woodsman, regarding your comments about the jap crap, I personally know a couple of GM workers that drive honda's and toyota's (at the Janesville plant). I think these people should practice what they preach. I personally have driven nothing BUT GM vehicles, but when I see GM people bashing their own products, I loose confidence in the product as well.

When your market share drops 20 points over the last 35 years, including a 15% drop since Rick Wagoner took over in 1992, that's a clear indication that more people like other vehicles better than yours. Take out fleet sales, and Toyota probably sells more private vehicles than GM. It's even more shocking considering GM has over four times as many dealers as Toyota. I was simply pointing out that your rants about efficiency, of which GM does not lead BTW, means nothing if they can't turn a profit, and continue to lose market share. I'm not sure I would be proud that GM barely makes more vehicles than Toyota.

Yes, GM has maintained it's market share of ginormous SUV's, but maintaining share of a market that has dropped over 40% in the last year is hardly a triumph. Where is the competitive product to the Honda Fit or Civic?

"Being efficient at building vehicles people don't want to buy hasn't helped GM much."
Well Zoom, care to tell me how many vehicles GM did not sell, even though they outsold Toyota last year? Were they given away?? Did people buy GM cars for charity??? Just because it is a car YOU don't want is not a reason to say they are not good. Quit with the rhetoric of the past, you just hate to admit they DO build quality cars and trucks people want.
Plus, the Japanese use very little USA made parts. Instead they rely on parts made with cheap labor,barely living wages in their own countries. Yeah, that sounds what Americans should strive for. Plus with Japan subsidizing them for years (they know how important the manufacturing base is) is it really a wonder they can make more profit?

"“But productivity doesn’t guarantee profitability,” Ron Harbour warns. The Japanese still make much more money on each car assembled and sold. The numbers are downright scary. Honda and Nissan make $1641 in pre-tax profit on every vehicle assembled, while the average profit on a Toyota is $922. Contrast that with $1467 lost by Ford per vehicle, a loss of $729 on average for GM, and $412 in the red on a Chrysler product."
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car_new...

Being efficient at building vehicles people don't want to buy hasn't helped GM much.

For those who won't take the time to follow the link:
It's commonly thought that the domestic automakers' plants are far less efficient than plants run by foreign automakers. The blame usually goes to strict work rules that rigidly define each union worker's job function.

Here's an extreme, but common, perception: If an assembly worker sees a piece of trash on the floor, he can't just bend over and pick it up because that would infringe on another worker's job.

"That was true 10, 20, 30 years ago," said Ron Harbour, an auto manufacturing consultant and analyst. Those sorts of efficiency-strangling rules have been negotiated out of contracts over the years.

The rules that do remain mostly involve legitimate safety concerns, he said, and don't hurt efficiency. For example, fixing an electrical problem still requires a union electrician. "If you are not a trained electrician, you can kill yourself," he said. "That makes sense."

His annual Harbour Report ranks auto factories by their efficiency, or the number of worker-hours required to produce a car. In his most recent report, he found nine of the 10 most efficient auto plants in North America are unionized plants run by domestic automakers. The 10th is a unionized auto plant run jointly by GM and Toyota.

Mark - that would be a Mexican made vehicle, not American made. (it may be a Ford/GM/or Chrysler brand, but still not American made).

Panama - Those countries also use donkeys to haul stuff around. You want to live like Mexico or Korea, then go there. Actually, if you would read this you would see your union bashing logic is all messed up -
http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/19/autos/au...

And to say there is no market for SUV's is just stupid. Is it as large as before, well DUH! no it isn't. But we still have people that need them or can afford the fuel costs.

Hey edsci, Toyota and Honda are traded on the NYSE just like Ford and GM, except their price per share is almost 20 times more. Also, how can you compare the German and China export numbers? What do you think German workers pay in taxes to support "free" health care, university tuition, etc., plus their manufacturing industry is heavily subsidized by their government. Start voting for higher taxes and government bailouts and we too could be like Germany. But first we must make a product a potential consumer can afford to own. GM and the Unions brought this on themselves and it's very unfortunate that they are also taking down a large part of our economy with them, including the workforce that made them both so great. What's stupid, chad_vader and woodsman, is trying to sell vehicles that get 15-20 mph when gas is selling for over $2.00/gallon, which it will be again very soon. This country is finally finding out how the rest of the world lives; on less, not more! The Union has a proud tradition but they have outlived their usefulness, I'm sorry to say. MANY risked their lives to organize and their sacrifices make ALL of our working lives better. Unfortunately, they don't exist for the worker anymore. Like big business, they only exist to line their pockets.

EDSCI...Those shareholders are not just Americans. Many foreign individuals and funds own shares of US companies, just as we own shares of other countries businesses through investments and 401k's. We live in a world economy and have for many years.
Example: I bought a brand new "American" car in 1986 that had a motor made in Brazil, interior and electrical system made in Asia, and other parts from all over the world...and it was assembled in Mexico. That was when I woke up to the fact that we are world citizens.

UPDATE...the last vehicle at General Motors, Janesville has been built and is done this morning. And for those of you that don't know, that vehicle is a 57,000.00 tahoe that was donated the the Rock County United Way, and a raffle is being held by the United Way to raise money. The thing people tend to over look, even though the plant and company of GM is in dire straights, they were concerned about not being able to contribute to the United Way thiss holiday season, so came up with this plan. I am sure many will still find something negative to say about this, but I think it is something wonderful that they didn't have to do! If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, the are being sold at many merchants, and here is the website to learn more about the prizes etc... www.unitedwayjanesville.org/Raffle.aspx Good Luck to all, and this toast is for all of you....

garyprimer get a clue publicly owned companies have SHAREHOLDERS!! Many of whom are Americans, pensioners, the retired and so on. Did you not know this before you made your comment?

What's the difference if the profits go to Japan or go to GM executives and board members who wouldn't take the time to spit on you? You're never going to see a dime of that money, unless some of them hire you to wash their cars or mow their lawns. The important thing is that the operating capital remains in this country and as long as they build plants here, it does. Everyone keeps chanting "Buy American" when we should be chanting to GM to "Build American"! The two terms are not mutually inclusive.

HockeyJockey-I've been saying the same thing. Someone will come in and say the profits go to Japan if you don't buy American. It doesn't matter that Americans were employeed to make these vehicles.

True fact - of the last 3 GM cars I bought, one was built in Sweden, one was built in Korea, and one was built on a Toyota line in California. Meanwhile, my wife bought a Honda that was built in Ohio. If I want to buy American, I don't know what to buy anymore.

Chad only one person posted he thinks there is going to be thefts. Of Course the police are going to be there for the media, this is a big deal.

I believe this article was very misleading for a lot of people. Of course, some already assumed the increased police force would be needed for THEFT or people going postal. Hey, we all are just thieving nutjobs anyway, right!??? How about the extra police are there for all the media hoopla that will ensue? It's that simple folks.

Geting back to the article here.....the extra security is probably not needed now. Anything of "value" that is going to be heisted from GM is already gone.

To quote the song...."The little things I could get in my big lunch box, like nuts and bolts and all 4 shocks"....have already been removed from the plant.

No need to ask for/take a momento for those who worked there. Your holiday card this year was pink as in pink slip!!

My Honda gets me through the snow just fine too. But My spouses Ford also does. I think domestic and foreign is about equal in this respect depending on which model you own. This shouldn't even be an argument. This is alittle of topic but I'm getting sick of people whining about the snow around me. Its winter. It happens every year. Learn to drive in it. Stay home when it's bad so the plows can get through and stop acting like this is a snow is a freak of nature or a shock. It happens every year.

The ignorance here regarding Japanese cars is astounding. I've been driving the Japanese coupes in Wisconsin winters for the last 15 years. In all of those years I've been stuck 1 time and it was my own fault. The front wheel drive coupes work very well in any weather, but that shouldn't surprise anybody because the Japanese are great engineers.

It looks like the authorities have taken r2better into custody. I support that action.

Geez snarly, some would say that is not any different than working at GM. ;) Maybe someone can look into that though that needs a job right now. I hope to get through 2 years of school and go on to something I will enjoy doing. Just hope they can still teach an old dog new tricks.

and they will train you good luck.

Hay chad_vader look in to the county they have had some opening's for correctional officer,and they pay 17.00+ an hour starting off

HMMM... maybe the Chevy Squirrelcage??? But the Chevy is musch better than the Kia. Hey, I was just making fun, as most people just rant and rave about SUV's and cars that don't get 50 mpg. What those nimrods don't understand is there IS a market for larger vehicles because they do have a purpose in the market. Love to see a hamsterbox pull a trailer or boat. The latest snowstorm was not good for the little gas misers. People like doctors and nurses, firemen, ect. NEED to get to work. They can't rely on something that has the ground clearance of a basset hound, even if it gets GREAT gas mileage. That is why GM got honors for green car of the year for the hybrid Tahoe, which will make a big difference because these vehicles are still needed.

I guess I am always fascinated when the laborers are blamed for a businesses failure or lack of competitiveness. Scientific research originally published in Scientific American suggests that when unions and management are cooperative as in Germany that they are MORE productive then non-union shops. The focus should be on productivity not on wages. Wages are misleading because they don't take into account consumer prices in the area. Wages may be lower in Alabama and Kentucky but that may be because prices in the area are lower as well. Or to the fact that the state governments pimped out their citizens to these manufacturers to get the jobs in the first place. So, how is it that the managers always are allowed to blame the workers. I have met very few competent managers who actually take responsibility for managing workers.

"...his Kia Hamsterbox..."

What exactly then is the Chevy Aveo, which is designed, engineered and manufactured in South Korea by Daewoo?

anonymous - That is true, but with domestics using over 70% parts and labor (not to mention engineers, research, ect.)that are made in the US, not overseas, then tell me what company employs more US citizens? I don't advocate any business being destroyed, people put out on the street. But it is also not unfair to point out the jobs created and retained by purchasing from companies that have more of a stake in the US economy and labor force. Show me how the majority of the money spent on a foreign brand does not go overseas.

I am not sure I would want to purchase a $50,000 SUV made on Dec 23rd in Janesville.

I haven"t read all of r2's comments but I've read enough to say he isn't as skilled as he claims. Look at the spelling and content of his posts. He looks liked an unskilled idiot to me.

r2better: Do you have any idea the trouble you are making for yourself with your comments?! Part of the security plan is to identify mentally unstable folks like yourself that could pose a safety risk here in Janesville this coming week. That means a court order might be used to confirm your identity and have you detained for at least a few days. It has been done when other GM plants have closed in the past couple of years across the nation. Good luck now.

It is absolutely awful to listen to the arguments that are happening here. "Foreign" cars like Honda and Subaru... etc also have manufacturing plants located within the U.S. which would mean these automakers ALSO supply jobs for U.S. citizens... It is important to be supportive of not just GM, but all of the companies that supply Americans with jobs during an economy like this.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/19/autos/au...

I thought this article explained the UAW situation pretty well.

r2;The sad part IS,GOD even loves you.BUT BUBBA,the devils buddy,will love you EVEN more HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! LOLOLOLOLOLO!!!!!!!

r2;Your comments are obviously from a mental illness,hehehehehe! Their coming to take you away haha,to the funny farm,where life is beautiful all the time hahahaha! I invite you too,tuesday to the end of the middle class in jamesburg party (you like to party,don't you?).We'll be waiting for the short BUS to arrive,tell the nurse to keep your straight jacket on,wouldn't want you to "accidentally" hurt yourself,hehehehehehe!!

Darn it,edsci, stop using logic. You will give the bashers a headache.

If the union bashers could explain one thing to me. How is it that highly unionized, free health care, good pensions and high wage Germany exports $284 billion worth of goods while non-unionized China with its billion people working for low wages only exported $278 billion worth of goods in the past 12 months. If we should be paid what foreign workers are paid then why should it be China or Japan and not Germany. Way to pimp out your country to the lowest bidder.

factcheck, r2 is obviously nothing more than a child-man.Any business that would hire him, well, any GM worker would be over qualified for the job anyway.
Tallman - It seems that your scenario is country wide, not just here. Unfortunately, because of the cost of living going up most everyone has a tendency to shop for price. I do try and look for USA products, but if one cannot be found I shop for the best value. But you are right, the middle class is slowly disappearing. And those are the people who kept the auto sales at the level where they were. Of course, people going way into debt has also killed this economy. We need to start teaching money management in High school.

Me too and me either anonomouse-you're right, of course...and I'm done. But I meant what I said.

Best thing is to not reply to him or her. I know it's hard but try to scroll past the posts. I even find them offensive and I have never worked for GM.

factcheck...best to let it go-you know jealousy and rage often go hand in hand...let him get it out of his system. You know as well as I do that no "GM apps" have come in to anywhere they would let this r2batty "work". Who would need to apply there-let alone a GM worker?

r2, it takes a big man(?) to sit behind a computer terminal and spew feces from his mouth. If you can`t make an intelligent comment,obviously, shut your pie hole!

This whole economy situtation is so sad. Maybe there will be a bigger and better hiring pool now for Wal-Mart, Target and the like. Then after some of the GM workers and others have to live on that pay scale they will better understand that those workers need union protection. All the higher paid workers have shopped at the non-union, non-american product stores for lower prices and grinned all the way to the bank for years on the backs of lower paid employees. It only stands to reason that when you shop and support businesses that pay those low wages then eventually no one is going to be able to afford vehicles produced where workers are highly paid. As for the government helping. It sounds good on the surface but still, where are the vehicles if built going to be stored or sold with so many out of work and making such low wages because they still can't buy!! Allot of this is economics plain and simple.

I heard it wasn't his mouth that was having mail stuff in.

He couldn't see anyone because his Kia Hamsterbox was flipped upside down in a snowbank and the mailman mistook it for a mailbox, shoving tons of sale ads in his mouth.

r2better-I know where they'll go-they'll go help those less fortunate than they are, as they always do, and like they did at the UAW/GM Food Drive this morning. Didn't you see them there?

Chad I hate to admit this but I agree with you on that last comment of yours.

I don't know if they should necessarily let the inmates use the internet at Mendota. Time to go back to the padded room now, r2.

Great post, DD! Too bad most people don't want to believe when they read the truth, as that can't be used to slam GM and the union.

anonomouse - we do need to work as American's to get out of this. But just wondering how many times a day someone is saying or printing falsehoods about you, your job, and the product and/or service you provide? That is why you hear so much rebuttal, because we won't sit there and take that crap from those who do not know us.
Alcoa builds more than wheels, and if you have a listing of who and what amount of wheels they build for that would be nice to compare . They do make wheels for Harley and GM has pegged them for wheels for the Volt. I have seen NOBODY who has said anyone does not work hard. But instead of everyone backstabbing, how about we work together before America is owned by everyone BUT Americans.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/19/autos/au...

Alcoa doesn't supply GM wheels. They are UAW and supply "foreign" cars. But hey lets all buy American and let them fend for themselves. They don't work at GM anyway. The whole think stinks of hypocrisy. Its all a moot point anyhow because they are closing too. The whole auto industry domestic and foreign is hurting. I feel for the people losing their jobs but this "Buy American" logic isn't going to save everyones jobs and there are a lot of workers in the US that work just as hard. While I feel for you don't act as if we don't work just as hard. I hope the economy does eventually thaw and people get back to work. These are some frightening times and instead of bickering Union vs Non-Union or Foreign vs Domestic we should all band together and try to help eachother regardless of our own personal choices. I'm sick of being told how to spend my money or how hard the union workers work. I'm not denying that just saying that we ALL work hard and we all need to work together to get through this economy.

And if I say I work at GM, well... that is where I work!?? What, I am supposed to say I work somewhere else?

123456 - That statement is just absurd. Maybe you hung around with the wrong people, because I don't know anyone who acts like you describe. Now, I know some people there who think they are god's gift to the world, and would be like that even if they did not work there. But that is only less than 1% of the whole plant! Maybe you had low self esteem problems then and that affected your image of other people.

I never said they weren't hard working. And while there is nothing wrong with having nice things, they always had to make a point of saying they worked at GM, so no matter what they had, it was always one step better. And I have worked on many charites, and, yes, always ready to help, but it always had to be done their way else.

Why does everyone think "Gm workers think they are better than anyone else"? Maybe if you people could have been at the plant this morning watching these workers fill ALL those grocery bags with food, you might actually see how caring, generous and hard working they are!

While I am sorry for all the people losing their jobs, it is a bit ironic. GM people always thought they were well above everyone else, and if you deny it, you must have worked there. I moved away a few years ago, so maybe it's changed.
With GM closing, I guess that is why you should never live in a town that is supported by one business...because when it goes down...so does everyone

Red - I understand what you are saying, but even in business 101 you learn a little bit about PR. While you see GM as belly up, I see it as on life support. In your analogy, you can fail to get in the end zone. but if you kick enough field goals you can still win the game (well, maybe not if you are the Packers). What you see as the public face of GM may not be the same as what is going on behind closed doors. people will have some faith if they believe GM may come back, but you only kill yourself if you put a toe tag on right now.

And one more thing if they had not already failed why would they be flying in their corporate jets to DC to beg.

I'm gonna respond to chad_vader. It rips my heart in two to see what is happening to the manufacturing base in the U.S. I as much as anyone want to see Americans employed in good jobs with good union representation. I'm hoping GM, Chrysler and Ford will weather this storm in a safe port until a healthy economic equilibrium has been re-established. I'd much rather see bailout money spent on keeping the middle class employed than spent rewarding investment banks for their avarice and failure. However I don't like to see a bunch of executives sugarcoat everything in some euphemistic speech with a veiled threat, "failure is not an option". Tell the St. Louis Rams that "failure is not an option." Get my point. It is more honest to admit one's shortcomings and failures and then having admitted it to address it with a sound business plan than to threaten congress like a whining baby "failure is not an option."

I see that as American made parts in a foreign car, not as them making foreign parts. Many auto companies use the same suppliers, just good business sense. It's just as I said, domestics use WAY more American made parts than Foreign brands, so "Buy American " still applies. With a company that sells 20,000 rims to Toyota (20%) compared to 80,000 rims to GM (80% of their business), who do you think will keep them in business longer? ( numbers are for instructional purpose only).

IstopforALLgaragesales - glad you made it through the tough times. I know people who have dealt with that too, and it is very important not to go into a shell. I hope families and friends help by watching out for everyone who has lost a job in these tough times and get them help if needed.

I'm not bashing and I'm not saying you didn't work hard, but these people in the UAW made foreign parts. Isn't alot of this "buy american" a little harsh considering that the UAW supplies parts for foreign cars?
I also don't have an issue with the quality of the cars. My spouse has an American Made car. We take care of our cars so we haven't had a quality issue with the foreign over american.

Red - What is it called when Honda and Toyota get free handouts to build plants? Is it socialism??? a Christmas present?? What???

CHAD_VADER...I am relieved to hear that your words represent the wellness of yourself and your co-workers. As a survivor of post-partum depression, and a person who denied the help offered to me, and thought I could do it all by myself, learned a bit too late that reaching out and sharing my grief was the only way to make it through something I had NO CONTROL over. I am on the road to recovery, over a year later, but, it certainly wouldn't have taken so long, I believe, if I would have shared my sadness. So, all I ask is if you or someone you know ends up in a fragile state of mind, don't delay or hesitate sharing your feelings with someone you trust. That is the most important piece of advice a think a person who is facing life altering changes can have. You, as well as all the others in our country are in my prayers, and I certainly believe things can only go up from here, but only with optimism and a country in unison.

anonomouse - I don't rail against free choice, but you must realize that domestic automakers have like 70% domestic parts while foreign brands use only about 30% at most to 0% like the Prius. Those are just rough estimates since i don't have the exact numbers handy, but if you look that info up online you will see that is close. Plus Domestic auto money is spent here, compared to alot of the foreign cars the money gets sent back home to Japan. That is why I say buy American. Our quality now is just as good, we have more vehicles that get over 30 mpg, and people tend to hang on to the legacy problems of the past too long or just like to bash who they see as the big bad company. It is really just a bunch of hard working American's trying to be the best in the world. Can you explain how Sen. Shelby can not say that giving free land, tax breaks ,money and infrastructure to Honda was NOT a subsidy??? We want to play on a level field, yet many people tend to not notice how their tax dollars go to companies like that because they are so enamored with the Japanese. By the way, they are the ones who invented the "job bank", the big free money system we were blasted for using.

The GM executives are saying, "Failure is not an option." No it isn't an option. It is God's truth. The industry IS a failure. GM has already failed. It is already bankrupt. I could say at a funeral that the person in the casket is not dead. But they are going to bury him just the same. Ask the out of work people from the Janesville plant and their suppliers if GM has failed them. Failure is not an option is just media spin to try to scare the idiots in Washington into thinking if our socialist government caves in to their requests that everything will be hunky dory. You can call a pig’s ear a silk purse but who in their right mind will believe you. A pig’s ear is still a pig’s ear. Failure is not an option. Hmmmm.... in the world I grew up in if we deceived ourselves then the truth was not in us. I think truthfulness is a good place to start sorting out all this mess. "Failure is not an option!" Admit your darn failure, make plans to minimize your losses and get on with it. Just don't B.S. me by telling me that failure stuff when you've already totally and completely failed.

Jap, German or Sperm-man, all re-production has it's glitches. No matter where they come from. Only the ORIGINAL 'blue print' is perfect..... Although our family has only driven GM products, I am not against others who drive foriegn vehicles, I agree that is part of freedom of choice, although, our country has trusted other countries on merit that thier intentions of "fair trade" were "fair". I do believe that China as well as other countries are out for themselves,and themselves alone and we should have known better than to trust that they as well as us wanted to create a universal world.....but, that isn't the sole purpose these 'American Built' (or should I say "originally" American Built) companies are in trouble. The economy as A WHOLE has led to the demise of very profitable businesses. And the luxury businesses are the first to go. Those are the expenses that are cut out of one's budget first...and there are plenty of cars/trucks in existence, therefore, the demand has stoped, therefore, the supply must stop. It is not one person's fault, it is a country's fault as a whole and the greedy and one uppers have built this mess we are all in. Simple living is what we are meant to do, but we all have gotten to big for our britches, and always want more, more, more.

Let me clarify and no I'm not bashing. Alcoa is part of UAW union. Alcoa supplies wheels for these "jap" companies. I don't understand while the people bashing free choice seem to conviently forget this fact when they cry "buy American". And not all parts for American companies use are unionized or non foreign.

No One wants to address this when they are crying only buy GM they are turning their backs to people in their own union. And Before I am accused of bashing, I am not. Just bringing up a legit happening that everyone who is crying "buy american" is avoiding like the plague. No one has said this isn't true. Rather than admit it they'll just accuse me of bashing.

Istopforall - Most people will be ok. We have unemployment for now. Some like me are looking at school. You get pretty tough putting up with all the bad talk and put downs we hear, yet we know how good we are and what we CAN do. Some may fall apart if they don't get jobs before unemployment runs out, and in this economy jobs that feed a family are sorely lacking.

mpj3 - it is understandable why you negative towords GM vehicles, but in the last 5 years (the time you had your car) GM has won many quality awards from independent judges. In fact, in 2007 GM had less recalls than either Toyota or Honda. Your case is where GM would be hard to or never get you back. But the fallacy that GM quality is not on par with Toyota is not true. And I admit as a GM employee I have owned some cars that were not world class. But everything I have owned since 2001 has been just as good as what you describe your car as. I have no problem with free choice, but to paint Toyota as superior nowadays is just wrong.

Just as a point of reference, GM hourly labor costs in 2007, $18 billion. Costs in 2008, $8 billion, much less than the 10% of the cost to produce a vehicle. Figures from the executive VP and CFO of GM, Ray Young.Hard to see how that could be the major cause of the auto makers problems as some are suggesting.

matthew516 - a guy tried to sneak a steering wheel out of the plant in his pants. But he got caught because as he said "it be driving me nuts"

Let me clarify and no I'm not bashing. Alcoa is part of UAW union. Alcoa supplies wheels for these "jap" companies. I don't understand while the people bashing free choice seem to conviently forget this fact when they cry "buy American". And not all parts for American companies use are unionized or non foreign

Woodsman why do members of the UAW make parts for this "jap" junk you are complaining about?

mpj3: Haven't you ever heard of the lemon law? there are defects in everything. I've had nothing but 1 of the big threes cars all my life,batt.,alt.,tune up,that's all the service i've ever made,guess i got lucky,or just maybe the product "IS" as good as i think! People like you should move to the south,where they think jap.junk is best,for their pocket books,not their morals,and support for their country's middle class. You have made so many excuses to why you drive jap.,that you believe it. So what time ya going down to the plant tuesday? I and hundreds of others would like to meet you,not every day you can meet stupid.

Sad, sad, sad! Yes, we all knew this was coming, even if it was rumored 5-10 years ago, but until reality truly sets in, emotions don't fully evolve. I am seriously concerned about some of these people that are walking off the job for the last time on Tuesday. Many have mental instabilities, and along with added security, I also think that there should be a crisis center set up temporarily in Janesville to handle the iminent breakdowns that are coming to our community. I am so sorry!!! My hubby hasn't worked for about two months now, he is in the construction business, and I empathize completely what you are going through. I am hoping that most of you have built some sort of emergency fund to soften your fall at least for a short time. My prayers and support are with you! If there is anyone on here that is putting together any type of volunteer type service for people effected (GM, LEAR, The Local Pizza guy...etc), please contact me, as I would be willing to help in anyway I can. As I have said before, it doesn't take money to build a person's self worth.

I've owned three GM cars and only one of them was worth a ^%$^. Bad transmissions, head gaskets, oxygen sensors, mysteriously melted wire harnesses, alternators, bent distributor shafts, you get the idea ... all on cars less than 5 years old.

I'm on year six with my first honda accord and so far I've had one problem ... wait for it ... I needed a new battery.

Don't get me wrong, it sucks that the plant is closing and it'll hurt bad ... but c'mon it's not like GMs problems came out of the blue all of a sudden like an act of god/nature.

I'd still shake them all down

I'm betting they won't have to worry about anyone stealing steering wheels from the plant. Everyone who's tried in the past has failed because someone's blown the "horn" on them!

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't a UAW-GM factory in California make a "Jap Crap" car for Toyota? So, its never been about American made or Union made its about GM made. The Avalanche which is neither American or Union made gets a pass? So, a UAW made Toyota is bad but a foreign non-union made Avalanche is good? Way to think it through Einstein.

Hey, cardtrader, don't forget the need for telemarketers. Now that people are at home instead of being at work, there might be a market for them. :)

I guess all those high paying Jobs at McDonald's will be all gobbled up now

Woodsman - the lightweight, gas saving rice burners would get stuck in 2" of snow. So don't expect many to show up.

How about this JVilleTX? I think their heads are on straight-and held high...I, for one, am impressed, but not surprised:
http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/lates...

Ummm, slayer? I think by now everyone in the universe knows that Lear and LSI are tied into GM closing down. And what about all the other smaller suppliers? You would need a full page just to print the headline of all affected by this. And really, is getting a name in the newsline going to make a difference? I didn't see many Lear or LSI people at the displaced worker meetings, now that is something that can help them! Oh, and try not to yell so much, it hurts my monitor ;).

beeferer-I worked down at the plant for 8 years, although GM wasn't the only placed I worked in my life. I started out in the Marine Corps, served 8 years. Try raising a family on Privates pay, then getting sent off to foreign lands for months at a time, it wasn't easy. Then working at a small company making 10 bucks an hour for 4 years after that. I was grateful every day I worked at GM, And it wasn't easy work down there either. So yeah I guess your right, I don't know what it's like to work in the real world, and I'm no better than anyone else.

I see the haters just don't give up! Seeing you foreign drivers like to hide on here,saying it's your right to drive jap. crap,and be part of why this is happening to your family member,friend,neighbor,jack& jill down the street. You are invited to watch & participate tuesday,on one of the saddest days in JANESVILLE"S history. Drive your jap vehicles down to the plant,tell them how much better your cars are,and the high pay & junky vehicles are why your all going to be in the soup lines. Or you all can just go away until your faith & love of your fellow man kind returns,if you HAVE ever cared for anyone or anything in your lives!! BUT YOURSELVES:

ITS ALL ABOUT GM ,WHAT ABOUT LEAR, LSI ,ETC.GM WILL GET SAVED.BUT WHAT ABOUT NEXT YEAR I SEE CHAPTER 11.

Yeah, just wait till they lower our wages. Then the backwoods, Shelby lovin' hillbillies at Honda and Toyota will find out that their wages no longer will be required to equal ours(and the wages DO now)as Toyota has already wanted to lower wages in the future (got to send more money back to Japan!). Wage concessions were already made, yet congress thinks they deserve a raise while unemployment rises. Tell me that makes sense.

Maybe they can turn the plant into a homeless shelter? Or maybe a museum of what America was like when we didn't worry about hurting other countries feelings (or taking bribes in the form of speaking engagements after you leave office) and protecting our manufacturing base.

R2 and any others with their two cents worth: This is not a laughing matter, nor a time to make nasty comments regarding GM's closure. It would be nice for just once if the GM basher's could show some restraint and maybe some class. Nobody wants to end a longtime employment right before Christmas. This will be a sad day for all of Janesville. Let's just hope everyone remains composed and nobody gets hurt at work or hurts themselves or anyone else after.

What kind of imbecile thinks a union is greedy? Or that union workers are better than others? It wasn't the union that tried to buy Fiat for 7 billion, however, now the union and workers will pay for GM's mismanagement. How did it come to this? This is a form of class warfare. The rich and powerful blame the poor and powerless. Evidently, the conservative mantra shouldn't be "America First", it should be "Blame the Union Worker for Our Incompetence".

the inevitability is almost upon us... still sad to see it happen... especially during the holiday season...

Even though I live Texas now, Janesville is still my hometown. I want to cry when I think of the GM tradition leaving forever. Although I've felt workers were over paid and the company miss run, it was part of Janesville and it provided a living for thousands of families. I just hope the Janesville workers will try to show some professionalism and be able to hold their heads high when they walk out of those doors for the last time.

Typical r2better post. Not much sense and totally illiterate. I think we just found out the nickname of the Gazette's editor. r2's only other post: On Anxiety sets in about GM plant
Posted on December 20 at 12:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

don't feel sorry for ant over paid gm workers,that's what they get for thinking this country needs them or it will all go down the drain,seems they have been listening to their union people to long,UAW don't approve of the bailout cause they can't get get their greedy muffin fingers in the pot,wake up GM workers,can't wait to work you guy's for real,all of us are waitin for your apps,so we can laugh at ya when ya realize you are no better than anyone else

r2better I hope you are feeling better you know hangovers and such....

Hmmmm r2better stop smoking that crack, not good for you.