general motors issues thanks/explanation/apology letter

[maladroit]

GM'S COMMITMENT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

We deeply appreciate the Congress considering General Motorsâ?? request to borrow up to
$18 billion from the United States. We want to be sure the American people know why
we need it, what weâ??ll do with it and how it will make GM viable for the long term.

For a century, we have been serving your personal mobility needs, providing American
jobs and serving local communities. We have been the U.S. sales leader for 76
consecutive years. Of the 250 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads today, more than 66
million are GM brands â?? nearly 44 million more than Toyota brands. Our goal is to
continue to fulfill your aspirations and exceed your expectations.

While weâ??re still the U.S. sales leader, we acknowledge we have disappointed you. At
times we violated your trust by letting our quality fall below industry standards and our
designs become lackluster. We have proliferated our brands and dealer network to the
point where we lost adequate focus on our core U.S. market. We also biased our product
mix toward pick-up trucks and SUVs. And, we made commitments to compensation
plans that have proven to be unsustainable in todayâ??s globally competitive industry. We
have paid dearly for these decisions, learned from them and are working hard to correct
them by restructuring our U.S. business to be viable for the long term.

Today, we have substantially overcome our quality gap; our newest designs like the
Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS are widely heralded for their appeal; our new
products are nearly all cars and â??crossoversâ?� rather than pick-ups and SUVs; our factories
have greatly improved productivity and our labor agreements are much more competitive.

We are also driven to lead in fuel economy, with more hybrid models for sale and
biofuel-capable vehicles on the road than any other manufacturer, and determined to
reinvent the automobile with products like the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric
vehicle and breakthrough technology like hydrogen fuel cells.

Until recent events, we felt the actions weâ??d been taking positioned us for a bright future.
Just a year ago, after we reached transformational agreements with our unions, industry
analysts were forecasting a positive GM turnaround. We had adequate cash on hand to
continue our restructuring even under relatively conservative industry sales volume
assumptions. Unfortunately, along with all Americans, we were hit by a â??perfect storm.â?�

Over the past year we have all faced volatile energy prices, the collapse of the U.S.
housing market, failing financial institutions, a stock market crash and the complete
freezing of credit. We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great
Depression. Just like you, we have been severely impacted by events outside our control.
U.S. auto industry sales have fallen to their lowest per capita rate in half a century.

Despite moving quickly to reduce our planned spending by over $20 billion, GM finds
itself precariously and frighteningly close to running out of cash.

This is why we need to borrow money from U.S. taxpayers. If we run out of cash, we
will be unable to pay our bills, sustain our operations and invest in advanced technology.
A collapse of GM and the domestic auto industry will accelerate the downward spiral of
an already anemic U.S. economy. This will be devastating to all Americans, not just GM
stakeholders, because it would put millions of jobs at risk and deepen our recession. By
lending GM money, you will provide us with a financial bridge until the U.S. economy
and auto sales return to modestly healthy levels. This will allow us to keep operating and
complete our restructuring.

We submitted a plan to Congress Dec. 2, 2008, detailing our commitments to ensure our
viability, strengthen our competitiveness, and deliver energy-efficient products.
Specifically, we are committed to:
â?¢ produce automobiles you want to buy and are excited to own
â?¢ lead the reinvention of the automobile based on promising new technology
â?¢ focus on our core brands to consistently deliver on their promises
â?¢ streamline our dealer network to ensure the best sales and service
â?¢ ensure sacrifices are shared by all GM stakeholders
â?¢ meet appropriate standards for executive pay and corporate governance
â?¢ work with our unions to quickly realize competitive wages and benefits
â?¢ reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil
â?¢ protect our environment
â?¢ pay you back the entire loan with appropriate oversight and returns

These actions, combined with a modest rebound of the U.S. economy, should allow us to
begin repaying you in 2011.

In summary, our plan is designed to provide a secure return on your investment in GMâ??s
future. We accept the conditions of your loan, the commitments of our plan, and the
results needed to transform our business for long-term success. We will contribute to
strengthening U.S. energy and environmental security. We will contribute to Americaâ??s
technical and manufacturing know-how and create high quality jobs for the â??new
economy.â?� And, we will continue to deliver personal mobility freedom to Americans
using the most advanced transportation solutions. We are proud of our century of
contribution to U.S. prosperity and look forward to making an equally meaningful
contribution during our next 100 years.

maladroit Reviewed by maladroit on 12-08-2008. general motors issues thanks/explanation/apology letter GM'S COMMITMENT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE We deeply appreciate the Congress considering General Motorsâ?? request to borrow up to $18 billion from the United States. We want to be sure the American people know why we need it, what weâ??ll do with it and how it will make GM viable for the long term. For a century, we have been serving your personal mobility needs, providing American jobs and serving local communities. We have been the U.S. sales leader for 76 consecutive years. Of the 250 Rating: 5

[silkyblue]

they should at least give a 'song and dance' in those silk woven suits

for the goodness of Washingtons soul

I say we ALL get the same BAILOUT Congress!


Spend wisely boys of Summer

[RobPA]

GM'S COMMITMENT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

We deeply appreciate the Congress considering General Motorsâ?? request to borrow up to
$18 billion from the United States. We want to be sure the American people know why
we need it, what weâ??ll do with it and how it will make GM viable for the long term.

For a century, we have been serving your personal mobility needs, providing American
jobs and serving local communities. We have been the U.S. sales leader for 76
consecutive years. Of the 250 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads today, more than 66
million are GM brands â?? nearly 44 million more than Toyota brands. Our goal is to
continue to fulfill your aspirations and exceed your expectations.

While weâ??re still the U.S. sales leader, we acknowledge we have disappointed you. At
times we violated your trust by letting our quality fall below industry standards and our
designs become lackluster. We have proliferated our brands and dealer network to the
point where we lost adequate focus on our core U.S. market. We also biased our product
mix toward pick-up trucks and SUVs. And, we made commitments to compensation
plans that have proven to be unsustainable in todayâ??s globally competitive industry. We
have paid dearly for these decisions, learned from them and are working hard to correct
them by restructuring our U.S. business to be viable for the long term.

Today, we have substantially overcome our quality gap; our newest designs like the
Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS are widely heralded for their appeal; our new
products are nearly all cars and â??crossoversâ?� rather than pick-ups and SUVs; our factories
have greatly improved productivity and our labor agreements are much more competitive.

We are also driven to lead in fuel economy, with more hybrid models for sale and
biofuel-capable vehicles on the road than any other manufacturer, and determined to
reinvent the automobile with products like the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric
vehicle and breakthrough technology like hydrogen fuel cells.

Until recent events, we felt the actions weâ??d been taking positioned us for a bright future.
Just a year ago, after we reached transformational agreements with our unions, industry
analysts were forecasting a positive GM turnaround. We had adequate cash on hand to
continue our restructuring even under relatively conservative industry sales volume
assumptions. Unfortunately, along with all Americans, we were hit by a â??perfect storm.â?�

Over the past year we have all faced volatile energy prices, the collapse of the U.S.
housing market, failing financial institutions, a stock market crash and the complete
freezing of credit. We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great
Depression. Just like you, we have been severely impacted by events outside our control.
U.S. auto industry sales have fallen to their lowest per capita rate in half a century.

Despite moving quickly to reduce our planned spending by over $20 billion, GM finds
itself precariously and frighteningly close to running out of cash.

This is why we need to borrow money from U.S. taxpayers. If we run out of cash, we
will be unable to pay our bills, sustain our operations and invest in advanced technology.
A collapse of GM and the domestic auto industry will accelerate the downward spiral of
an already anemic U.S. economy. This will be devastating to all Americans, not just GM
stakeholders, because it would put millions of jobs at risk and deepen our recession. By
lending GM money, you will provide us with a financial bridge until the U.S. economy
and auto sales return to modestly healthy levels. This will allow us to keep operating and
complete our restructuring.

We submitted a plan to Congress Dec. 2, 2008, detailing our commitments to ensure our
viability, strengthen our competitiveness, and deliver energy-efficient products.
Specifically, we are committed to:
â?¢ produce automobiles you want to buy and are excited to own
â?¢ lead the reinvention of the automobile based on promising new technology
â?¢ focus on our core brands to consistently deliver on their promises
â?¢ streamline our dealer network to ensure the best sales and service
â?¢ ensure sacrifices are shared by all GM stakeholders
â?¢ meet appropriate standards for executive pay and corporate governance
â?¢ work with our unions to quickly realize competitive wages and benefits
â?¢ reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil
â?¢ protect our environment
â?¢ pay you back the entire loan with appropriate oversight and returns

These actions, combined with a modest rebound of the U.S. economy, should allow us to
begin repaying you in 2011.

In summary, our plan is designed to provide a secure return on your investment in GMâ??s
future. We accept the conditions of your loan, the commitments of our plan, and the
results needed to transform our business for long-term success. We will contribute to
strengthening U.S. energy and environmental security. We will contribute to Americaâ??s
technical and manufacturing know-how and create high quality jobs for the â??new
economy.â?� And, we will continue to deliver personal mobility freedom to Americans
using the most advanced transportation solutions. We are proud of our century of
contribution to U.S. prosperity and look forward to making an equally meaningful
contribution during our next 100 years.

They can talk as much as they want, I still would never support them taking our money. I guess this is whats ahead, the trampeling of capitalism.

[GoldenBoy812]

They can talk as much as they want, I still would never support them taking our money. I guess this is whats ahead, the trampeling of capitalism.

Saving an industry that cannot survive on its own is sowing the seeds of stagflation. I highly doubt the majority of this sites followers remember a time of stagflation.

[marijuanaisgr8]

stagnant economy coupled with inflation??? no I dont remember a time but it doesnt sound too good.

[maladroit]

i got a little inflated at a stag once, but thats about it

[GoldenBoy812]

According to Keynes AD AS curve (Keynesian cross), demand can be induced by increasing liquidity and/or government spending. Theoretically, when the government pumped money into the economy, demand was expected to increase in accordance, and recessionary gaps were expected to evaporate via the multiplier effect.

Yet in the late 60's, 70's, 80's (and 90's for Japan), there were periods in which high inflation was coupled with high unemployment. Maybe those classical economists knew what they were talking about:vap_smiley:

[thcbongman]

Jesus, having an economy like Japan in the 90s doesn't sound too hot. Although I picture it happening.....

[JD1stTimer]

The demand for one of the services I offer recently got cut in half and I will be unable to pay my bills, sustain my operations and invest in advanced technology. This will be devastating to myself as an American. Congress, give me $200,000 please! It's not much and I can start paying it back in 2011. Gimme it now!

[maladroit]

does the multiplier effect apply to the money the government lent/gave to the banks? or was it just replacing bad money?