Welcome to the mid-life-crisis club! I'm with you guys 100%! :rofl:

OK you youngsters, Don't forget those retirement accounts. Don't spend ALL you money on things.;)

youngsters? i'm 40! :)

401k and pension is fully funded....

40? Yep your a youngster. But glad your funded. Spread the word

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/20/news...ex.htm?cnn=yes

Just more evidence :)

Funny side note:
This was taken from autos.MSN.Com, take a look and laugh...

TCO - Fuel
U.S. Government EPA mileage figures. Mileage is 60% highway driving, 40% city. Fuel cost per gallon is $1.32 for unleaded regular, $1.42 for unleaded mid-grade, $1.51 for premium, and $1.30 for diesel (subject to inflation). (Based on Energy Information Administration U.S. average self-service regular, mid-grade and premium gasoline and diesel prices.)

I'm racking this up as a management issue...just like the rest of the companies in the US these days. Just about every Japanese manufacturer have plants (and design centers) in the US and they have the same labor pool (high wages and all) to pick from as GM and Ford. So why don't the Japanese makers suffer from the same ill that GM and Ford does? Management!

You can not compare Japan corporations and labor with the UAW and US corporations. IMO. However, management is probably one of the vast issues. That or US corporations are use to the Government bailing them out when times get to tough...a la the Mini-Van in the 80's...GO CHRYSLER!

Ford and GM should merge together and cut at least 50% of their crappy prodcut lines.

Actually there is a busines model that can be used as an example. And it is Union, in the US, and it is profitable. Click on the link that say's "Numi Case study (page 1) It's a pdf file.

http://search.earthlink.net/search?q...roadband&FD=0&

That's a good model, for saving on waste in a company..material waste. However that does not address pention plans and the vast array Government regulation that falls on US manufacturing.