Having not secured any bail out money from congress just yet, Chrysler and Ford have exercised the nuclear option of shutting down production in ALL plants for at least a month (Or perhaps until the government coughs up some dough). Although the manufacturers normally shut down production for 2 weeks around this time, the extra time is not normal.
Expect the stock market to dive off a cliff tomorrow or the day after.
update:
It would seem that many automakers around the globe are doing the same thing. Auto sales seem to be cratering world wide. So has the Mortgage Ponzi scheme along with the Spike in gas prices over the summer killing the auto industry? I know for myself I have went a purchased a 4 cylinder high MPG (and mileage) car for "daily" driving and letting the higher consumption (and far more fun to drive) vehicle to sit more often. Gas prices might be low now but I'm not getting caught out there when they spike again. It's bad enough I have to use premium fuel.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
It's Not Walmart's Fault
I'm not one to defend Wal-Mart. I don't even shop at the store because of issues I have with their employment practices. However I must object strenuously to the multi-million dollar lawsuit that has brought against them by the family of Jdimytai Damour.
The responsible parties are those that trampled Jdimytai to death and they are the only responsible parties. Could Walmart foresee that it would be possible for people to act like they have absolutely no self-respect, self-restraint and total lack of home training? Sure. Is it Wal-Mart's responsibility for that? No? Could Wal-Mart foresee that some idiot in the parking lot of it's property could break into peoples vehicles? Sure? Is Wal-Mart responsible for the break in? No. Could Wal-Mart foresee that one could be run over in their parking lot when it is packed with customers going to a fro? Of course. Would Wal-Mart be liable if a person got run over in the parking lot? Absolutely not. Corporate entities as legal persons (an unfortunate circumstance) are no more responsible for the behavior of other people than is the citizen standing in line who was pushed along by the unruly crowd.
But Walmart is an easy, deep pocketed, fearful of bad publicity company. Little, broke, looking to save 5 bucks off a computer, ordinary citizens don't have much to offer. Hopefully the police will be able to ID the people who stepped on Jdimytai and will have them arrested. The best crowd control is the threat of prosecution. I can guarantee you that if a high profile example is made of those who stepped on Jdimytai, who I understand was trying to protect a pregnant shopper, the next Black Friday at Wal-Mart will not have anything like what transpired.
The responsible parties are those that trampled Jdimytai to death and they are the only responsible parties. Could Walmart foresee that it would be possible for people to act like they have absolutely no self-respect, self-restraint and total lack of home training? Sure. Is it Wal-Mart's responsibility for that? No? Could Wal-Mart foresee that some idiot in the parking lot of it's property could break into peoples vehicles? Sure? Is Wal-Mart responsible for the break in? No. Could Wal-Mart foresee that one could be run over in their parking lot when it is packed with customers going to a fro? Of course. Would Wal-Mart be liable if a person got run over in the parking lot? Absolutely not. Corporate entities as legal persons (an unfortunate circumstance) are no more responsible for the behavior of other people than is the citizen standing in line who was pushed along by the unruly crowd.
But Walmart is an easy, deep pocketed, fearful of bad publicity company. Little, broke, looking to save 5 bucks off a computer, ordinary citizens don't have much to offer. Hopefully the police will be able to ID the people who stepped on Jdimytai and will have them arrested. The best crowd control is the threat of prosecution. I can guarantee you that if a high profile example is made of those who stepped on Jdimytai, who I understand was trying to protect a pregnant shopper, the next Black Friday at Wal-Mart will not have anything like what transpired.
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