The untalked about issue with the big 3 auto: Pensions

Turns out there’s a topic that most people don’t think of with the potential of the Big 3 auto workers going under. Sure, there’s the potential of 3 million jobs lost all at once – but what about those who aren’t working? Mainly, the chance that the pensions of thousands of retired workers might go under with the auto workers going out of business.

It’s like a rotten onion – the deeper you go into the issue, the more crap you keep finding to worry about.

Why is Honda still doing so well?

Why is Honda doing so well, when so many other manufacturer’s are struggling? The answer: engineers run the company, not the financiers. In other words: the people who make stuff to sell rule, while the bean counters provide advice on how to do it.

What might GM become if it gets a lifeline

There’s some questions about whether GM’s even going to survive the next year, if not the next six months. But if it does, it might turn into a smaller, leaner, meaner company, if Joan Muller is right.

It really will be for the best, in my humble opinion. Say goodbye to Hummer for anyone non-military, to say the least.

Now what? AT&T is laying of 12,000

Looks like there will be a lot of guys wandering about going “Can you hear me now? No!” as AT&T announces it’s laying off another 12,000 employees.

Anyone with some good news?

That’s more like it – Ford CEO offers $1/year salary

Cutting down on the private jets, now Ford CEO Alan Mulally will cut bonuses for all executives, cut his own salary to $1 year, and other moves if the US offers a bailout loan to his company.

I guess we’ll see what else is going to come up at the congressional hearings today. Anyone else going to watch?

Sears shutting down some stores

Sears, known to everyone as “the place with the catalogs where we’d giggle at the women in bras” has gone through a loss of $146 million, and will be shutting down some stores.

Right before Christmas, not only is this bad news, but odds are the “Black Friday” news isn’t going to change things much.

How bad is the US economy? Illegal immigrants are leaving

You know things are bad when illegil immigrants think that things would be better off in their home countries.

Just imagine that. Now they’re actually seeking out INS to get deported baack home. What will Lou Dobbs rail about now?

Obama promises 2.5 million jobs. And not just as quickie mart

So Obama’s gone and done it now – he’s promised to give 2.5 million good paying jobs to Americans, through his energy and jobs program.

He wants a big enough stimulus plan to matter, jobs for people, and health care. The question is – is Congress going to be willing to open up the purse strings that far?

Sign of a bad economy – turkey fights break out

You know things are getting bad when there’s fights over food. When the Sacramento Food Bank was giving out 5,000 turkeys, people standing in line started jumping about and the cops had to be called in to keep order.

Yikes. I should mention – I’m starting my turkey brine tomorrow. Turrrrrkkeeeeeey.

Direct examples of the bad economy – car dealership woes

CNN has a long and very well done look at the auto dealerships that are now struggling in America just to get by. You’ve got dealerships where sales are down by 80%, where they’ve laid off everyone but the owner just to get by.

I almost feel bad for wanting to wait another 24 months before I buy a car because I want a plug-in hybrid mini-van. But I can wait. Really.