-Last week, sitting in on all these meetings, cycling between not knowing "what the fuck is going on," "this is fucking ridiculous," and "oh, I think I get it," one constant thing stuck in my head: "I wonder how long I can do this for." I couldn't shake the feeling that we were all busting our asses for another, far richer man's profit. We're all jumping through hoops to benefit the company, which really means benefit the share holders. Maybe it's just me, but I thought the idea was to create products that benefit the customer. How much can we benefit the customer when everything is being cheaped out? Why are we so intimidated by manager approval? They aren't the ones buying the car. If you give a gift to someone, you hope that the receiver likes it, not the friend that came with you to buy it. I had this feeling last summer too, but after warming up to the group I started to feel down for the cause. Maybe I will again once I get a better grasp on my job, but right now I just feel like the customer is being forgotten and my freedom to be an engineer is severely limited. Today I met a guy that runs a test company / facility that he started himself. He worked for Chrysler at one point for quite a while, but decided to split ties and start up his own company. He seemed not only to be up to speed on technical topics, but also very enthused about the work he does. Talking to him was inspiring...
-"Still have a job? Keep buying foreign!" <--- I've seen that on a couple bumper stickers recently, and I have to say, in one way, that's some of the dumbest shit I have read. Sure, the Big 3 employ a lot of people - myself included - but as consumers, tell me, would you purposely buy a POS if you could get something better? I know I wouldn't. I buy what's good. The best design wins. Additionally, it's funny how that sticker is something the UAW (the union folks... Boeing heads know what's up with them) put out. Oh, and what is one of the biggest problems the Big 3 deal with in trying to turn a profit? The fucking union!! Another interesting fact: Toyota wants to start building facilities in MI. What are all those people bitching about losing a job because people kept buying foreign going to say when Toyota picks them up? Also, in this day and age, it's not like you're buying "American" or "foreign." Chrysler outsources all over the world, as I'm sure many companies in many industries do. Profit is going to go to whoever gets the work, wherever they are. This is business. That means the shareholders want us to make that money even if it means outsourcing to cut costs; and maybe as a side effect the economy will get a little help. Mehh...don't be fooled by what I'm saying. It's not like foreign car companies don't have similar ideals. And obviously if everyone started buying "American" cars there'd be plenty of jobs in Michigan to go around and the economy would start to prosper. It sounds like I'm torn on where I stand, and I am. Being someone that now lives in MI and seeing the shit over here, it's not hard to tell that MI needs the help. However, that's a bigger issue than just the Big 3 and what's happening with them... I'll get into that some other time. I still think the bumper sticker is damn foolish. If I decide to stay with Chrysler, a nice goal would be to contribute to a car that people want to buy, not something they feel obligated to because some schmo that they don't know needs to stay employed. <<< Wow, what a haphazard paragraph; my English teachers are all simultaneously slapping their foreheads right now.
