7 Comments

Share yours!

1. 
   
   

   Visit My Website

   December 8, 2008

   Permalink

   1 Bunk Price said:
   

   I honestly do not know what to make of everything circulating the atmosphere of the bailouts. Although I know that the big boys saw this coming for a long time and I in no way feel it is our job to bail them out when I dont feel it is our responsibility, I do feel and pray for the factory workers. As you stated, they if anyone, will truly feel the pinch of the effects of this, bailout or not.

   My prayers are truly with them.

2. 
   
   

   Visit My Website

   December 8, 2008

   Permalink

   2 Andrew Schick said:
   

   Its the same thing over here in New Zealand. There have been too many people close to me loose their jobs, and the difference between my ‘objective, wide lens’ opinion and the pain that I feel for these friends is far too wide. Maybe its time to start grouping together and taking care of one another despite the intervention (or-not) of our governments?

3. 
   
   

   Visit My Website

   December 8, 2008

   Permalink

   3 Brad Ruggles said:
   

   @Andrew – You’re right, it’s hard to stay objective when there are so many family and friends who are affected.

   Regardless of what our government does I think this is a tremendous opportunity for the church to serve those who are struggling with this economic downturn.

4. 
   
   

   Visit My Website

   December 8, 2008

   Permalink

   4 Joseph said:
   

   Love the perspective on this Brad.

   It is easy for all of us to cast a negative opinion on the bailout (which I have written about in a negative fashion, I admit) because of the unfortunate representation good working people are getting by the CEO’s and Union Leaders.

   It does sadden me that the real workers in these industries are not portrayed in the media.

   I do pray for them and hope the best comes of this.

   At the same time, I pray these industries and their leaders learn that they must operate businesses like the rest of us do and that they can be innovative, fair and long lasting without aid from a government. They must learn how to operate, even in tough times, and retain profits for these times. In church terms, they must learn to be good stewards of money so their retirees can live out their pensions without fear.

   Joseph’s last blog post..Pictures With Santa

5. 
   
   

   Visit My Website

   December 8, 2008

   Permalink

   5 Aaron said:
   

   I caught this on the evening news last night, and though the three SUVs on the platform with everyone dancing around them was a little much.

   The truth, though, is that the auto manufacturers are getting slammed by Congress for having produced substandard vehicles at prices kept artifically high by the high costs brough on by unions, retiree benefits, and excessive warranty/repair work. And they deserve it.

   I’m not a Detroit native (though I’ve lived here for about 15 years). I remember moving here and thinking it was crazy that people were getting paid $40/hr to put a widget on a car. I think most of the country has seen this day coming for about 25 years.

   That being said, I think they’re getting it much tougher than the financial firms. While Detroit automakers have a history of making poor quality cars (I know–I drive two of them), Wall Street had similarly inexcuseable behavior, although over a much shorter period of time. To me, their examples of unchecked greed and taking advantage of the working poor by (in some instances) tricking them into mortgages they can’t afford is reprehensible, to say the least. Here’s a newsflash–how about we lend money only to people who can reasonably afford to pay it back? We’ll call it our business plan; it’s all the rage. Everybody’s doing it.

   So, while D-town has been suffering for the better part of my lifetime, the financial institutions recently proved that they can one-up the poor business practices. I think if they had gone through the same “business planning” loan justification requirements that the auto companies are doing, that perhaps we wouldn’t have spent nearly as much taxpayer money bailing out folks who should have known better and were just betting that they would cash out before their bad policies caught up with them.

   It looks a little bleak here for D-town. And, considering they say 10% of the US economy is related to the auto industry, I don’t think we can afford for it to just die. I heard today that it looks like there might be a $15bn compromise.

   Aaron’s last blog post..Sangria

6. 
   
   

   Visit My Website

   December 9, 2008

   Permalink

   6 Kelli said:
   

   I live in (outside of) Detroit, and know first hand that the people in this area are worried, scared, and devastated at how bad things have gotten. Although I do not agree with all the elements of the bailout, I do feel that its important for our government to realize if we let this industry die, its the beginning of a terrible situation for thousands of families in this one area alone, let alone across the country.

   Bishop Ellis has a large congregation, but its based in the inner city of Detroit. I imagine its difficult to keep his congrehation encouraged.

   Kelli’s last blog post..And the Grammy Goes To…..

7. 
   
   

   Visit My Website

   December 11, 2008

   Permalink

   7 nate said:
   

   I too have family involved…my dad, who could have retired years ago, still works for Chrysler. It’s true, if Chrysler were to collapse, the pensions, whose value is tied up in Chrysler stock, would crash too.

   Under the terms of the bailout, (loan…quite different from AIG’s situation) the gov. picks up stock…not quite controling, but def. influencial ownership. While many Chrysler employees are afraid of loosing their life’s work, they are also afraid of turning that work over from the UAW to congress, to put is plainly.

   All that to say…you are right. Nobody wins here. Gov. would be smart to enforce the same trade taxes on foriegn automakers that they enforce on us.

   nate’s last blog post..Dialogue