Silliness The Countdown - Page 17

Greg Anos · 11-13-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I have been there. (I'm occasionally there when I'm here!) I still have the chunks taken out of me to prove it. It's one of the reasons I took up writing, in fact.

Last night, my father suggested something that probably makes more sense than federalizing: Seizing all manufacturing operations of failing companies like GM and ceding them to other automakers like Toyota, at a significantly discounted cost for the facilities, on the understanding that they would retool to build particular models of their cars (Prius, in Toyota's case) in and for America.

The discount for the plants might translate into lower costs for the vehicles, making them more attractive for Americans to buy.

The alternate possibility would be a partial retool, where the plant would continue to build many of the same vehicles, but modified with more efficient electric or hybrid power plants. The full and partial retool strategies could be applied to each plant according to their present vehicle output (i.e., most inefficient-vehicle plants, including most truck plants, get fully retooled, salvageable-vehicle plants get partially retooled).

I agree that this also beats handing GM bailout money.

Oh, yeah: Diet Decaf Dr. Pepper? How do you do it?

No sting here - but how would that differ from letting GM go bankrupt and letting other car makers buy the facilities? The shareholders would get nothing in either case, and only the most effcient facilities would be wanted in either case.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 11-13-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

No sting here - but how would that differ from letting GM go bankrupt and letting other car makers buy the facilities? The shareholders would get nothing in either case, and only the most effcient facilities would be wanted in either case.

I suspect the shareholders are going to get screwed, no matter what happens... the fault of GM's suicidal policies, and their willingness to go along with the ride. I'm sorry, it was fun while it lasted, but we've reached the falls... it was nice knowing you.

As far as the difference, it comes in the form of the government's accepting a significant part of the losses, in exchange for brokering the deal to make sure an automaker that gains the facilities uses them specifically to make cars America needs, as opposed to simply taking the facilities cheap, closing most of them, and building more gas-guzzlers with the rest.

The automakers will save money in the transaction, making them more likely to retain as much of the current plants (and workers) as possible... and the government would have a hand in guiding development, and making sure there was as little disruption to the workforce as possible.

If, maybe, the new automakers did not want certain facilities (the oldest, the most inefficient), perhaps the government would take just those over, and use them to make a federalized car. That would hopefully satisfy everyone's need for a vehicle, whether it be a snazzy automaker product, or a bare-bones government ride for those who need no more than that.

Obviously, the more plants stay open, the more American jobs get preserved.

RickyMaveety · 11-13-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Oh, yeah: Diet Decaf Dr. Pepper? How do you do it?

I don't actually like it very much, but I counted and in a typical day I have 7 to 8 cans of soda. So, I try to make at least two of them be sugar free. I'm only allowed one can of Coke a day, because the caffeine does horrible things to me (it not only makes me jittery, but it causes intense pain ... all over .... to the point that it hurts it anyone touches me. I've been told that I do not metabolize the stuff very well.

But ..... most days, 2 cans of Welch's Grape, 2 cans of Manzanita Sol (which is sparkling Apple soda pop), 2 cans of the Diet Decaf Dr. Pepper and one can of Coke (that's my afternoon treat .... I love love LOVE Coke).

Ricky is to Coca Cola as Homer Simpson is to a donut.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 11-13-2008, 01:38 PM

And I thought I needed a detox...

Patricia · 11-13-2008, 02:38 PM

Good Heavens, Ricky. Eight cans of soda a day.
Wow!
I have one or two per year.
I can only suppose that you actually like the stuff.

pshrynk · 11-13-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

Good Heavens, Ricky. Eight cans of soda a day.
Wow!
I have one or two per year.
I can only suppose that you actually like the stuff.

Okay. We're starting to get the ends of our spectrum set down, then...

Steven Lyle Jordan · 11-13-2008, 02:42 PM

The only time I ever drink a soda is when the only drink I can get is a vodka and tonic or rum and coke...

Otherwise, I'm a 100% fruit juice fan.

Greg Anos · 11-13-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I don't actually like it very much, but I counted and in a typical day I have 7 to 8 cans of soda. So, I try to make at least two of them be sugar free. I'm only allowed one can of Coke a day, because the caffeine does horrible things to me (it not only makes me jittery, but it causes intense pain ... all over .... to the point that it hurts it anyone touches me. I've been told that I do not metabolize the stuff very well.

But ..... most days, 2 cans of Welch's Grape, 2 cans of Manzanita Sol (which is sparkling Apple soda pop), 2 cans of the Diet Decaf Dr. Pepper and one can of Coke (that's my afternoon treat .... I love love LOVE Coke).

Ricky is to Coca Cola as Homer Simpson is to a donut.

Rickey, have you tried Caffeine free Coke? To my taste buds, the taste is the same. (I also am caffeine restricted.)

pshrynk · 11-16-2008, 11:15 AM

65...

vivaldirules · 11-17-2008, 10:24 AM

"This thaw -- took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." --George W. Bush, on liquidity in the markets, Alexandria, La., Oct. 20, 2008

DixieGal · 11-17-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

"This thaw -- took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." --George W. Bush, on liquidity in the markets, Alexandria, La., Oct. 20, 2008

Guffaw! Now I've got to walk around all day with this coffee stain on my sweater!

Steven Lyle Jordan · 11-17-2008, 10:36 AM

That's our Dubya!

(Canned laughter, segue to closing theme.)

This season's That's Our Dubya! was brought to you by: General Motors, whose execuczars thank you for paying for their new homes on Barbados (soon to be officially renamed Hummer Island).

vivaldirules · 11-18-2008, 08:29 AM

"There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on --shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again." --George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

Steven Lyle Jordan · 11-18-2008, 11:00 AM

John Stewart is SOOO gonna miss that guy. (Though he's pretty much the only one.)

pshrynk · 12-01-2008, 12:12 PM

Fifty

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Unutterably Silly Countdown!	LazyScot	Lounge	345	09-05-2010 04:04 PM
The Final Countdown!!	central11	Amazon Kindle	6	08-19-2010 10:09 AM
Sonystyle website countdown	Spartacus2112	News	11	08-09-2010 12:42 PM
Entourage Edge Countdown	zetareticuli	enTourage eDGe	80	03-10-2010 12:17 PM
Countdown to Christmas (or Dec 25)	desertgrandma	Lounge	353	12-31-2009 07:04 PM

11-13-2008, 01:38 PM	#244
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	And I thought I needed a detox...

11-13-2008, 02:38 PM	#245
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Good Heavens, Ricky. Eight cans of soda a day. Wow! I have one or two per year. I can only suppose that you actually like the stuff.

11-13-2008, 02:42 PM	#247
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	The only time I ever drink a soda is when the only drink I can get is a vodka and tonic or rum and coke... Otherwise, I'm a 100% fruit juice fan.

11-16-2008, 11:15 AM	#249
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	65...

11-17-2008, 10:24 AM	#250
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	"This thaw -- took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." --George W. Bush, on liquidity in the markets, Alexandria, La., Oct. 20, 2008

11-17-2008, 10:36 AM	#252
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	That's our Dubya! (Canned laughter, segue to closing theme.) This season's That's Our Dubya! was brought to you by: General Motors, whose execuczars thank you for paying for their new homes on Barbados (soon to be officially renamed Hummer Island).

11-18-2008, 08:29 AM	#253
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	"There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on --shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again." --George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

11-18-2008, 11:00 AM	#254
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	John Stewart is SOOO gonna miss that guy. (Though he's pretty much the only one.)

12-01-2008, 12:12 PM	#255
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Fifty

Advert

Advert