According to a recent survey by automotive consultancy AutoPacific, Americans are highly skeptical that the federal government's involvement with Chrysler and GM will help much.
When asked if federal control of Chrysler and GM would result in cars they would want to buy, 66% percent of those surveyed disagreed.
Those responding also disagreed that government interference would help create much cleaner cars and trucks (54%). And not surprisingly, a majority thought that both Chrysler and GM should have been allowed to fail.
Given that Chrysler and GM will be depending on these consumers to pull them out of the muck, the next year could be a tougher one that the two companies expect.
AutoPacific: Survey Shows Public Wary of Government Running Auto Companies
1487 says:
10:53 AM, 06/10/09
These polls are stupid. THey knew what kind of response they were going to get before they even polled people. Americans hate job losses, they hate bailouts, they hate deficits but they also hate taxes, they hate government but want government to intervene when things get bad, they hate spending but want more services.
They poll 1200 people and then tell you the results accurately reflect the entire country. Its the American way to not care about anyting that you perceive not to affect you directly. These people act like they will get a tax refund if GM and Chrysler were allowed to fail. They wont- they money would just go to a different companies.
stovt001 says:
11:08 AM, 06/10/09
There is only a fraction of the story being told here. I agree that government interference itself will not make better products. And I believe both automakers should have gone into Ch. 11, which they did. So if you leave it at that, I'm with the majority up there that seems to indicate a negative attitude towards GM. However, going beyond that, I very much like GM's newest vehicles, and if government influence is kept in check I think they can continue making good vehicles. I certainly don't want to see them completely fail and go into Ch. 7. I hope they make a speedy, but thorough reorganization and exit from Ch. 11, and go on to be a normal company just like all the other manufacturers. So reality may be much more dynamic than this poll makes it out to be.
estreka says:
01:29 PM, 06/10/09
I think there will be substantial backlash against GM once they exit bankruptcy. Not because of the bankruptcy, but because they took a government bailout. Don't be surprised to see groups and blogs calling for the boycotting of any company that took a government bailout.
aurakr says:
04:06 PM, 06/10/09
Lately I have really started to question my fellow Americans.
It seems like a majority feel chapter 11 is good. It might be good for the company, but it sure isn't for the retiree who loses up to 50% of his or her retirement. I would like to see a change made in our laws regarding bankruptcy. If management of a company determines that chapter 11 is their only choice, then every member of the management team should only receive the equivalent salary of the highest paid non management person in the company. In addition, the management team in question, loses all stock options. Let's also make sure that management team is hurt more than the workers.
A few years ago Congress made it much harder for the average individual to declare bankruptcy, let's do it for companies.
I hope the same people who boycott GM also do the same for any Japanese companies that have received support from their government or any state governments here in the US. After all, Toyota has requested 2 billion from the Japanese government and Honda is threatening to leave Japan if they don't get help.
I also expect every person calling for a boycott to do the same for all the banks that received taxpayer money, even if they paid it back. In fact those people should only support companies that get no help from the government at all.