Comments on: Good news: Obama pushes for auto bailout plan; Dubya going along with it

By: Scholar in Training

Scholar in Training — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:36:37 +0000

What is problematic? The situation is problematic for sure. Normally I’m not a fan of protectionist measures, but given the costs of inaction I’m not entirely convinced that it isn’t the best move at this point. This country is caught between a rock and a hard place currently; there are no good options.

By: Yankees Fan

Yankees Fan — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:35:10 +0000

But at least you admit this is very problematic, scholar?

By: Scholar in Training

Scholar in Training — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:31:25 +0000

Here’s the problem, Instinct. It’s not just cars. It’s a lot of industries. The whole manufacturing base in this country is in trouble. You can say let them all fail, but if that happens then there goes our economic superpower status. We’re gonna be in some serious trouble if all manufacturing goes away.

A certain level of protectionism is called for here. The question is how little we can get away with.

By: Instinct

Instinct — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:28:05 +0000

No, they shouldn’t be bailed out for dragging their feet in developing fuel efficient cars and turning a blind eye to hydrogen celled vehicles. Honda has rolled out a hydrogen vehicle here in California and they did it all on their own. How many times has GM received a bailout from the government?

GM right now is one of the most bloated examples of union greed, corporate dysfunction and all around bad leadership, and the only way to make it worse would be to have an Auto Czar and a bailout for them.

Maybe they need to crash, pick themselves up from the wreckage of their own failed policies, union contracts and bad ideas and start over. Will it hurt? Sure, but not as bad as it will when the government gets done ‘helping’

By: Yankees Fan

Yankees Fan — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:59:45 +0000

How much is this bailout going to entail, because GM just reported that they are in debt by something like $11 billion a week…or something like that. Sounds like it would be a hell of a lot to contribute to an auto industry that makes vehicles that no one wants to buy.