That Detroit has it's hand out once again, surprisingly not. Detroit
has been making good cars, great cars and crappy cars for a long time.
Their recent failures have been in part due to management not having a
diversified view. The top management has fought tooth and nail for
years against the higher fuel economy regulations.
The unions have been a grab all we can get too mentality, which is
not healthy. So with the phantom energy crisis in the early 70's and
the later one in the late 70' s where I recall waiting in line, odd and
even days as necessary, it strikes me what we have is a management
problem, not a, do we know how to make good or efficient cars problem.
The 70's illustrated you couldn't continue making crappy cars, as
the Japanese automakers got their foot in the door and you and I as the
American consumer bought the best product at the best price. Detroit's
management screwed up, which was a benefit for all consumers. The UAW
is not without blame for the high cost of labor. In part, because of
that ,the Japanese and Germans are building cars in Tennessee and
Mississippi. The workers do high quality work, and have a wage they
find acceptable, and are non-union.
So the issue is in my view is in part resources were not focused
early enough and in great enough quantity on renewable or alternative
energy because the auto makers were so tied to cheap gas. American
consumers are culpable too as they continued to support this short
sighted behavior.
The good thing is that the Americans can and do, make some great
products, and do have some good technology. Why is it that Honda and
Toyota were working on alternative vehicles and bringing to production
the Prius and Insight? Did they see the future? We have visionaries in
American industry, just not the big auto industry. I-Pod anyone? E-bay?
Just a few of the game changers we all know.
This video of the futuristic plant in Brazil gives hope. With good
visionary top down direction, the US Automakers can once again make
great affordable products. The vast chasm of executive pay at the US
Automakers and many other companies is an excess that should be
stopped. Maybe bankruptcy would be the best solution? The American
worker can and often is the best most efficient worker in the world, so
having them be part of the solution is paramount to the US auto
industry regaining it's home ground advantage and having our energy
resources within country. The Future of the global auto industry
Electric cars have the potential to do vast good. Think about it,
less money over seas, less noise, less global warming,less health
issues from all the particulates of diesel and carbon di- and mon-oxide.
I think the future can be good, but sweep out the top leadership
that is in for more of the same. The high gas prices were a good thing
as Americans are finally realizing that our dependence on foreign oil
is not a good thing, and since we have been unwilling to install
comprehensive mass transit systems, those vehicles we do ride around
in, need to be powered with another source of energy from our country.
This video illustrates the need for diversity, innovation and a non
segregated workforce.. Those corporate jets should be for all
employees...... don't you think?