I am very glad to see Ford turn a profit in the 2nd quarter. Hang in there until 2009, Ford.

[Faygo Kid]

I was born in Detroit. A lot of people supported their families while earning good incomes at Ford, and a lot of us here and our parents and grandparents and even great-grandparents did the same thing. Their products have improved, and they have come to the realization that they need to join with us because they are getting killed on health care. I know the criticism that's coming, but I am damned glad Ford turned a profit, because I know what that means for families in the Detroit area and elsewhere. I never earned a dime from Ford, but my uncle was an engineer there from the '40s to the '80s, and so I feel a kinship to Ford. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070726/BUSINESS01/70726011

[pitohui]

1. i caused this personally

i sold my f holdings!

:-)

in all seriousness glad they are turning it around

[madrchsod]

2. ford actually makes a very good car

the 500 is rated near the top of it`s class...

[BlooInBloo]

10. They have improved - they only have 1 entry in the Top 10 Worst list.

Congratulations Ford!

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/news/the-10-worst-cars-today/

[BlooInBloo]

12. But they come back with a strong showing on the Used Car Worst 10 List! 4 out of 10!!!

Can't keep a good car company down! W00t!!!!

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/10_used_cars.html

[Octafish]

3. Ford and the unions built the middle class.

Great post, faygokid. Most people are unaware of how Ford paid workers the then-unheard sum of $5 a day to make cars in the 1920s.

The workers not only could buy what they made, they could afford to own their own homes and set some aside to send their kids to college. This partnership between industry and labor became the standard in the following decades in many, many industries, from manufacturing to transporation to communications. In the process, this partnership helped build the great middle class -- formerly territory reserved for the professional class of lawyers and doctors.

In World War II, Detroit manufacturing became the backbone of the defense industries, the "Arsenal of Democracy." We beat the fascists, in large part, because of what came off the assembly lines, made by union members who were well-compensated for their labor.

Now manufacturing jobs are rapidly disappearing overseas. Foreign imports get dumped in the U.S. for far less than are sold in their country of origin. "Union-made" is no longer important to a large section of the American public. And people with college degrees are flipping burgers and greeting people to Walmart.



Personally, I disagree completely with his politics: Henry Ford was a racist or a fascist or possibly both. In what he created, the guy helped build the modern world. The Diego Rivera murals at the DIA show the story.

[Purveyor]

4. It was their overseas operations that actually created this profit but I too I'm

pleased to see them 'see some light'.

Now, if they can only 'turn a profit' in the US is another matter and critical as to whether they continue to due business in the USA.

[Captain Angry]

5. Of the American car companies, I think Ford has more opportunity to get it right than GM.

Ford released a hybrid, knowing that SUVs were popular, and that it was a form-factor that would allow them to lose less on its sale. If they would hybrid-ize the new Taurus, and even a Focus somehow, they could really do well for themselves.

GM replaced some hoses and now says they're green because you can use ethanol.

Ford's choice of Mulally could be beneficial. His work at Boeing with advanced materials, and the like could lead to some real innovation out of Ford. I'm also a fan of Bill Ford Jr.'s green interests. From the grass roof on one of their plants to the new paint method that consumes far far less natural gas, he has some good ideas that need to scale the entire company.

I'm pulling for both GM and Ford, but I do like Ford better.

[AndyTiedye]

7. We Have the Ford Escape Hybrid. If You Gotta Have an SUV, That's the One to Get

Made in Kansas City, USA, by union labor.

Most fuel-efficient SUV available in the US.

[Captain Angry]

8. Me too. :-)

So I was a wee bit biased in my post.

I bought mine because it was American made, union made, hybrid, and can handle the weather that I deal with sometimes.

[Initech]

11. There's supposed to be a Fusion hybrid next year

I like the Fusion a lot but unfortunately it's built in Hermosillo, Mexico. For my current vehicle I'm thinking of going with the Nissan Altima which is built in Tennessee.

[Bozita]

6. My grandfather worked at the Rouge Plant from the WWI years into the '50s

He never owned a car. He raised his family in a modest home about 1.5 miles from the plant. It was built and paid for with some of Ford's revolutionary $5/day wages.

Walked to and from work. Every day. The railroad tracks a couple of blocks to the south led right into the Rouge.

Only one of his sons worked in an auto plant. After WWII, my Uncle Al worked at the DeSoto plant at the intersection of Wyoming and McGraw/Ford Road.

Faygo, I too have never worked for Ford, GM, or Chrysler. But I feel that I'd have never seen the inside of a college/university without the Rouge Plant.

Good post, Faygo.

[Initech]

9. I like the direction Ford is going in.

They have some solid cars like the Fusion and the Edge. Hopefully they can keep it up.