I was just reading a post by one of my BlogCatalog© friends and it got me started on an auto industry rant. Look out, Here I go… That’s Right, I Said It!

I live just outside of Detroit (Motor City), Michigan, USA. Car capital of the world, home of the big three! Not too long ago that description would have been perfectly accurate. Now it’s more like Detroit, home of plant shutdowns, cutbacks, layoffs and buyouts. The worst auto sales market in decades actually requiring government bailouts just to survive.

Detroit’s auto industry troubles are effecting not only Michigan and the United States but the entire world. Few people can get an auto loan and most wouldn’t even if they could. Blame it on the economy, management, or just the changing times I just hope it turns around soon.

It’s not just America and American products, it’s a Worldwide crises. Hisham in Cairo, Egypt can’t even sell his 1987 Volkswagen Golf II. Used Cars Market in Egypt is shutting down!

I don’t have a solution but I know I’d feel better if they would fire every single CEO and top executive in the industry. A few of them should probably go to jail! Many good people have invested years of their adult lives in these companies just to lose their homes and way of life.

I’m completely flabbergasted at just how stupid big business can be. Decisions so dumb that any high school student would know better are being made daily by the idiots running these massive companies. Millionaires so out of touch with the real world and too arrogant to know it. They may as well be in the government.

Here’s where a lot of people will get upset with me. This isn’t said much around Detroit but it should be. Some blame also has to go to the employees. I feel bad that it’s these folks are paying the ultimate price but if no one admits there’s a problem history is certain to keep repeating itself.

Say something like that around here and everyone just thinks you are anti-union or jealous of the autoworker’s lifestyles or, even worse, un-American. I’m not anti-union or jealous. I earn more money than most UAW members and have no problem with making a nice living. I served proudly in the United States Army for seven years and would die for my country in a minute and I’m certainly not un-American.

When the auto worker is already earning more money with better benefits than an entry level or skilled labor worker of any other industry why demand more? At what cost? The cost of the wages and benefits have helped the price of a new car to become out of reach of the average citizen. So now the loan and banking industry gets to dig their fingers into everyone with eight year loans or more.

I’ve been in dozens of plants dealing with big three hourly employees on hundreds of occasions. My personal opinion? There are some good people but the majority, yes I said majority, I’ve had to deal with are the laziest group of people I’ve ever seen. You wouldn’t even think they were on the clock. Sitting around casually talking, joking or reading. Walk up and tell them you have a delivery and you may as well have told them you were there to rob the place. Drivers are greeted with, “It’s going to be a while“, I’m on break“, “It’s not my job” or my favorite, “You have to find (insert any name here), he’s the shipping guy“. Never mind you are standing in the shipping and receiving office. Never mind that three employees are sitting there like you are invisible. Now you are supposed to walk through a plant the size of a small city and find some idiot you have never met before that doesn’t want to be found. When you do find him he is going to resist lifting a finger with everything he’s got.

Yes, this is the guy that has ruined it for the rest of the company. He has ruined a great opportunity for his children. He has ruined it for the country and perhaps the world. So Mr./Ms. Insert Name Here, if you are lucky enough to land a great job again – DO YOUR JOB!~

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