bowtie_dude

Yes libertarianism as a form of government? No. But as an ideal? Yes. Its republican economics and democratic civil rights, to put it simply. Communism is extremem socialism. Government control of industry, everyone else owns your stuff. Etc etc.

Europe is the most socialist region in the world, excepting China and Cuba who are communist nations (Duh!). And I don't know enough about Japan's government to determine their economic leaning. And even the US, with its social welfare programs, is a little socialist. And, in case you're wondering, I'm a libertarian. ;)

Well, this IS a GM and, to a lesser degree, domestic fansite. Also, Toyota is infallible, so when they stumble we like to point and laugh.

I don't know, but it wouldn't hurt. And yes, Canada is socialist. Government subsidized healthcare? Corporate regulation? Yeah, they're socialists.

The Toyota Prius, keeping the air cleaner by making you walk.

:P

Actually, my "blame Canada" remark was not made in jest. The socialist Canadian government forces pharmeceutical companies to lower prices of drugs sold in Canada. This causes those companies to sell their prescription drugs at a higher price in companies where price regulation doesn't exist. Which is why drug prices in the US or so damn high. Well, that and the FDA.

HA!! AH-HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!!! God I fucking hate Toyota.

Uh, guys...They've been making PINK Corvettes for a long long time.

Government sponsored anything is never great. You, of all people, should know that.

Currently, of those, Pontiac has the best lineup, obviously since its the best selling. However, this time next year, that honor will go to Saturn.

I blame the lawyers... ...and Canada.

Envy does not begin to describe how I feel right now. <_< ^_^ Congrats! :D

Then we do agree on one thing. Though I'm not entirely sure we agree on what the solution is since mine doesn't involve government provided healthcare.

Protectionism, which is what you're proposing, will kill this country faster than anything you can imagine. America will not survive on its industrial strength. It hasn't really LIVED on its industrial strength in probably a decade anyway. Microsoft, Cisco, Sun Microsystems, Google, Yahoo...these are the "industries" of the future.

:cheers: :bowdown:

A lot of people here think the same thing.

The government shouldn't have to give GM or any company a loan just so they can stay competitive. The only help GM needs and should get from the government is pressure to the Japanese government to practice free trade.

"largest contributor"? I'm not following you.

I actually only have a two-year degree/. ^_^ But thats beside the point. Who says they need a college education? There are all kinds of employable (into the future) skill sets that you don't acquire on a college campus. Welding, carpentry, mechanics, landscaping, etc etc. But why do they have to lose their jobs? I mean, I can understand being use to a certain way of life, but picketing will only cause the company to buck and pull out faster. Its the job if the CEO and CFO of a company to make sure it stays in business, ie, makes money. And if they can't do that AND employ Americans, they'll either die or outsource.

I have compassion for the individuals, not the group. But I also see the company's point of view. This has got to stop being us and them or NO ONE is going to have a job. And the UAW going on strike shows how little thought they're putting into it.

You have no right to a job, regardless of what socialists would have you believe no one owes you anything.

I'll first start out by apologizing for my comment, it was uncalled for. But, I will go on by saying that my views on this entire situation have nothing to do with my experience and that my young age shouldn't be a factor in the weight of my words. My "little world" isn't protected by anyone but myself. I work in the information industry. My job is to make sure other people in my company (Host Communications) can do their job. Like I was told the first time I screwed up big time (I lost someones email archive when I reloaded their laptop, someone important), "I do not make this company any money. My job is to make sure everyone else can, and if I can't do that, then the company has no reason to keep me on." Now unless Bull Run (our parent company) decides to move the entire company overseas, which is possible albeit unlikely, then my job is safe as long as I do it. Because I have needed skills, I'm internal tech support. Now, 4 years ago I was a Computer Science major heading towards a career of coding for the rest of my life. Thank God I got out of that, because look whats happening to all the programming jobs! The way I see it is that America is progressing naturally. We've been moving towards and information-based economy for decades now, and this is the start of the final big movement away from an industrial economy. It doesn't take a lot of skills to work on a factory line these days, robots take care of most of the really hard work. Maybe instead of bitching and moaning about the loss of industrial jobs everyone should think about actually ACQUIRING skills in a field that is needed and wanted? Just a thought.

Sadly, driving skills have not.

Experience with what? Is working on an assembly line a prerequisite for expressing opinion? Odd, I thought my college education gave me a pretty good leg to stand on. I guess you HS diploma/GED carriers working yourselves to death for the same pay I work half as hard for know more than me.