OptimusK

Really interesting thoughts on FMC, Flybrian. Come to think of it, most, if not all Lincoln dealers are Mercury dealers anyway...How hard is it to sell the same vehicle with a different face/interior on the same lot? Just by the dealer network alone, it seems as if L/M should be complimentary, if anything. (Similar to the GMC/Cadillac/Buick dealership.) And give 'em some autonomy from the Ford brand! About the article: ...As others have said, Lutz, in particular, has lead a striking improvement in product. They're willing to try novel things (Solstice, in particular), and shoring up the areas where other products have had deficiencies. GM may need to dump Wagoneer, but to say that GM's (new) products (business management, is a different matter) reflect this 'lack of vision' shows lack of literal vision on the writer's part. He's damning them for all the wrong reasons! GM's not going to solve all its problems in one fell swoop, so to say that they need to dump everyone at the top, especially in light of vehicles like the refreshed Impala and retooling of Saturn, seems knee-jerk and suspect. Bring in better 'talent' and 'vision' to suppliment product gurus, such as Lutz...and, yes, better marketers, as well. ...And then there's the healthcare issue...[massages temples]...IMHO, that's where this vaulted 'vision' is really needed...

Yeah...sorry to wine. ^_^ I'm afraid that of the very few of us that truly understand the convoluted web that is rising healthcare costs, a miniscule few of those have the vision to push for long-term reforms and probably don't have the power to make changes. IIRC, Reagon's administration was the first to seriously look at rising healthcare costs (in respect to Medicare/Social Security), and their 'inflation + n' matching of gov't funds to medical costs is basically the only major way the gov't has tried to tackle this issue. Private healthcare should work well, in theory, but charging more and cutting corners on care is not uncommon...stockholders are king. I'm no visionary, but it seems as though the gov't alone, GM/UAW alone, or the HMO/doctors alone won't be able to create a good long-term solution. I'm against 'big gov't' but it seems as though (probably right when the crisis is at the gate) a partnership between gov't, industry, and medicine, allowing private healthcare with heavy gov't regulation might be something worth looking into. Of course, that means more bureaucracy and red tape. Sacrifices will have to made somewhere...and who wants to be the politician, CEO, etc. to call for these sacrifices, no matter how good a long-term solution they may offer. We need a good plan...and someone, anybody, whether in gov't or industry, with gumption and insight...and a back-bone. The only way out is through.

Hey guys...first time poster, long time lurker (busy, busy). [rant] My problem with Michael Moore is two-headed. Like many (but not all) who 'dissent' using mass media, he stands to benefit most from his message. He gets further exposure to sell books, DVDs, and whatever he wants to peddle. I liken it to popular, political, music groups who very literally market 'dissent,' damning the very system they're using to get rich. Secondly, the man goes to extreme lengths to find people in tragic situations and exploits them. What did Michael Moore do for Flint? He made his name on the backs of those whom struggled to provide for their families. He made their plight 'entertaining.' What about those families he interviewed for F911? What are his solutions to these complex problems? He may have a point or two, but why would you want sort through all the self-aggrandizing BS to listen? We don't need Michael Moore to see what's wrong with the world...but he certainly acts like we do. The epitomy of a 'talking head.' [/rant]