With the economy in a downturn and many families struggling to make ends meet, it is conflicting to know that the auto companies will be receiving a bail out. On one hand, they will be saving thousands of jobs in Detroit, Michigan. On the other hand, these companies made certain choices that led them to this place. I mean they had their own fleet of PRIVATE JETS!
Watch the video below and answer the following questions in your post:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/video/blog/2008/12/ford_ceo_makes_his_case.html
1. Why do you think Congress was dissatisfied with the CEOs the first
time they came to Washington? Why was the corporate jet travel a
problem?
2. Do you think automakers should get big loans from the government?
Is it the government's job to make sure big companies don't fail?
3. Why do you think other car makers, like Toyota, are doing so much
better than American car companies?
Remember...ANONYMOUS and then your class and #.
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ReplyDeleteCongress was dissatisfied the first time the CEOs came to Washington because they needed more details about the plan, so that the CEOs could convince them that this billion dollar investment could save these three auto making companies.
The corporate jet travel is a major problem because when you look at these companies who are asking for billions of dollars it make you wonder, are they really spending it where it was necessary. I mean these people bout a whole fleet of private jets, and there asking for money!!! If they can afford a fleet of private jets, then they should be able to get themslefs out of this mess or not even be in this mess at all. Think about it this way. Your neighbor owns a private jet and is asking you for a loan. That is crazy! IF these companies can "bail" themselfs out, and they have these fleet of jets, there less likely to get the money then want because the people are wondering, "Do they really need my money, and is it actually going to help the auto industry?"
If a small company in a town fails the governments does not help them. I kind of see how one company's faliure can lead to anothers, but if ford didn't spend their extra money by buying a *fleet* of jets (one I can understand, but a *fleet?*) they wouldn't be in this situation. It is not the governments responsibility to bail these maojor companies because it the united states economy is heading downhill, and its still going fast. If the congress decides to bail out the companies now, what about in 2 years? The same problem will come up again, and again and again until the economy crisus is over. I think the companies can hold it together for another year or two if they cut off the excess spending, and change their plan w/the government to bail them out.
Ford doesn't have the best quality and value record. The other companies are okay, but they are not great cars. Toyota and other car companies have great records, and they cut back on their spending. They seem to save their money a little better the Ford does, and if Ford can learn to manage their money better than they are now, they will get through this.
Hi Ms Schouwe-
ReplyDeleteSorry to interrupt your class responses but my name is Lizzy and I am from the PBS NewsHour Extra (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/). We are so excited to see you using some of our resources. Please feel free to leave a comment on our blog (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/video/blog/) about how you are using these tools in your classroom teaching.
Also, please feel free to email me at extra AT newshour DOT org with any questions or suggestions you have.
This blog is great!
Lizzy