The Chair of the National Automotive Dealers Association, Annette Sykora, sought to distance her fellow dealers from the less likable elements of the industry (OEM CEOs, Gettelfinger) who preceded her in testimony before the House Financial Services Committee today. Calling dealers “the face of the industry,” Sykora advocated for what she termed “the unique role of dealers, most of whom are independent businesspeople who have invested their own money in their stores,” according to Automotive News [sub]. More pressingly, she has a tiny little problem with the proposed $25b bailout legislation, namely the provision calling on automakers to “rationalize” their operations, including “manufacturing work force, suppliers and dealerships.” “Dealership reduction is not necessarily the equivalent of dealership rationalization or dealership optimization,” said Sykora, echoing the subtly (or not) self-interested tone of UAW boss Ron Gettelfinger. The dealer’s wheeler-dealer went on to suggest that sales-boosting clunker-culling programs and SBA loans to dealers would be nice. And not for the first time. We get it. Nobody wants to do what it takes to make the D3 competitive, let alone save the taxpayer a buck. That much is clear. But how do any of these public displays of short-sighted self-interest make taxpayers any more likely to fork over $25b?
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I think people in the U.S. have a lot of growing up to do. Americans can make much healthier choices about money. We need to expand our perspectives and change our attitudes and behavior to some degree. Perhaps I’m to see quite a bit of change. I better just accept people as they are and make some healthy decisions of my own. I just feel so alone.
The Suppliers and Auto companies seem to be holding the economy hostage. I see workers have taken their own selves hostage and will not make a move till we give them something they want. Its just like a kid crying over a toy. Not that anyone is humiliating to themselves or others, just that they are in need of some tough love to some degree. I wish the American people had more protecting from these types of practices. What about this protection. That is one of the many tough questions to start asking. We are being treated like is our responsibility other adults are crying over their toys (non necessities). Americans have wonderful opportunities for growth, and we will get more fertilizer, I mean even more wonderful opportunities. We need to learn when its prudent to be tough on loved ones. We have a lot of fertilizers to choose from, and will continue to have some for the foreseeable future.
Ah, the dealers, the number one reason that the big three are not viable without first going through Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
These hearings wouldn’t be a complete sham without their lobbyist speaking.
To DearS:
What the American people need to learn is simple. If you want $2 worth of stuff and have $2, you’re good. If you only have $1, you either have to earn an extra dollar or decide which dollar’s worth of stuff you want more.
So simple for you that will not have your jobs effected….As long as its not me. Anyone who thinks they will be “isolated” from the coming washout is burying their heads in the sand.
Trust me if everything goes alright and this doesn’t effect the economy in the way that I think it will. I will return to be berated properly. Don’t expect me to return to do likewise, I’ll be to busy explaining to the employee’s I have to lay off how this is the right thing for us to do.
Kendahl:
You ask too much of people for them to act responsibly. No one forced people to buy cars they couldn’t afford or homes they couldn’t afford. No one forced GM to keep an incompetent CEO for 10 years.
I’m angry with irresponsible people, whether they’re the CEO or the yutz down the street who bought something he couldn’t afford because the rest of us have to pay for his mistake.
Its been really hard for me to grow up and face the real world. I definitely feel sympathy and empathy for others. I’m also grateful that thanks to others (and God), things are not worse. I do not believe in punishment, I believe in tough love though. I also believe in a lot of compassion. I also believe in me first ie. selfishness. I need to selfishly protect myself, assert myself, humble myself and love myself. Which I do vigorously.
No one can guide another to somewhere they have not been. I need to make healthy choices about tough decisions. I need to be compassionate and humble, for me first of course, and also stand up for myself. Humans are complicated and can go through a whole lot, so its hard to get some internal harmony and balance, and so feel comfortable and happy while dealing with life and growing. I cannot get involved in others process and progress for the most part. The answers to the issues are more spiritual, attitude, and just ordinary everyday behavior related than anything. Focusing like its primarily about jobs losses and money and unfairness and financial responsibility is hugely unhealthy, dysfunctional and out of balance. Personal Spiritual integration, emotional responsibility and honoring, and attitudinal and behavioral changes are the solution to the pain and worry. Been there, doing that, its what works.
I am 100% serious btw.
Kendahl…..
Remember…… we all live in the Grey area. We all need to look at how we are defining what we are relating to. We need to be open to anything and everything, so as to have the best available knowledge and experience with which to make healthier choices. To make the most out of life.
The idea of car dealers going bankrupt fills my heart with a strange joy.
Kendahl : What the American people need to learn is simple. If you want $2 worth of stuff and have $2, you’re good. If you only have $1, you either have to earn an extra dollar or decide which dollar’s worth of stuff you want more.
Kendahl, I’ll lend you that dollar you need if you want me to, then you can pay me back a dime a month for two years.
Kendahl:
“What the American people need to learn is simple. If you want $2 worth of stuff and have $2, you’re good. If you only have $1, you either have to earn an extra dollar or decide which dollar’s worth of stuff you want more.”
PERFECT. Most Americans don’t know how to live this way.
This touches on a peripheral topic I’ve wondered about recently. I wonder how much of the domestic sales fall-off over the last, say, 4-6 years can be credited not to the product but to the “dealer experience.”
How many buyers are avoiding US-nameplate dealers simply for fear of being beaten up by the system?
How much business have the dealers chased away with their additional markups, shoddy overpriced options and “it’s never under warranty” service departments?
Discuss…