Thanks a lot guys!! I try and tell things as they really are. Life is not always a fairytale ending unfortunately especially in these trying times. Wish it were the other way. All of these folks that are losing their jobs are in for a rough road ahead. So sad! Going to school for a few years does not guaranteee anything either and competing with kids half of your age is what really makes it bad when it comes to then applying for a job. I am in that middle age group and am so thankful I have a decent job even tho it is only part time. Stuff like this makes you take a hard look at your own life and what it takes to live in our high priced society. I rather doubt we will see prices go down at the pump or grocery store in the near future either. Gm, Lear and the others helped set the bar for other employers to have to pay a decent wage so many of us benefited from them indirectly. I am just very sad for everyone involved in all of those plants!!!

scoobydoobydoo I got a whole bag of treats for ya over here. YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO

scoobydoo gets a scooby treat for a very insiteful post!

jvldude - Man...they aren't patting themselves on their back. They are just trying to remove all the knives from backstabbing mental giants like yourself who have no clue the economic benefit of thousands of people earning more than $14 an hour makes. That's just radical, dude. Maybe all middle class should earn $14 an hour, then see how many might own houses over $125,000. Whoops! there go the taxes gained from more expensive homes. Hope you can make up the difference.

i think slushfun needs a reality check. Sure you can go to school, but many of the people losing their jobs are older/middle aged. Now who do think an employer will hire a younger person or a 50 yr. old? There will be 1,000's out of work as well and adding to that the kids graduating that are in the work force too! It's nice to have a positive attitude, but you have to be realistic as to the way the world is getting. There are too many people and fewer and fewer jobs due to outsourcing to foreign interests. Some people need to live their life with their head in the sand pretending everything is rosy. I however chose to see the "real situation"! This is not a "great opportunity" for anyone involved as I'm sure they would agree.

onelife2live you GM workers keep patting your selfs on the back if it makes you feel good

I don't think we should focus on G.M. at all. They have gotten enough attention. They are no different that all the thousands of people that have been laid off this year. I feel bad for anyone who has lost a job, not due to their own acts. But the GM folks are not the only ones.

If anybody would like to be a true moron. Just read all of snarly's comments. He wasn't able to get a job at GM so he is like a lot of others and is upset. And blames those that had a good job for his failures in life.Sorry snarly I am not a GM employee but I have many friends that are. They are good working people maybe thats the problem anti GM people don't have friends ??

Don't worry GM haters. Lighten up. Pretty soon we will all be gone and you can have Janesville. I will come back and see how you are doing. Quit being negative. You got your wish and we are soon to be gone. Good luck when your property taxes go through the roof. How's that snow plowing? Bad before? Gonna get worse. I hope all those little rice-burners can get through the snow because the plows will be idle.....Peace, don't be hatin

My lord people cant we just all get along!!

Buy a gas guzzling SUV today Body by Fisher ..

-snarly- Don't even try to act like a nice person,or a careing person,you blew it,JUST GO AWAY!!!!

to all the blogers who have hated my coments you just can't stand the fact that I'm right that GM is on the out's and the poor workers at the plant will not have a job.So i will give you this that janesville will be hurting and alot of good people will be looking for jobs and hope they do find a good job.

slush, I do believe you have to be laid off to get the 2 yr. free education, and it does have limitations as to what you can take. So until one IS laid off, this is not an option. And going to school while working 10 hours, with a family and both spouses working is very , very tough to do. Transfers are not going real fast right now, so many are really stuck in a void until the plant closes or a transfer comes through. But yes, things will work out for people if they are motivated to do so. Being sad or depressed about the loss of jobs that you have given some of your life to is just human nature, not something one with any soul would throw in their faces like some who post here. That's what makes this world a scary place, those with no humanity.

Opportunity knocks for those who want to open the door. Money for training and education will "flood" the community. If you want two years of free education, it will be there for the taking. Power generation, medical fields, business degrees...all good jobs with beneifits. Please consider stopping the bull**** and use this forum to help people understand there are options. But be real: the options require speciallized training, sacrifice, and effort. This is a great community with considerable assets. New employers will land here in the next five years. Opportunity does indeed knock for those who want to transition to a new chapter in their lives. It may be more satisfying than what you leave behind.

I can't beleive the hatred being spewed against GM and its workers. Anyone that can't see this is going to impact the entire city needs a reality check. I have never worked at GM nor has any member of my family and I don't begrudge them the pay they got. I could have worked there years ago too when I graduated, but did not want to. I have never earned high pay and have worked a lot of lousy jobs for low pay and wouldn't wish that on anyone. Maybe some of these people that don't like to see decent paying jobs should head to Mexico and work for nothing. It is that mentality that will destroy the american workforce. I guess they would rather see everyone back to the old sweat shop days before unions! They must be Republicans!! The way things are going in this country we'll all be working for a peon's wage and have nothing. Can you work for minimum wage and keep up paying all of your bills? I doubt it. Most of the companies are all going overseas because of cheap labor. Well who in the heck is going to be buying their products if no one is working? They have no brain to see the long term/future just going for the quick profit. Some of the people that write in about being glad GM is leaving should use their money for psychiatric care. They obviously have serious envy issues to work thru!!!

OK, ENOUGH! Your comments really tick me off! Who cares if it's GM or another company, The fact is these are jobs in the area that are lost and it's good to know that someone is fighting to keep them!! Keep bashing them all you want but someday you people might be in their shoes fighting for your job!! Hopefully that will never happen but it could.

good by to all the GM RAT'S and no more drinking and running out to zachow's for a shot and a beer, O did i hit a sore spot HA HA welcome to the real world You all had a chance to transfer, and of course you will say we like it here so we did not transfer, Know it is time to go find another job and it will not pay $28.00 an hour, O i foregot you will get 80-90 percent of you'r pay, when it run's out off to the job search and more complaining about not making enough money to have the big new house or the harley, pwc, O yes the new GM peice of crap that only gets 18 mile's to the gallon,if you are lucky,SO to all the rest of janesville good luck,

With unemployment being what it is I dont see to many G.M workers looking for jobs in the real world, after all they only pay $7.00 an hour with no benefits. Why work when you dont have to.

gm's going to close soon. you good workers I hope the best of luck.I believe the bad workers at gm are in for some bad times ahead. I know a few people that better get ready to work, but I'll bet they don't do much until the free money runs out. the watering holes should be busy for now

very well said chad

woodsman - yes, it is bad that there are "haters" out there. The common thing in these blogs are that they always tell rumours and lies that have been around for ages about GM workers. They say stuff, that being a GM worker, you know they have never spent time here or even cared to learn the truth besides what they hear at the bar. I and others have always helped with many charities, not condeming people but helping those who need help. The flamers and trolls here are not of that ilk, their true identities come from their caustic words typed behind a hidden identity.

I think we should rename Janesville to be called Bitchville! As that is all anyone has time to do.

Sorry, I guess I didn't think of that. So, lifeafter...was Thursday your planned retirement date?

YOU PEOPLE HAD YEARS AND YEARS TO TRANSFER THE SHEETS WERE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD LONG AGO, CALLED ENHENCEMENT PACKAGE. YOU COULD HAVE WENT TO FLINT WHEN MEDIUM DUTY LEFT, YOU COULD HAVE WENT TO SHREVEPORT, ARLINGTON AND BOWLING GREEN, SO STOP WHINING!!! SUFFER NOW AND YES, JANESVILLE WILL CLOSE LONG BEFORE 2010..THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL. YOU COULD HAVE WENT TO COLLEGE WITH FULL TUITION PAID TOO.....NO EXCUSES, SHOULDN'T BE A SHOCK THAT THE PLANT IS DONE HERE. THEY DON'T OFFER TRANSFERS FOR THE HE$$ OF IT.

My Oh My....Did anyone stop to think that just maybe "lifeafter" is going to RETIRE on thrusday ??? I agree grow up and stop with it's not fair you have a life and I don't.Jobs are opening up at the plant ,so if you think you can do the jobs go apply at job service ! Have fun by the pool lifeafter you EARNED it !!!

I TELL YA, U GM WORKERS AND NON GM WORKERS,GROW UP

Let's all take a deep breath,count to 10 and try to realy look inside each others mind to find out the hates we have for one another,i always thought you had to know someone to desyfer wether you liked them or not,but then again the whole world is like this,shame shame shame,what the heck one more shame.

Oh my, pardon me. Yes, I can type --- you must be a GM hater. Pardon anyone who would happen to make a typo on this silly blog.

gmwife: It's too bad your computer only came WITH ALL CAPS.

HAS THE WORLD ALL GONE CRAZY. I CAN NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY GM HATERS THERE ARE. YES, I AGREE THERE ARE BAD EMPLOYEES DOWN THERE, BUT AREN'T THERE EVERY WHERE.

MY HUSBAND WORKS THERE, HAS 22 YEARS IN -- NOT ENOUGH FOR THE EARLY RETIREMENT OFFER AND TOO MUCH TIME TO WALK AWAY. WE DO NOT LIVE PAY CHECK TO PAY CHECK, WE SAVE FAITHFULLY. WE WILL BE OKAY, NO MATTER WHAT THE OUT COME. WE LIVE IN A MODEST 1700 SQ FOOT HOUSE, NO BOAT, OR CABIN UP NORTH. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO HELP OUR TWO SONS THROUGH COLLEGE AND PLAN FOR OUR RETIREMENT, NOT EARLY RETIREMENT; LIKE ANY ONE ELSE OUT THERE.

I JUST WISH PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE --- WE ARE NOT ALL ALIKE.

This is not a surprise. Several of said at the time, via gazette blog that we would not be at all surprised for G.M. not to stick to what it originally said, and that it had planned all along not to stay open until 2010.

I heard (second hand) that there is only enought inventory to last 200 some days and they're not letting them order any more. That will barely get them past the holidays. If this is true, tighten your belts my GM friends. I pray that you can all find something else to support your families. I will definitely keep you ALL in my prayers.

We are living in great times people, future generations will look back, and say those were great people. Ok let me correct that a little those people lived high on the hog till the drought hit(GM Closed), and the lazy workers could not live down there reputation to obtain new employment. Future generation will take from this that they should not take things for granted, and do not live pay check to pay check.

Yes SK,i do agree with you,laying around the pool thing was just as bad,a rub is a rub! But then again,these two are what makes the world go round,it will all come out in the wash!!!!!!!

I see many signs of a early close. I think they should sell chances on what date the doors will be locked. I will guess Sept 21, 2008. This is based on the numbers.

Hey Snarly:

Just so you know, I don't work at the plant nor any related businesses, nor does anyone in my family, but I also wish that you would go away if you can't write anything of substance. Your remarks are shallow, and almost always written without much thought. Either share something that sound like you used your brain, or just go away. Having to see you remarks is a waste of time.

The comment lifeafter made is exactly why a lot of people don't have any sympathy for some of the GM workers. Most people that have been laid off / fired are in the unemployment line, signing up for school or at least worried about it. However, because of the silver spoon they are continually fed even after they leave this is the attitude some of them have. Yes, I guess I'm jealous. I wish I could lay around a pool for the rest of the summer and get paid for it.
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Those of who that are standing up for the GM worker should really think about the comment that lifeafter made. What will you be doing this summer?

SNARLEY: YA you got my goat!! To WISH ILL for people,you DO know what they SAY. But then again you aint that smart,i think! People like you are just wanna bbbbbb's,but G.M. didn't want you,if you were nicer you might be invited to set by the pool with :lifeafter: YA!! JUST GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HA HA NOTE YOU MUST BE A PLANT RAT.

Snarly - go away. Go work hard at whatever you do, ignore the pain of GM and GM supplier families, and just go away and be happy.
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You are not much of a writer, certainly not a motivational speaker, so just go away.

enjoy the pool hope you have a good summer laying around doing nothing

I dont hear anyone complaining. Thursday is my last day, then its by the pool the rest of the summer!

Her it come's the big shutdown and all the people will start to complain on the blogs of how they got laid off, Welcome to the real world folk's. every one start to look for a job ASAP. And you think that the group of people going to talk to GM will get their jobs back I don't think so.

Not gonna make it to 2010...not gonna see 2009...sad, really really sad.

OUCH!!