Comments on: Thoughts on SUVs and the Big Three http://www.mesothelioma.net/blog/index.php/2008/12/thoughts-big/ Mesothelioma Family Resource Center Wed, 14 Apr 2010 22:30:12 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Jason http://www.mesothelioma.net/blog/index.php/2008/12/thoughts-big/comment-page-1/#comment-359 Jason Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:34:35 +0000 http://www.mesothelioma.net/?p=227#comment-359 I really enjoyed the essay. Good points all, especially the link to Washington. Unfortunatly, too many failures, unintended consequences and other bad things can be traced to our elected officials and their unelected surragates. Perhaps Washington should get out of the policy business and leave the market to itself. As untidy as the market can be, it rarely does worse than the regulators and policy makers. I really enjoyed the essay. Good points all, especially the link to Washington. Unfortunatly, too many failures, unintended consequences and other bad things can be traced to our elected officials and their unelected surragates. Perhaps Washington should get out of the policy business and leave the market to itself. As untidy as the market can be, it rarely does worse than the regulators and policy makers.

]]> By: Dave Ruddell http://www.mesothelioma.net/blog/index.php/2008/12/thoughts-big/comment-page-1/#comment-357 Dave Ruddell Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:08:48 +0000 http://www.mesothelioma.net/?p=227#comment-357 Hate to be a nitpicker, but this jumped out at me: <i>"Chrysler, which owned Jeep, came out with the Dodge Durango in the early 90s and it was also an immediate hit."</i> The Durango came out in 1998, making Chrysler a rather late entrant. Except, of course, for the (massive selling) Jeep brand, which you already pointed out. Hate to be a nitpicker, but this jumped out at me:

“Chrysler, which owned Jeep, came out with the Dodge Durango in the early 90s and it was also an immediate hit.”

The Durango came out in 1998, making Chrysler a rather late entrant. Except, of course, for the (massive selling) Jeep brand, which you already pointed out.

]]> By: Lokki http://www.mesothelioma.net/blog/index.php/2008/12/thoughts-big/comment-page-1/#comment-356 Lokki Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:06:38 +0000 http://www.mesothelioma.net/?p=227#comment-356 A very good assessment of what has happened to our auto, well, SUV industry. I think you've laid out the situation very clearly. I would like to add one minor qualification - <i> Japan has a national healthcare system and a national pension system so the the Japanese firms do not have the enormous retiree and healthcare costs that the Big Three have.</i> An absolutely true statement that implies that this is a possible answer to America's current woes. However, the Japanese National Healthcare system is in danger and so is their national pension plan. Japan recently raised national health care premiums on people <i>over 70 years old</i> by about $100 per month, and for retirees, took the money out out of their national pensions. A very good assessment of what has happened to our auto, well, SUV industry. I think you’ve laid out the situation very clearly.

I would like to add one minor qualification – Japan has a national healthcare system and a national pension system so the the Japanese firms do not have the enormous retiree and healthcare costs that the Big Three have.

An absolutely true statement that implies that this is a possible answer to America’s current woes.

However, the Japanese National Healthcare system is in danger and so is their national pension plan. Japan recently raised national health care premiums on people over 70 years old by about $100 per month, and for retirees, took the money out out of their national pensions.

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