Friday, August 18, 2006
Just Roaring Along
The Bush Economic Miracle is continuing to work wonders and improve the live of working Americans. CNN reports
One thing of note is that the plants being mothballed for the rest of the year produce mostly pickups and SUVs. Ford, GM, George Bush, and the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress haven't gotten the message that the high price of oil is killing us. One wonders if Ford had really embrace fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles if they would be shutting these plants. What if, instead of burying our heads in the sand, Bush, Cheney, and the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress had passed a real energy reform bill? One that encourage Ford, GM, etc. to invest in hybrid technologies, one that encouraged consumers to conserve energy of all kinds, one that was more than a give away to the oil companies? If that had happened maybe, just maybe Ford would have a hybrid Ford Focus out there to go head to head with the Honda Civic Hybrid. Maybe if the Republicans were really interested in helping the American economy instead of lining their own pockets, they would have enacted economic policies that bolster American comparative advantages and encourage the adoption of technologies that make us as a country more competitive.
The Bush Economic Miracle is continuing to work wonders and improve the live of working Americans. CNN reports
Ford Motor Co. slashed its production plans and announced that 10 North American plants will be shut for extended periods much of the rest of the year as it tries to trim costs and deal with slumping sales of its light trucks.While the 30,000 or so workers will still get paid, the dip in production will trickle down to suppliers who might not pay their laid off workers. Those laid off workers won't go out and buy things or save money for their retirement or for their kids' college education. We're seeing the Bush Trickle Down Economy at work. Even further down the road, the cut in production means less work at Ford dealerships--fewer oil changes, fewer warranty claims (which on the surface saves money for Ford), fewer tire changes, etc., all of which means Ford dealerships will have to cut back on workers. It won't happen today or tomorrow, but in the years to come all those salespeople, mechanics, administrative people, etc. that work for Ford dealerships will find their jobs a bit more less stable. People who feel their jobs are at risk tend to delay major purchases of the kind that keep factories in the U.S. open. Again the Bush Trickle Down Economy at work.
The automaker said Friday the move will result in a 21 percent drop in production in the fourth quarter compared to a year ago, as it makes 168,000 fewer vehicles.
One thing of note is that the plants being mothballed for the rest of the year produce mostly pickups and SUVs. Ford, GM, George Bush, and the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress haven't gotten the message that the high price of oil is killing us. One wonders if Ford had really embrace fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles if they would be shutting these plants. What if, instead of burying our heads in the sand, Bush, Cheney, and the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress had passed a real energy reform bill? One that encourage Ford, GM, etc. to invest in hybrid technologies, one that encouraged consumers to conserve energy of all kinds, one that was more than a give away to the oil companies? If that had happened maybe, just maybe Ford would have a hybrid Ford Focus out there to go head to head with the Honda Civic Hybrid. Maybe if the Republicans were really interested in helping the American economy instead of lining their own pockets, they would have enacted economic policies that bolster American comparative advantages and encourage the adoption of technologies that make us as a country more competitive.