11/20/2008 09:24:15 PM 
(2) 
(2) GM is now doing something it should have done long ago, gone to it's loyal buyers and ask for their support. I am not yet, talking about donations, that might be next, but getting them to pledge their support.
To do this, the company is sending out emails like this one.
Dear
You made the right choice when you put your confidence in General Motors, and we appreciate your past support. I want to assure you that we are making our best vehicles ever, and we have exciting plans for the future. But we need your help now. Simply put, we need you to join us to let Congress know that a bridge loan to help U.S. automakers also helps strengthen the U.S. economy and preserve millions of American jobs.
Despite what you may be hearing, we are not asking Congress for a bailout but rather a loan that will be repaid.
The U.S. economy is at a crossroads due to the worldwide credit crisis, and all Americans are feeling the effects of the worst economic downturn in 75 years. Despite our successful efforts to restructure, reduce costs and enhance liquidity, U.S. auto sales rely on access to credit, which is all but frozen through traditional channels.
The consequences of the domestic auto industry collapsing would far exceed the $25 billion loan needed to bridge the current crisis. According to a recent study by the Center for Automotive Research:
• One in 10 American jobs depends on U.S. automakers
• Nearly 3 million jobs are at immediate risk
• U.S. personal income could be reduced by $150 billion
• The tax revenue lost over 3 years would be more than $156 billion
Discussions are now underway in Washington, D.C., concerning loans to support U.S. carmakers. I am asking for your support in this vital effort by contacting your state representatives.
Please take a few minutes to go to www.gmfactsandfiction.com, where we have made it easy for you to contact your U.S. senators and representatives. Just click on the "I'm a Concerned American" link under the "Mobilize Now" section, and enter your name and ZIP code to send a personalized e-mail stating your support for the U.S. automotive industry.
Let me assure you that General Motors has made dramatic improvements over the last 10 years. In fact, we are leading the industry with award-winning vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CTS, Buick Enclave, Pontiac G8, GMC Acadia, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, Saturn AURA and more. We offer 18 models with an EPA estimated 30 MPG highway or better — more than Toyota or Honda. GM has 6 hybrids in market and 3 more by mid-2009. GM has closed the quality gap with the imports, and today we are putting our best quality vehicles on the road.
Please share this information with friends and family using the link on the site.
Thank you for helping keep our economy viable.
Sincerely,
Troy Clarke
The company has to create a movement to save it, but perhaps it should have started this a long time ago because perhaps they have run out of goodwill and their simply aren't now enough customers who care.
Posted by Ed Cotton
The Big 3 automakers
Over the last 19 years, I've negotiated union contracts with the URW, AB&GW, UNITE HERE, IAM, and worked at a UAW facility six months before the company closed it. I'm often perplexed why the company negotiators at the not so Big 3 simply handed the keys to their business over to the UAW during most, if not every, contract negotiation. It was as though the company decision-makers didn't care what happened to their business in a decade or two because they would be retired. The only weapon most unions have is a strike, which hurts the unions more than an intelligent and committed company who is tough enough to hire strike replacement workers, and/or move some production across the Mexican border until employees, who in some cases, have less than high school education realize they shouldn't be making a six-figure salary with overtime for screwing on auto parts, and also have better benefits in retirement than 80% of the rest of the working population. I've surprised the union negotiators by saying this at the negotiation's table, "We don't fear a strike." I didn?t say it because I was bluffing; I said it because I truly believe it may be needed to right-size the workforce and make our products more competitive on price and quality. When I started working for my current employer nine years ago, we had three unionized facilities. Two locations voted the union out through decertification petitions. Now, the remaining unionized facility is talking about decertifying their union 60 days before the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement. The secret is to treat people with respect, involve them in the process, communicate with them openly, and be consistent and nondiscriminatory. High-priced shoddy workmanship is why I have only purchased two American cars in my lifetime, and that was only because I liked Lee Iacocca when he was at Chrysler. Since Mr. Iacocca retired I?ve purchased from Japanese car companies because you get similar quality to the German manufacturers at a better price.
Posted by Mike S. on 12/18/2008 06:21 PM
Over the last 19 years, I've negotiated union contracts with the URW, AB&GW, UNITE HERE, IAM, and worked at a UAW facility six months before the company closed it. I'm often perplexed why the company negotiators at the not so Big 3 simply handed the keys to their business over to the UAW during most, if not every, contract negotiation. It was as though the company decision-makers didn't care what happened to their business in a decade or two because they would be retired. The only weapon most unions have is a strike, which hurts the unions more than an intelligent and committed company who is tough enough to hire strike replacement workers, and/or move some production across the Mexican border until employees, who in some cases, have less than high school education realize they shouldn't be making a six-figure salary with overtime for screwing on auto parts, and also have better benefits in retirement than 80% of the rest of the working population. I've surprised the union negotiators by saying this at the negotiation's table, "We don't fear a strike." I didn?t say it because I was bluffing; I said it because I truly believe it may be needed to right-size the workforce and make our products more competitive on price and quality. When I started working for my current employer nine years ago, we had three unionized facilities. Two locations voted the union out through decertification petitions. Now, the remaining unionized facility is talking about decertifying their union 60 days before the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement. The secret is to treat people with respect, involve them in the process, communicate with them openly, and be consistent and nondiscriminatory. High-priced shoddy workmanship is why I have only purchased two American cars in my lifetime, and that was only because I liked Lee Iacocca when he was at Chrysler. Since Mr. Iacocca retired I?ve purchased from Japanese car companies because you get similar quality to the German manufacturers at a better price.
Posted by Mike S. on 12/18/2008 06:21 PM
It appears you don't have Flash installed.
A new kind of "Nigeria-email"?