Z28x

http://rawstory.com/rawreplay/?p=2551

Sounds like a good way to give the big 3 money and keep people working. The public also gets something for our investment.

jg95z28

It's a stupid idea.

(A) The industry is already very tight and competitive. Besides mass transit systems are typically government contracts and use a low-bid contract system. The Big 3 would be priced out of the market.

(B) Keep them the he** away from us.

V8 Slayer

I dont like mass Transit...This is not Europe.

jg95z28

That's the fundamental problem. In urban cities, our mass transit (passenger rail) systems are mediocre at best when compared to Europe. In rural areas, our mass transit (passenger rail) system is absolutely pathetic. The Auto industry (i.e. Detroit) practically killed the US passenger rail system in the middle part of the 20th century, and now this clown (Moore) suggests we give what's left of it to them to run? Is he insane?

guionM

There are few people I despise more than Michael Moore. Since "Roger & Me" (which actually pointed out a real issue that needed to be pointed out), he has gotten so full of himself and nowadays seems to have lost any sense of logic. Today he's nothing more than a dumba**ed publicity hound.

He has a huge amount of money, gets driven to book signings and appearences in limos, yet he continues with this scruffy, borderline homeless appearence hides behind a populist, I'm-on-you-side facade, and purposely misleads simply to make more money. Yet that earnings is based on essentially stupid people buying into his act (try having a logical discussion with a Michael Moore fan pointing this out, and you'll see what I mean).

This is a guy who went in Rolling Stone magazine and actually said that Obama wouldn't win because he wasn't embracing (Michael Moore's style of) liberalism.

Congress is already falling all over themselves to ensure that the public's investment is protected. Also, the incoming administration is already looking to improve our infrastructure as a way to jumpstart the economy.

If the big 3 is given money to create mass transit systems, what money is going to go towards fixing the industry? If Hybrids and Electric cars still cost far more than conventional vehicles (even diesels) then how is that going to save the auto industry if no one is buying.

Sorry if I seem a little antsy, but I absolutely dislike Moore.

Threxx

We do need to invest in mass transit more than we have but I'm not sure how viable it is to have an auto maker working on this stuff. It's not even close to their forte... not to mention what then happens to the companies that are already producing mass transit?

Darth Xed

IMO, mass transit only makes sense in dense urban/city environments.

monstertodd

GM making trains with public money = No camaro

Darth Xed

Speaking of this, does GM still own most or even a part of their Electro-Motive locomotive buisness anymore?

SCNGENNFTHGEN

You got that right...and I'd rather the gov't stayed out of the car business myself!

TheV6Bird

One thing that I have always felt is a big hurdle for mass transit is that a lot of people tend to look down on mass transit

"Take the bus? Pish-posh, that's for poor people!"

I think cities need to do something to shake that stigma from the system. I think subway/trolley systems don't suffer from that view, but for buses that seems to be what a lot of people think.

SCNGENNFTHGEN

Buses, trains, trollies....phooey! I'd rather drive my own car anywhere, than get on any kind of public transportation! It's all the same to me! I have family in san fran, who is forever trying to get my whole family to get rid of our cars! It's about to come to a head too. Next time she starts in with this nonsense, I'm letting her have!

Eric Bryant

Once upon a time - back when it was a huge manufacturing company and not just a distributor of benefits that happens to make cars on the side - GM was the largest manufacturer of mass transportation vehicles in the world. GMC was known as a manufacturer of buses and coaches (and not luxury pickup trucks), and Electromotive trains quite honestly revolutionized the rail business (the diesel-electric locomotive eliminated the need to carry water, and thus greatly stretched the usable range of trains).

Seeing as how this was done during the period where GM was undisputably the most profitable company in the world, I think it's safe to say that mass transportation need not imply some sort of evil socialist motives. Last time I checked, even capitalists need to ride a bus around the airport, and rail is the most efficient mode of land transportation (efficiency being something that all good capitalists love).

Would it be a bad thing if GM had to go back to making mass transportation vehicles? Hardly - it'd just be a return to the company's roots. A whole lot of you folks who claim to be in love with GM due to its heritage clearly don't know jack squat about the company's history

SCNGENNFTHGEN

I know about it, but it just ain't my bag man. I like to ride alone, in my car, or on my bike. Wait did you just say GM revolutionized....anything? I concede. You win...lol!!!

Geoff Chadwick

I live in a city now, so I use mass transit (busses here) regularly. Parking is a pain in the ***, and its easy cause I can drink some and not worry about having to drive. I also get a mass-transit free pass from work, so it means I can move for pleasure or business without cost.

But I love the ability to drive some days. Or not drive if I dont want to. It is a nice option.

I would love to see GM get into more mass transit - but more cities would have to WANT mass transit. Bus systems are great and all - but we need more longer-distance travel like high speed trains and such. The problem is the upfront for those projects is beyond rediculous.

What's a nearly broken GM to do?