General Motors to invest $1 billion in Brazil operations -- money to come from U.S. rescue program

Very we put. It's such a shame that this has happened (happening) to our country. Is this not an embarrassment to our government? I feel embarrassed and I'm just a screwed tax payer. I would guess Congress and Bush are too busy covering their butts to feel regret and be embarrassed.

The solution to saving companies like GM always was clear - fire the management that drove the entire industry into the ground. That's where the problem began yet nothing has addressed that issue or the culpability of such ridiculous policies.. Termination of senior levels should have been done by shareholders to protect their investments and been insisted upon by government..

But no. Since "management" always was Bush's "constituency" the opposite occurred. What got saved, in banking, Wall Street, everywhere there was a bailout - was management, NOT the company.

Result? The company remained in the toilet while management awarded themselves more "failure bonuses" and arranged to buy more businesses all at taxpayer expense.

Had that management been sacked on day one none of this off-shoring bullshit would have happened.

Bailout money would be spent in America, for Americans, by Americans - that's so obviously what's missing from the rush to tank this country to satisfy the Globalists and Free Traders who see nothing at all wrong with turning the US into a third world dump.. Isn't it odd? After all we've done for them: why does GM hate America?

Dump failed management - not the country.

That is why filling chapter 11 should have been the first step prior to any monies being lent.  In my opinion, those CEO's should be brought back before congress (in chains this time) and charged with fraud.

This is ridiculous! This is not outsource, this is off shoring. We need to bring the work back to the US. I am ready for Obama to kick some butt.

Just to to show ya, the corp's, bankers and politicians would sell us all down the river if there is a profit to be made. I HATE THEM ALL

Once again, a major American corporation thumbing their nose at the American taxpayer. GM should be allowed to go under.

How can all of you so quickly presume that GM's success in Brazil will not reflect positively onto the US? GM is a multinational, they work in other countries, of course. The US is a service-sector society, not an industrial society. The majority of people in the US do not work in manufacturing, but work in services. If anything, wouldn't the additional production and sales of GM vehicles in Brazil increase possible job openings at home?

Also, consider the past success that GM has had thanks to globalization. Europe after World War II, the ex Soviet Union after the Cold War, etc. Investing in South America is one of the wisest decisions a company can make at the moment; the South American economy always benefits from Western crisis. It's one of the most reliable investments they can make to stay afloat. Would all of you honestly rather see GM fail? Wouldn't we be loosing many jobs that way?

I agree with many of the things many of you say, but I would not be so quick to discredit the intent of their investments (at least before it is researched). I would argue that we need more transparency and involvement since the taxpayers are investing.

My dad and his friends say they're never buying another GM ever!

multinational corps are not good citizens-AT BEST-
sociopaths at worst-because current law allows it.

response,.....hmmmmmmmmm "DEATH to the Machine"

The UAW brings this shit on themselves. Some guy goes to work making $50 to $75 an hour to put air in a tire that is on a assembly line because he is Union....Guess what, your gonna lose your job. I dont blame GM one bit for investing 1 Billion in its Brazil operations and I wont lose any sleep because a GM employee lost his/her job.

Wow are u serious this is ridiculous, we need every penny we can get at this point..

Nice. We're depleting right in front our very eyes. Wow. Hurts the heart a bit.

once again the gov. fails us...

they should have made keeping the money here a requirement, as they should have made not putting the corporate bailout money to bonuses...but the gov. is stupid, we all know that right?

No strings money is also called "Love Money."

It's loot a parent is willing to lose so offspring can set up businesses which wiser souls know will die horribly.

But - they're your kids, so what are you going to do?

GM on the other hand has engineered its own demise with incredible fidelity.

Had the Love Money they took included the stipulation - "If one dollar of this benefit leaves the US all senior management responsible will be fired." it's a safe bet Brazil would be told to move to the back of GM's trough.

Until such times as there are laws and severe penalties attached to these hapless giveaways we can expect more ridiculous failure bonuses and capital flight to help everybody, but Americans.

How bad is it?

Obama's desire for Americans to "Buy American" is now being treated like treason in the kangaroo court of Globalization.

And I bet they won't even jetpool to South America.

Bluestranger is right on the money. Bush rammed this Bill through on his way out the door with scare tactics and big talk about loosing 3 million jobs(which still might happen) but he didn't bother to protect the American taxpayer with oversight and transparency. It's just more of our money mismanaged bythe Bush Administration. Brazil as a country primarily uses ethenol. What the hell are they going to do with Lincoln Navigators???

Let them FALL, Fail and what not. Its other companies turn to be on top, that's how business works.

absolutely disgusting. sadly, i'm also curious if production quality will get better than the high maintenance crap being churned out by GM in the US.

GM was never concerned about what is/was best for the people of the US. So odd to bail them out with tax payer dollars? They killed way more than just the EV1 ..

Brazil's automotives run off of sugar ethanol. Maybe with this investment sugar ethanol will make a move into the states.

Congress handed a wad of cash to a bunch of CEOs that had already proven themselves incapable of money managemant. They should have seen this coming and put more controls on how this money could be spent.

Obama should never had given GM the money in the first place. This is just the beginning of irresponsible spending. Hasn't the American people had enought yet? There were 100,000 American jobs lost last week alone. What the hell is WRONG with the goverment? Then they want to give more of the hard earned American peoples money away. Another TRILLON... another TRILLON there, here a TRILLON, there a TRILLON who the hell cares a TRILLON?

Any companies that got bailout and then outsourced should be limited to selling their products in those countries. Our country made them strong originally, if they now dump us....we should dump them!

Shoulda let them all fall.

Do not really understand the story behind but my concern is "Does our government saying anything?". That's tax payer money so need to remain within the US to stabilize the economy and create more job within the country.

this is absolutely unacceptable. We should tell GM that if they intend to use any of our money, they have to use American labor.

As much as I love my country Brazil I can't stand to see something like this being done...it's such a good example of the reason GM and others got into this mess...bad buisness practice. If they Just invest it into AMERICAN FACTORIES they will be able to make that money back later to invest in Brazil!
Take care of america first-otherwise we will not to have a GM period!

Here's an idea, GM. How about we use that 1 Billion to fund the plants that are dying or are already dead on our soil? Just an idea.

This is just the beginning! Bailout = outsource!

hi heather

hot potato gonna burn us all

hahahahaaha!!!!

Obama stated during his campaign that he would raise taxes on businesses who send jobs overseas and give tax breaks to businesses who keep jobs at home.
GM is taking American taxpayer hard earned cash and handing it to Brazil who will hire Brazilians to work in their factories. Sure, this will put money in GM's pocket, but how in the heck is that going to help the American people? I'm sure GM will say they are in a financial crunch and raise the prices of their vehicles (which we paid the bill to manufacture). Hmmmmm......doesn't sound very fair to me!
I hope Obama taxes the crap out of GM and gives that money back to the people.

Am I wrong? wrong to think that the money should stay in the USA?