda on quality and if you look at Novembers sales they lead the pack F-Series is still the No1 best seller the numbers are not pretty but Fords market share is growing both in the US and in Europe where Ford is No2 best selling brand so they are beating the best in Europe as well. They will be bringing some of these fuel-efficient model from Europe to the US in the next couple of years.

Nobody was a winner in November but Ford leads the pack with the smallest fall of in sales as the credit crunch bites.

Ford –30.6%
Honda –31.6%
Toyota –33.9%
GM –41.3%
Chrysler –47%

Ford and its workforce don’t deserve to be kicked in teeth like this they have been in this blog, they worked so hard to turn things around and they have not asked for one dime from the US government due to their fantastic turnaround; Americans need to start looking at Fords again they have changed for the better, it’s long overdue.

Jelly from London

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:58:15 +0000

How about letting Ford out of the failure mix? Clearly they are not as bad off as the rest and can set a course now for recovery by themselves, unlike GM and Chrysler who will go belly up without help. Because Ford is the “lucky benefactor”, like the rest of the American economy, does not make them a direct bail-out recipient. Lay off, and let credit be due where credit is due. Ford has been on a quality campaign for a few years now, and recently were rated next to Toyota for reliability, that says something. We have a Ford Taurus in the family that has near 200,000 trouble free miles on it, not many car companies can make claims of their products like that. I believe the once underdog will rise to the top after all this is said and done.

By: John Knight

John Knight — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 05:25:53 +0000

To all those misguided posts before this one saying things like “This is not a bailout its a LOAN”, I pose this question.

If you “loan” me $100 dollars and I don’t have the money or the incentive to pay you back what is the outcome? The answer is you still DON’T get your money back and are out $100. Wake up and have the guts to call a spade, a spade. It’s a handout, charity to failing businesses, A BAILOUT. We might as well burn our hard earned money. Don’t get caught up in the fancy new term “bridge loan”, which is like putting lipstick on a pig.

I said it earlier and I’ll say it again America is more than just the one auto industry. Funny thing is that industry isn’t even “American” anymore because the only thing done here is tighten a few screws and maybe a wash and wax. Let the FREE MARKET that is AMERICAN work and get rid of BAD BUSINESS MODELS!!!

Within a 10 Mi radius of my house there are 3 Chevy, 2 Ford and 2 Dodge and only 1 Honda and 1 Toyota dealership. The whole supply chain of the “once-big” 3 needs to change and the only way that will happen is if they fail.

By: Kemper

Kemper — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:11:50 +0000

Garbage reporting and with your logic that means every American taxpayer just got bailed out.

By: Quentilla

Quentilla — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:48:24 +0000

Who are we kidding here! You do a good job with your money management and some reporter throws you in the sack with the failures. So bottom line, the people at Gm and chrysler is now going to have our unskilled, untested, never worked a real job in their life politicians manage their money for them?

I give it 6 weeks even with the money. Our politicians have no real world experience, they are just opportunists with a hair doo and have won a popularity contest. Hell, half of them are actors! Sorry, there is no scrip writer to save em here!

By: DR

DR — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:03:58 +0000

When will the UAW (mafia) wake up and smell the coffee? Their pockets have been filled way to long. All three make great cars, but their Management is poor at best.