Comments on: High Asphalt Prices Equal Less Road Work (Wrong Answer) http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/06/06/high-asphalt-prices-equal-less-road-work/ Exposing fraud, waste, abuse, and general stupidity Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:03:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Judd Wiley http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/06/06/high-asphalt-prices-equal-less-road-work/#comment-636 Judd Wiley Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:14:50 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=514#comment-636 Meaver, GM and Ford are suffering precisely because they didn't correctly forecast the change in consumer demand. They are still producing large, fuel inefficient vehicles that less and less Americans want to buy. On the other hand, Toyota is aligned to the current trend towards smaller, more fuel efficient cars, and is capturing that growth market. Toyota is a perfect example of a business that thinks ahead. The difference is that the free market holds businesses accountable. It punishes businesses that aren't smart, and rewards those that are. Whereas the government can often act irresponsibly with no consequences. Imagine what would happen if Shirlee Leighton was President of Ford Motor Company, and after a precipitious drop in earnings told her shareholders, "We will do what patching we can ..." Meaver,

GM and Ford are suffering precisely because they didn’t correctly forecast the change in consumer demand. They are still producing large, fuel inefficient vehicles that less and less Americans want to buy.

On the other hand, Toyota is aligned to the current trend towards smaller, more fuel efficient cars, and is capturing that growth market. Toyota is a perfect example of a business that thinks ahead.

The difference is that the free market holds businesses accountable. It punishes businesses that aren’t smart, and rewards those that are. Whereas the government can often act irresponsibly with no consequences.

Imagine what would happen if Shirlee Leighton was President of Ford Motor Company, and after a precipitious drop in earnings told her shareholders, “We will do what patching we can …”

]]> By: Dark Meaver http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/06/06/high-asphalt-prices-equal-less-road-work/#comment-633 Dark Meaver Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:11:43 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=514#comment-633 No response there Judd? Wow, you can sure dish it out but can't take it. Weak. No response there Judd? Wow, you can sure dish it out but can’t take it. Weak.

]]> By: Dark Meaver http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/06/06/high-asphalt-prices-equal-less-road-work/#comment-626 Dark Meaver Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:03:50 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=514#comment-626 Also, I think your cry that state governments need to 'plan for high oil prices like corporations' is off base. GM and Ford are both just NOW retooling their car lineups in response to high oil prices and check out airlines with their lack of hedging oil prices except for Southwest. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gCS_mxHgjyOe02MEzqCCRZhJH4sg Great example huh? I'd argue that state govts are doing exactly what corporations are now - responding to high oil prices by retooling their plans... THoughts? Also, I think your cry that state governments need to ‘plan for high oil prices like corporations’ is off base.

GM and Ford are both just NOW retooling their car lineups in response to high oil prices and check out airlines with their lack of hedging oil prices except for Southwest.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gCS_mxHgjyOe02MEzqCCRZhJH4sg

Great example huh?

I’d argue that state govts are doing exactly what corporations are now - responding to high oil prices by retooling their plans…

THoughts?

]]> By: Dark Meaver http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/06/06/high-asphalt-prices-equal-less-road-work/#comment-614 Dark Meaver Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:37:52 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=514#comment-614 And your desire for the state govts to anticipate increases in oil prices, "as corporate America does" is laughable. Check out GM and Ford's behavior. They had to change their business model when gas prices soared and made the SUV/Truck less desirable than more fuel efficient vehicles...this JUST happened. Also just happened? The Airlines in 'corporate america' are reducing flights and getting rid of planes in response to high oil prices....why didn't they anticipate it sooner????? Where are you on this? Why should state govts be so much further ahead than corporate America. At the least your comments are ignorant: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/business/04motors.html?_r=1&em&ex=1212811200&en=8e941918031aa9fc&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin http://business.smh.com.au/ford-changes-focus-as-gas-guzzlers-left-unsold-20080523-2hlg.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/business/23ford.html?em&ex=1211688000&en=46621723da5e0d1c&ei=5087%0A And your desire for the state govts to anticipate increases in oil prices, “as corporate America does” is laughable. Check out GM and Ford’s behavior. They had to change their business model when gas prices soared and made the SUV/Truck less desirable than more fuel efficient vehicles…this JUST happened. Also just happened? The Airlines in ‘corporate america’ are reducing flights and getting rid of planes in response to high oil prices….why didn’t they anticipate it sooner????? Where are you on this? Why should state govts be so much further ahead than corporate America. At the least your comments are ignorant:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/business/04motors.html?_r=1&em&ex=1212811200&en=8e941918031aa9fc&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

http://business.smh.com.au/ford-changes-focus-as-gas-guzzlers-left-unsold-20080523-2hlg.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/business/23ford.html?em&ex=1211688000&en=46621723da5e0d1c&ei=5087%0A

]]> By: Dark Meaver http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/06/06/high-asphalt-prices-equal-less-road-work/#comment-613 Dark Meaver Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:25:36 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=514#comment-613 God forbid we spend 45% of state spending on educating our students. We have some of the best public schools in the country according to newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/highschools/?q=2008/state/1301/ But no, you'd rather take money from one of the best public school systems in the country (in the form of Fairfax County/Arlington) and spend it on public roads. Your option is unacceptable. Stop building roads on the backs of our children. God forbid we spend 45% of state spending on educating our students. We have some of the best public schools in the country according to newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/highschools/?q=2008/state/1301/

But no, you’d rather take money from one of the best public school systems in the country (in the form of Fairfax County/Arlington) and spend it on public roads. Your option is unacceptable. Stop building roads on the backs of our children.

]]>