FORD CUTBACKS AND CLOSINGS

[anonymous2]

Hey Mike,

I gave up on the big companies,because I was tired of being laid off. I went into the maintenance field. You are obviously a handy guy,so you should do well in the field. Maintenance work is always steady,talented people get paid well. I currently work as one of 2 facility directors of a Catholic retirement community. Working with seniors is a blast,and fullfilling. Moneys good,no production deadlines,laid back work pace. Now that I look back,I should have changed careers YEARS ago. Most of the big companies I worked for have gone bust,or moved overseas. Love what I am doing now,and there don't seem to be a shortage of old folks. Good Luck,I know you will do well.

pateardropper

[goldcoop]

One thing occurred to me while I was reading all these posts.

We all have various mechanical skills which is something we have in common & I believe is a dying art here in the US!

As the number of people diminish who possess skills (while not glamorous jobs) the more those skills become in demand!

Like good: carpenters, plumbers, electricians, welders, etc.

I sit on 2 advisory boards for local high school & college technical schools and enrollment in trades are down.

Why? Because it's too much like work!

Soooo combine our mechanical skills with our outdoor/survival/camping skills I believe we are in better stead than most!

Especially if we ever do have that REVOLUTION!

Cheers,

Coop

[anonymous2]

Ahmen to that coop !





pateardropper

[hammer & tongs]

Sorry about the job losses for so many...it hurts families in so many ways.
Yes, I tend to agree with Pa teardropper in that the unions have tended to "kill the goose that lays the golden eggs "...but that still doesn't erase the pain for families.
Actually that Chevy S-10 is really an Isusu under the nameplate isn't it ? My Ford Rangers are all Mazdas at heart..

What is an " American car " ?
I know that a few years ago someone did a survey, checking all the stickers on new cars for percentage of American produced components..the result ?

The most " American " car by content was HONDA...! Go figure...

Wish you the best Mike...and any others that may have been affected by "downsizing"..
Perhaps it is a good time to look at a career such as maintenance, construction or teaching...something that can't very well be "outsourced"..

[asianflava]

My Ford Rangers are all Mazdas at heart..

Actually the other way around, the Mazdas are Rangers at heart. They are/were built in New Jersy. Mine has the 2.3L 4-cyl, the Pino motor that's been around forever. The 3.0L 6-cyl was the Taraus motor. Back when they had the Ford Courior (sp?), they built by Mazda

[angib]

What is an " American car " ?
I know that a few years ago someone did a survey, checking all the stickers on new cars for percentage of American produced components..the result ?

The most " American " car by content was HONDA...! Go figure...

Snap! - some British police forces got a bad press a couple of decades ago for buying Volvos, but it turned out the same, that Swedish-made Volvos were the most 'British' big car.

The 'local content' measurement usually includes everything a plant buys whether it's steel, electricity or toilet paper. At one time our local Nissan plant had a very high Yurpeen content, even though most of the engines came from Japan.

Andrew

[hammer & tongs]

Thanks Asian;
I knew there was a close relationship there somewhere since Ford bought heavily into Toyo-Kogo (masda) quite a few years ago..

Amgib;
That clever little Mini is owned by BMW...correct !

All that is "globalism" at work, and even if we don't like it...we have to join in , or even a big economic power like the US could be shuffled off to the side of world trade and shrink in it's effectiveness..

...Sad but true, folks