STUDY: 76% of Americans believe economy can survive without GM

[TomServo92]

Link

[7Mary3]

Link

 

Survive, yes, eventually. But it would cause severe economic repercusions that would last for decades. Read what many say would happen if Chrysler went under:

 

http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/02/news/compa...rce=yahoo_quote

 

2-3 million jobs. If Chrysler failed, I think the U.S. auto industry would continue. But I think if either GM or Ford went under, it would eventually be the end of the U.S. automotive industry.

[retro-man]

Italy has an automotive industry. France has an automotive industry. China has an automotive industry. India has an automotive industry. Malaysia has an automotive industry. Spain has an automobive industry. Freakin' Iran has an automobive industry.

 

The only reason most, if not all, of those places have an automobile industry is because they decided it's important to them to have an automobile industry. Until the American electorate says the same thing - loud and clear - to our elected officials, you're right, the U.S. auto industry - like so many others - is in danger of extinction.

Edited April 3, 2009 by retro-man

[Critic]

Maybe the problem has been with how bad their need has been portrayed to the public and the congressman who have wanted them to fail, so they benefit their own constituents.

 

A PR disaster from the get go. And yet the public can't see a corelation yet between auto's and the economy.

 

Sometimes I think just shut it all down and then see if they notice how it affect's their own pocket book. I saw it back in '82 and I see the same thing today.

[RangerM]

If the government is going to bailout GM (and it's workers), maybe many of that 76% believes the government will take care of them, too?

 

A Pavlovian response?

[silvrsvt]

If the government is going to bailout GM (and it's workers), maybe many of that 76% believes the government will take care of them, too?

 

I have to agree with you on that, too bad most people's responses are, what is in it for me and what do I get out of the deal....

 

How ever I think that GM will survive in some form, just a much smaller form then it is now. I doubt it will fade out into the sunset and their will still be a domestic industry, namely lead by Ford.

[jpd80]

According to The Detroit Free Press, Rasmussen Reports called 1,000 people and asked them if they believed "the economy could recover without General Motors in business." The results were clear: 76% of respondents said "Yes, it can." The sentiment against any more taxpayer money being used to assist automakers was clear as well: 62% said neither GM nor Chrysler should receive any more loans.

 

Just as interestingly, the public appears to expect failure from one of the two companies: Fully 59% said that it was "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that GM or Chrysler will go out of business in the next few years.

 

This doesn't sound very scientific at all, the sample size is way too small.

[J-150]

do we really need to show the % that are illiterate?

 

or the % that should not have graduated high school?

 

fact is, people out there just don't understand many things.

[silvrsvt]

fact is, people out there just don't understand many things.

 

That can be said of many people, educated or not. Just having a college degree doesn't make you "smart"

 

Too many people don't have common sense....

[TomServo92]

I posted this link to generate discussion (which it did). For the record, I disagree with the 76%. GM is too big not too have an impact on the economy.

[old_fairmont_wagon]

Well, as we all realize here, Cryco ISN'T in a survivable position at the moment. There's an art deco clock floating in the air above their HQ building ticking down the minutes until they implode. I doubt that there is enough money in the US treasury to fix that sinking ship, nor could they print it fast enough. We have all witnessed the gross mismanagement that has gotten Cryco to the point that they have reached now.

 

What we need to be focusing on is streamlining the process that will follow Cryco's collapse. Getting those factories and assembly centers into the hands of other companies that will have an interest in running them. Trying to keep as many people employed as possible with as short a break in production as possible. Make a bridge law that will facilitate Nissan gaining control of Dodge truck production, that will enable someone like VW to keep their minivan plant humming, someone like Ford to take over what's left of Jeep, and perhaps someone can be found to take over the LX cars as well. Focus on making what's left over into an economic engine to mitigate the impact that it will have on the rest of the industry.

 

GM can still survive, but, they need a MASSIVE and COMPLETE restructuring that makes many deep and painful cuts.

[LSFan00]

About 76% don't plan to ever buy one of their products in the future, either.

[retro-man]

Well, as we all realize here, Cryco ISN'T in a survivable position at the moment. There's an art deco clock floating in the air above their HQ building ticking down the minutes until they implode. I doubt that there is enough money in the US treasury to fix that sinking ship, nor could they print it fast enough. We have all witnessed the gross mismanagement that has gotten Cryco to the point that they have reached now.

 

What we need to be focusing on is streamlining the process that will follow Cryco's collapse. Getting those factories and assembly centers into the hands of other companies that will have an interest in running them. Trying to keep as many people employed as possible with as short a break in production as possible. Make a bridge law that will facilitate Nissan gaining control of Dodge truck production, that will enable someone like VW to keep their minivan plant humming, someone like Ford to take over what's left of Jeep, and perhaps someone can be found to take over the LX cars as well. Focus on making what's left over into an economic engine to mitigate the impact that it will have on the rest of the industry.

 

GM can still survive, but, they need a MASSIVE and COMPLETE restructuring that makes many deep and painful cuts.

I think that's all a plausible scenario - except the part about wishing "The Jeep Curse" on Ford.

[silvrsvt]

I think that's all a plausible scenario - except the part about wishing "The Jeep Curse" on Ford.

 

Well Ford did build Jeeps in WW2, so they might be immune to it! Ford did look at buying Jeep in the 1990's though.

 

But they need more SUV's like they need a hole to the head!

[NickF1011]

do we really need to show the % that are illiterate?

 

or the % that should not have graduated high school?

 

fact is, people out there just don't understand many things.

 

Heck, even out of the intelligent ones, how many of them have a solid enough grasp on economic concepts to have a valid opinion on this matter? Surveys like this mean absolutely nothing.

[Cocheese]

Could also be where the survey was taken. In Canada, I doubt many people on the West coast think much of the auto industry because they don't see how it effects them. But in Ontario, whole different story.

 

Buddy of mine lives in Windsor and for the longest time his wife said the auto sector wasn't important and that CAW workers were lazy and over paid. Then the crunch hit. Guess she didn't realize how many of those "lazy auto workers" went to the restaurant she managed. Or how many of them required the help of an electrician when building or renoing their house. Both are now out of work looking to move.

 

Now she realizes how important the industry is.

[Critic]

Well Ford did build Jeeps in WW2, so they might be immune to it! Ford did look at buying Jeep in the 1990's though.

 

But they need more SUV's like they need a hole to the head!

Building anything during the time of Jan. 42 to Dec. 44 was strictly controlled by the Gov. What was actually car production during that time period? Ford might have looked at Jeep, but the success American Motors / Chrysler had with the Cherokee prompted Ford to take the Ranger platform and try their hand in a new Market called a SUV. The older style Bronco was purely still a firm TRUCK. When the Explorer came out it was just slightly crude(er) compared to the Cherokee. Ford had a distinct advantage, a bigger share of the market, and people stopped in too see what is this new Explorer? Suddenly people said, "Man this is exactly what I need" and that was all their was too it. Instant Mustang all over again. At this time, the only product any car-company would desire of Jeep would be the Wrangler. Those first body dies and other associated parts of the late 80's Cherokee were sold to the Chinese and I believe they are still in production in China at this time.

 

Like a rising tide that lift's all boats, the economy of the recession of '90's lifted and trucks were the thing to have. If it wouldn't be for the gas problems now, trucks would still be the thing to have / King's of the Road. Hummer: Top of the Food Chain. I'm surprised suddenly how people have quit complaining about the shape of roads and how they hated the feel of small cars while driving in them / on them.

 

The recent review of the Fiesta points out this same problem with their test drive upon real road driving conditions, so it's safe to now say, It was already pointed out before the car reached a selling period. You will hear those complaints and all the other associated gripes to come with the small cars, but now it's a distinct design and small for the petrol-deficient purchaser. It should also be pointed out to anyone purchasing an above $40K car, you can afford a car like that, then you can also afford to put gas into it and not complain about the cost of it. I mean, You very seldom here a purcharer ask anymore "You mean I paid $60K for this and now I have to put gas into it also?"

[snooter]

and be better off without them...the stuff they build has been junk for years...i especially loved the guised up cavalier with the cadillac emblem on the front..real winner they had there-NOT...

[silvrsvt]

When the Explorer came out it was just slightly crude(er) compared to the Cherokee...

 

I dunno about that, but the Cherokee is pretty damn crude...they have about the same amount of leg room in the back seat as an Escort did...

 

I'm not sure how much different the Pre 02 Explorer was interior-wise (size) to the post 02 Model, but the Post 02 blows away the Cherokee in every category

[suv_guy_19]

This doesn't sound very scientific at all, the sample size is way too small.

 

 

That's a normal sample size. At that sample size, if the question is phrased right, the results should be accurate within about 3% 19 time out or 20.

[HeavyAaron]

I just have to laugh at all of you who are making fun of the 76% who answered "yes". The 76% are obviously correct. The question was "Do you believe the economy could recover without General Motors in business?" And yes, obviously it would recover without GM eventually. I'm astounded that 24% would answer otherwise! And even more amazing is that anyone would be such a moron as to make fun of the 76% for answering correctly. What would be the alternative? The US economy to eternally tank? The United States to collapse? Come on, surely you aren't that stupid, are you?

 

It's not the 76% who are idiots, but those here instead. Just amazing.

[Critic]

I just have to laugh at all of you who are making fun of the 76% who answered "yes". The 76% are obviously correct. The question was "Do you believe the economy could recover without General Motors in business?" And yes, obviously it would recover without GM eventually. I'm astounded that 24% would answer otherwise! And even more amazing is that anyone would be such a moron as to make fun of the 76% for answering correctly. What would be the alternative? The US economy to eternally tank? The United States to collapse? Come on, surely you aren't that stupid, are you?

 

It's not the 76% who are idiots, but those here instead. Just amazing.

 

To answer correctly is to answer the way you want to see an answer.

 

Let's see you answer this question for my online opinion survey"

 

"Are you still beating your wife?" Yes_____ No_____

[MY93SHO]

I just have to laugh at all of you who are making fun of the 76% who answered "yes". The 76% are obviously correct. The question was "Do you believe the economy could recover without General Motors in business?" And yes, obviously it would recover without GM eventually. I'm astounded that 24% would answer otherwise! And even more amazing is that anyone would be such a moron as to make fun of the 76% for answering correctly. What would be the alternative? The US economy to eternally tank? The United States to collapse? Come on, surely you aren't that stupid, are you?

 

It's not the 76% who are idiots, but those here instead. Just amazing.

 

Wow Aaron thats.......heavy. Are you stupid enough to believe your post will change everyones mind?

[OAC_Sparky]

Buddy of mine lives in Windsor and for the longest time his wife said the auto sector wasn't important and that CAW workers were lazy and over paid. Then the crunch hit. Guess she didn't realize how many of those "lazy auto workers" went to the restaurant she managed. Or how many of them required the help of an electrician when building or renoing their house. Both are now out of work looking to move.

 

Now she realizes how important the industry is.

Being from Windsor originally myself and as someone who visits friends there on an almost biweekly basis, it's pathetic how many people still don't "get it". Read the comments on any automotive article in the Windsor Star and you'd wonder if anyone realizes the city was built on the backs of autoworkers.

[HeavyAaron]

Wow Aaron thats.......heavy. Are you stupid enough to believe your post will change everyones mind?

 

I'm not trying to change minds... No one actually (in their heart of hearts) believes the economy wouldn't recover without GM (I hope!)

 

I'm pointing out the blantently obvious fact that that "yes" is the correct answer to the question. The question wasn't one of oppinion. The economy obviously can and would recover without GM. Do you honestly doubt that? (Again, what's the alternative? The total collapse of the economy? The conquest of the United States?) Why are people making fun of the people who answered the question CORRECTLY? That's rediculous! Why would you make fun of people who answer the question CORRECTLY?!?

Edited April 5, 2009 by HeavyAaron