A modest proposal for General Motors in light of their unveiling the Volt:
I'm not a lawyer, but that's what I would do.
- Start a new company based in the South.
- Provide that new company with enough funding to build at least one plant in a right-to-work state in the South.
- Sell the intellectual property rights for the Volt to that new company.
- Build the car using non-union, well-paid Southern workers.
- Restructure GM into General Motors Research and Development Labs and General Motors Manufacturing Corporation.
- Sell GMRD to the new company based in the South for peanuts.
- Shutdown GMMC, liquidate its assets, and distribute them among the shareholders and union members (if applicable).
I'm not a lawyer, but that's what I would do.
I'm a little confused by what you wrote. Are you saying that GM should liquidate all its assets. ie Buick,Chevy, Pontiac, Olds caddy, hummer.... If that's what you're suggesting, I can think of one thing to say. Lee Iaccoa and Chrysler.
What I was saying was they'd move their intellectual property assets into a company that does only R&D and move all of their manufacturing assets into another company. They'd sell the R&D company to the new one, based in the South, and then liquidate the corporation that is responsible exclusively for manufacturing. Essentially, they'd put all of their liabilities into the manufacturing company, and let it take the fall.
Looks like a pretty decent car. And what they say about 40 miles being enough for the average driver is very true. Many people (myself included) couldn't get rid of all other vehicles but this could reduce operating costs significantly. Of course there is the load on the electrical grid to consider. If the volt takes off there will soon be copies from the various makers.
Some thoughts:
Why stick with the traditional "car" shape? It wouldn't be necessary, and one could perhaps make the car more aerodynamic or increased passenger comfort.
Businesses will need to look into providing electricity to customers/employees. Daytime charging would place an even larger draw on the grid which could push places like Kalifornia over the brink in the summer months. And Kali is the place that will most quickly adopt such technology.
Creature comforts: How will AC work? What happens to that 40 mile range when the AC is on full blast?
I walked by a hybrid the other day. Couldn't tell it was on except that it was moving under its own power.
Hmmm, is this thing on?
*taps mic*
....hello?
WW :)
Was there some reason to doubt that it was?
I'm not a lawyer either, but this looks like a decent plan.