Random Thoughts - November 17th

Random Thoughts, November 17th

*** The Big 3 U.S. Auto Companies (Ford, Chrysler, General Motors)- Why are they still confused about why they are not making money? After all this time they have not figured this out yet? Just this week they had a meeting with the Prez, hoping that he could somehow come to the rescue perhaps with trade tactics (such as tariffs) against their overseas competition. NewsFlash!!! Bush can’t rescue you boneheads. Bush can’t rescue anybody…. Hell, he needs to be rescued himself. Bush-light has his hands full right now with a few problems of his own.

The fact is, they (the U.S. automakers) are completely unprepared for global competition. This is despite the fact that they saw the challenge coming years ahead of time (and failed to act). Now they are whining.

If they want to improve their business, they can start by #1) Making a better quality product, #2) making cars that people actually need and want- reliable, safe, sporty, & with alternative fuel technology (hydrogen, ethanol, etc). What kind of boneheads would continue making huge gas guzzling monster vehicles in a tight fuel market? And the fuel market is only going to get tougher long-term. #3) Improve service. How about honoring your warranties? Just start with that one! I own a Chrysler and it has been nothing but a headache. Not only because of the car itself, but also because of the service (or lack thereof) that I get when I have to take it to the dealership. It’s basically impossible to get Chrysler to honor its warranty obligations or to take care of the customer in good faith. It seems that service managers are there solely to save Chrysler money by avoiding warranty repairs… they are not there to serve the customer. But they fail to realize that they are losing potential repeat business. They don’t seem to understand how important customer loyalty is to a business… that’s Business 101.

I will never buy a Chrysler again & plan to buy foreign vehicles from now on.

Confession:

*** I have been watching quite a bit of the Food Network over the past few months, (& I’m someone who doesn’t watch much TV). The Reason? Well, I can’t lie, it’s actually due to Rachael Ray. I think I might be addicted. The woman is gorgeous! If you are a guy and you don’t agree, there might be something wrong with you. Oh… and the food looks good too, lol. TERRIBLE… I know.

I don’t know if the Food Network would even exist if not for Rachael Ray. Although I love food…. I was not really interested in that channel before she became popular on the network.

Moving on…. I have also been known to watch the cartoon Jimmy Neutron. One of the best damn cartoons ever put together.

I also like HGTV… watching (usually rich White people…no offense) shopping for and buying great houses that I will never be able to afford even thinking about buying, as a poor Black man. But it still gives me something to imagine and dream about.

*** Speaking of economics…. Programs like HGTV just end up pissing me off… they remind me that I’m stuck in the real world of low wages. Once you get stuck here it’s hard to get out, even with a decent education….just ask all of the waiters, bartenders, retail workers, etc who have 4 year degrees & grad degrees. But this is the great Republican economy that we are always hearing about from the corporate (Republican) media, and from the talking heads in Washington D.C. I hate when they boast about the anemic job growth numbers as if they have accomplished something major. One big problem is- no one seems to ask what kinds of jobs are actually being created….what kinds of jobs are replacing the higher paying jobs that are being lost?

You can’t have a good social circle, meet someone, date, start a family and support a family or make any kind of respectable living from the wages that are being paid these days in most private sector jobs. And finding good paying “careers” (not just jobs) is becoming harder and harder to do. Something with good benefits? Good luck finding it.

*** I don’t understand the current frenzy behind this new Play Station 3. These geeks are waiting in line for 2 days for a damn gadget??? Not to mention that the damn thing costs upwards of $600.00. These people have lost their minds. All of this is going on while old ladies have to rob banks in order to pay their rent and buy their prescription drugs. All of this not long after an entire family burned to death a few months back as a result of candles being lit in their home. Why the candles? Their electricity had been turned off. Folks hit by Katrina are still reeling… some still homeless. These are microcosms of the same things taking place on a wider scale all across the country…. But folks have $600.00 to blow on toys.

Lord Please Have Mercy!!! Make me understand it all! I have never been one who has been very religious, but I have been known to study the Bible.. The last time I studied it (and studied it hard) was in my High School years….it doesn’t happen often enough. I usually reach for it in trying times…. To try to find the hidden wisdom and message that’s there. Lately I have found myself reaching back for the book….because I’m being tested.

The play station nonsense and the general Christmas (a perverted material Holiday) atmosphere just makes me sick. It’s Capitalism run amuck. Christmas has been Americanized here… in other words, it has been hollowed out. The heart and soul of the Holiday has been ripped out… only the shell is left to provide an illusion that the real meaning of the Holiday is being honored. But it’s really just a money Holiday.

This is why the USA gets no respect around the World. And people in this country wonder why other Countries are not too receptive to adopting the U.S. way of life when the U.S. government tries to force it on them?

*** Last night I saw the Robert Greenwald documentary “Iraq For Sale- The War Profiteers”. It is a must-see. I have made it available here on the blog. Please take the time to check it out and see what is going on. Spread the word (pass on the link). I also included other links of the subject of tax dollars being wasted….lives being wasted etc.