R.I.P. General Motors (1931-2006)

Jeff is obviously a leftist union idiot in NY that doesn't get the concept
of people that 'fall in the middle' The union requires that the school pay
for all his stuff. But people like me that work for a living and make as
much as he does have to pay for all of our meds. . . . It's bad enough that
I have to go on Medicare by Jan '07.

Charles of Schaumburg

 

I still believe the Chevy Monza was the worst car that I have ever owned.
I have only seen one Chevy Monza in my town in the past 3 years and see
lots of really old Honda and Toyota cars. Even at car shows--I have seen
lots of really old Chevy and Ford cars in excellent condition but I have
never seen a Chevy Monza at any of those car shows. Has anyone else ever
seen a Chevy Monza in a car show or on the streets in your town (in the
past three years?).
Jason

 

Based on crash tests, it's obviously part of a downsizing plan...

Then again, my company and GM share many directors. They don't care
if it's a GOOD car, only that their buddy sells it.

 

The Eagle brand was discontinued after poor sales after several years.

 

THey should also outlaw TV advertising for prescription drugs. How
wastefull.

 

Actually, I have to pay for my meds too. That doesn't mean that drug
companies should have to give them to me for free.

I am not looking forward to going on Medicare, either. When the time comes,
I hope I have enough money that I can afford drugs without having to sign
up.

And the plans are not that good and too expensive.

Jeff

 

They should also outlaw top posting.

I agree that they should limit what prescription drugs are allowed to be
advertised on TVs, in magazines, etc. I think letting people know about new
treatments, without mentioning drugs by name, should be allowed. But it
should not go further than that.

They should also severely limit the activities of drug reps.

Jeff

 

LOL that doesn't bother me, but it bothers some, so I try to avoid it.

Absolutely. You can bet that for everything we *know* those reps are
doing, there are all sorts of shady things we don't know about.

Natalie

 

Profit, yes - ripping off the public, no.

Natalie

 

Wasteful doesn't begin to describe it.

The TV advertising is to push the new, high price, patented drug over
the one which is coming off patent. Often it is no better, or at
least not enough better to justify a price three or four times higher,
but when the sales rep is buying everyone lunch and the pharmaceutical
company paying for you to present a 30 minute talk in Hawaii in
February and the patient is demanding the drug she saw on TV, how many
doctors are going to swim against the stream.

 

I don't see many of those mystery ads anymore. I think that made it
too easy for doctors to send the patient home without the right Rx.
The pharmcos want the patient to demand their drugs by name.

 

There used to be a young woman who raced with us at an indoor karting
track. (She was pretty good, BTW) She was a sales rep for a certain
pharmco and she did tell me a lot of dirt. Her name was Natalie.
Coincidence? You decide.

 

Yet that Cavaliers you drive counts as evidence to Mike Hunt that GM
cars are better than Honda. 25% of GM car sales are fleet purchases.

 

If you are going to make up a figure why not make it 50%?


mike hunt



25% of GM car sales are fleet purchases.

 

If you are going to make up a story, why don't you just say their relatives
sell them?

 

LOL Since I know absolutely nothing about carting, and I never worked for a
pharmaceutical company, I'd say yes

Natalie

 

It's never a better drug, but psychologically, some patients insist they
can only take brand-only. But you hit the nail on the head. I'd forgotten
about those 'conferences' the pharmaceutical companies pay for - it's
ridiculous, but you're right; the temptation is too great, and many docs
probably figure their resistance won't make any difference.

Natalie

 

And I hate the fact that big drug companies started advertising
prescription-only drugs in 1996. I think that is just wrong. They are
trying to make people demand a drug that only a doctor should prescribe.
The commercials for Enzyte are bad enough. Do they still horsewhip
criminals? These guys should be publicly whipped but they might enjoy it
too much.

Charles of Schaumburg.

 

Actually I don't mind the ads for stuff like Enzyte and Cialis - those are
not generic, and you certainly can live without them, so advertising
actually makes sense. (Yeah, I know; some guys *can't* live without it
;-)).

I used to have a cartoon that showed a woman sitting on an exam table,
waiting to see the doctor. She was reading a sign that said, "There will
be an additional fee for answering questions about things you read on the
internet."

LOL

Natalie

 

Unions were a great idea way back when. Unfortunately, now the unions

Then Walmart becomes another GM. All Walmart has to do is pay appropriate
overtime.

Not to the workers who worked for GM many years ago, are already retired and
dead.

I would understand that nobody is forcing me to work for GM, and realize
that some of what they are giving me is going up exponetionally and are out
of control, like health care.

Some of us put money away every month for the future, and many GM employees
make pretty damn good money, even without the perks.

Basically, I'm just saying you can import car parts without paying any duty
or taxes. It's the entire car that has all those duties and taxes applied
to it. As a matter of fact, you can import some pretty outrageous and
exotic "kit" cars into the States for peanuts.

My neighbors Vette cost $4800 new. It's now worth about $100,000. Just
depends on the car, not where it's made. I've got a Porsche that's holding
it's own, but my Outback isn't worth even close to what it was when new.

'merican trucks will always be popular here. I haven't seen any Toyotas
running NASCAR, but it's still one of the most popular spectator sports in
the US. Heck, there are still people who won't buy Japanese or German cars
because of WW II.

I'm waiting to see what the Chinese have to offer, and you know it's coming.