OpenGov - Open Government Brainstorm

The government isn't running it. The taxpayers are stockholders in GM. On top of that the government has agreed not to vote the stock as long as GM abides by the agreement it has signed. Certainly nothing that other car companies haven't agreed to do.

If, we are running the GM they what don't we own the stock instead of the government. Why is the government picking who runs the company? The government will NEVER give up control of this business. They do such a good job with Amtrak, the post office and medicaid I am sure that they will do a wonderful job running this into the ground also.

The post office has been independent of the government since 1970 and runs quite well except for the fact that they have to deliver political mail for nothing. Think about how any private business might be impacted by mandates set by the previous owners.OH, and the other problem is that they are required to deliver mail to any approved mail receptacle more than a quarter mile from a post office. None of their competitors have to do that.

And we do own the stock. If GM does well (similar to chrysler that the us taxpayer helped out of a bind) the stock will be sold and that money will be returned to the treasury. Every time the US does this more money is returned to the treasury than is originally paid out.

And Amtrack works really well too, saving the government 50 billion for every 20 billion spent on it. Most people just hear about the subsidy because the lobbyists who are against Amtrack wont tell about how much would be spent without Amtrack.

Go work for Amtrack or the Post office sometime if you want to see. Oh, there are people who don't do their jobs just as their are others who to do more to make up for those who don't.

I don't know where you are getting your information but, the post office and amtrak are both in the red. They are two of the worst ran business that I have seen. Even though the post office is in the red, the post office general got a %150,000 bonus. I work in the same transportion of amtrak and I know how poorly they are ran. Get your facts before you post.

I dont know where your getting your information but there is obvious proof that the post office isn't in the red. All their operations are paid for by postage. When they need money they raise their rates. Nothing they do is paid for by taxes. Thats all public information and easily obtained.

As far as AMTRAK is concerned thats also easily obtainable from the transportation department who pays an independent auditing company to check their books. With AMTRAK of course there will be red ink because congress and in some cases the state legislatures of some sections can deny funding. But the savings the approval of that funding provides is also in the transportation department and has been independently supported.

Oh by the way there is no Post Master General anymore. There is a General manager. And he is paid a civil service salary that is set and can be looked up and guess what he doesn't get a bonus so you should check your facts, not me.

I also recieved the letter from GM and responded to it. I will NEVER buy another Gm vehicle or Chrysler for that matter. Until GM and Chrysler do what is right and pay the bondholders what they are due, restore the closed dealers that they STOLE from, and reign in the corrupt unions, I have no trust in them and therefore will not do any business with them. This country is becomming the joke of the world. Wake up true Americans and tell these idiot eletists in DC to stop the insanity.

My question is, do we penalize one of the last remaining American automakers for something the government did? How much does GM share in the guilt? Versus, however, how much to we encourage Obama's fascist behavior here if we DO buy from GM?

At least the gov. only owns a tiny stake in Chrysler, my favorite car company...

I wish we shareholders could all vote to stop the planned demise of Pontiac. Now that would be something.

IMO the auto manufacturers still have not dealt with the biggest problem/expense, the unions. Until they stop the strong arm tactics of these bullies, they will end up back in the same situation. They will need more of our money in the near future.

How bout the fact that GM has been in bed with the oil companies and pushing these Bigger Gas Guzzlers down our throats for years.

Do you know the only reasons that Ford didn't need a bailout? because for all the jokes about "Fix Or Repair Daily" the last JDPower and Assoc. survey I read by them(I believe it was 05) found ford to be the most reliable among american car brands with at least 10000 contributors per model.

Also they came up with a painting process that uses 30% less energy that they lease to every other major manufacturer.

Finally they produce the best Hybrid SUV and Sedans on the market.

Maybe if American companies started showing what is truly possible with green and started building a better car they'd do better!!!

And Everyone reading this needs to remember that you vote not only with your voice and at the polls, but also with you're buying choices.

Start pursuing alternative means and the manufacturer's will notice. Feel free to ask any questions you have. I will do my best to answer or show you where to find the answer

How are they pushing "bigger gas guzzlers"? I personally don't want to drive around in some little death trap. I drave a crew cab truck not because someone forced it on me but because I choose to. The manufacturers are building what the people want or they would not still be in business. Remember, there are lots of car companies that have gone out of business because they didn't build the cars people wanted. Gm and Chrysler are going down the tubes because of the union thugs.

Um, Look at all the marketing campaigns.

Notice that the companies like Honda and Toyota pushing the energy efficient cars are performing better than ANYONE. What's that? Toyota listened and they're the #1 Automaker in the world?

oh and Hummer did what 90,000 units last year? meanwhile Oldsmobile did over TRIPLE THAT with more fuel efficient vehicles before they shut them down to bring in Hummer?

So getting rid of a line of cars that's more reliable and better on gas to replace it with one of the biggest ugliest and most gas-guzzling vehicle lines in the world isn't pusshing bigger gas guzzlers on us?

Not to mention that Arnold created a Biodiesel Hybrid Hummer that got over 70 miles per gallon with only 100,000 of his own money.

Now granted that sounds like a lot, but why don't you ask toyota how much the Concept Prius cost to conceptualize and build? 3 million? 5 million? all of the sudden 100,000 for a prototype isn't too bad :)

But I digress, what about all the marketing ploys to put Rappers and Sports stars in Yukons, Escalades, and Tahoes?

Don't you remember how cool Reggie Bush was 2 years ago?

Those are the idols of the upcoming generations, and they get paid to drive those big monstrosities. And how many people ever actually use them to go offroad? or to cart around a full family? or carpool with 6 friends?

And um, Last time I checked, GM was bankrupt.

They had the worst envrionmental policies of American Automakers and they were the First to Die. Go Figure...

But you were a little bit right about the union thugs. The US manufacturer's double the wages of the imports on most positions compared to most companies.