Nightline's Daily Line

I think we should let them file chapter 11. Then give them the loans only if they can come up with a plan that will work

Yes, the government should bail out the big three auto makers. What is the difference between them and the banks. All have miss-used money, why did they have to come back with a plan. The same people who ran the banking industry into the ground are getting money with no reporting mechanism I am tired of all the politics All of these industries play important roles in our economy. I think all of the need more regulation. All de-regulation has gotten us is higher prices and a contract for everything you subscribe too. I personally am sick of 2 year contracts for everything from phones to electricity.

ABSOLUTLEY, MILLIONS OF JOBS ARE AT STAKE, NOT JUST THE BIG THREE. HOW SHORT OUR MEMORIES ARE, WITHOUT THE BIG THREE WE COULD NOT HAVE WON THE WWII. NOW WE WIN THE WAR AND LOSE OUR JOBS TO THE AXIS.

If my company does fails the government will NOT bail me out.
However, the auto industry is a key factor in our defense system, so yes, we have to bail them out, however, fat shpuld be cut ASAP and driving to Washington is NOT enough it is just a jester.
The strings should be ropes and if they are not then we have only ourselves to blame, we elected the officials that are going to give them the money. If the auto industry goes the way of the steel and coal industry we have made a mistake, if not congrats.
No one should be paid if they do a marginal job, a company cannot pay salary and benifits that are not competative with other industries.

If Bush and our Congress can give away the store to sleazy financial corps like Citi Group and AIG, that are absolutely devoid of ethical business practices, why can't LOANS be offered to our own auto industry?

Please try to keep some semblance of good manufacturing jobs alive in the USA. All foreign car makers, and especially the Japanese and Koreans, are subsidized by thier governments, so it is neither free trade nor a level playing field. Wake up America!

Why bail them out? They have done nothing since their "bail out" President Clinton signed off during his tenure - to develop alternative fuel vehicles (now allowing Toyota and Honda to lead the way!), indeed, they would be more competitive after claiming bankruptcy reducing the power of the union who have essentially tied the hands of any development of a cost competitive car. shame on the unions for allowing this to happen, and now you ask for help. Its all about greed for the lazy.

YES. We need to buy AMERICAN...

We should absolutely not bail out the big three automakers. They need to merge and/or work something out among themselves and those corrupt unions or face the bankruptcy courts.

Yes, suppliers and dealers may end up getting hurt but the answer is not a government bandaid. How else will our Country learn?

A bailout is taking my money and giving it to a failed industry. My father taught me personal responsibility and accountability and I've failed and suffered the consequences at times. This should not be any different.

Give them the money.

It's crazy, let them file Bankruptcy, like all of us would have to do. If we did'nt engage with so much imports, this country would survive. This is AMERICA an independant nation what did we allow to be done to us?? Basically import infiltration (R A P E )! And on and on and terrorist etc. We need to stabilize our countries backbone, while we still have a country!

I feel they need to go into chapter 11 or bankrupt or reorganize. They have been in bad shape for a long time because of management. The government should not loan them the money. Make these people responsible for their actions. If the people have a business is the government going to baiil us all out. We have to stop this kind of crazy thinking and get back to people having consequences for their actions. NO NO NO

The Federal Government should definitely give the American Auto Industry the Bridge Loan they are requesting. The alternative would be much more costly and devastating,not to mention the impact it could have on our national security. Who does the american people think made our planes,jeeps,tanks,machine guns and other military equipment during the two world wars and Korean war? Most of the manufacturing was done by the Domestic Big Three.

Not No, but HELL NO. Let them declare bankruptcy and reorganize their businesses. Break the unions, which is one of the main reasons they are in trouble now.

I don't think we should bail them out. Maybe if all American citizen's were given money to buy a new car and also to pay off there mortgages it would help the banks and the Big 3. Just a thought. It might change things about the government bailing everyone out.

NO!!! I'm sure with all the money they have already made they can find enough money to stay in business just like any small company that can qualify for bailout money. What do CEO's do to qualify them to recieve 21 million dollars a year. These companies saw what was coming 5 or 10 years ago.

HELLO I HOPE YOU DO READ THIS I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE GOVERNMENT NEED TO GIVE THE WORKING MAN AND LADY'S A BELLOUT SO WE CAN PAY OFF THE HOUSE THE CAR AND CRIDIT CARD BILL AND SAY TO HELL WITH YOU CEO'S THERE'S NOWAY NOBODY IS GOING TO WORK FOR A DOLLAR. AND THE GOV. THINK HE WILL HE'S A DAM FOOL TO. TANK'S

yes i think we should give them the money,after all its a loan that they will pay back!

I think we should let them bail themselves out as much as they can. Starting by selling the private jets. Helping someone one that is not trying to help themselves is just crazy.

I have dejavu...a majority of Americans said NO to $700B for the financial industry. Congress listened, they handed out over $800B. Americans said NO to $25B for Detroit and the Big Three respond by asking for $34B. Either we are fools or Congress is taking us as ones.

I can support assistance to these three companies, but only if their respective business plans demonstrate long term competitiveness and viability. My concern is that our congress are looking for somewhat weak excuses to lend the money.
As a small business Healthcare CEO, I offer our congress three questions that need to be answered in order to insure viability.
1. Are the new products competitive, both domestically and globally? I would be the first person to drive an American car if it is priced competitively and satisfies my person desires. I have owned Honda Accords ever since my Escort electrical system went bad at 51,000 miles and it was not repairable by the dealer that sold me the car. It’s not just about electric cars.
2. Are there plans to insure the products will be built with quality and long term durability in mind? I believe Chrysler “gets” this message. GM and Ford, remains to be proven. However, I will say this. At the heart of the American auto industries lack of leadership in quality is the lack of adoption of bottom up management. Toyota is tops for one main reason, their adoption of Lean Principles. Without true bottom up quality, our auto industry will continue to fail in this effort.
3. Are there mechanisms for truly lowering operating costs and making the hard decisions related to all personnel? The expectation of plant closers are fixed cost reductions. They do not impact marginal costs, which is the American auto industry’s greatest problem. The real crux of the problem has been flashed in front of us for many weeks. The average UAW worker is compensated $73/hr, or $151,840 per year, as opposed to $48/hr by our more competitive foreign owned domestic plans. The UAW pay for the average plant worker is $20,000 less than what the average Family Practitioner makes. It is almost what a congressman makes. This is absurd. The health benefits to retirees are another area. Until there is a way to lower the marginal cost, the industry is destined to fail.
Today, I heard Congresswoman Pelosi say that “Bankruptcy is not an option”. If they approve these packages without attending to all three of these requirements, Bankruptcy is inevitable. Please be responsible with our money. If these companies can cut it, lend the money. If they can’t, let one or more go bankrupt and see how this company emerges.

Should the auto executives be successful in securing the $25Billion in corporate welfare, then all three CEO's should be fired for incompetence. If they can't make the tough decisions to make their companies profitable, then find the leaders that will. Although the corporate jets and the pay compensation is ridiculous, those are just a small part of the sickness the companies have. These companies should be required to enter into bankruptcy, work through their problems and come out ready for the 21st century and beyond.

no i dont want the gov't to hand out any more money. where does it end? i mean we the tax payers are not being helped at all by any of this so called bailout as stated in a video clip on this website earlier today. i think they said that less than 5% is actually going to the taxpayer, so it really isn't helping us at all. And as far as the ceo's taking $1 salary. Well that's just a meaningless statement. They are already millionarie's anyway. so for them to even say something like dat is a slap in the face of all struggling middle and lower class hard working americans.

The auto industry want to make no concessions the first time that they went to congress begging for money. Now they have a small taste of reality and have made some very minor concessions. With the $1.00 per year salary, they probably keep their entire benefits package. They do not deserve any help. It is because of these beggers and the unions that the auto industry is in the condition that it is in now. If congress weakens to the point of granting these mishandlers of money a loan, the CEOs of all three auto makers should be fired. In their place should be a congressional appointed oversite committee. This committee should have the responsibility and the power to close the industry for any mishandling of the loaned funds. All luxury items owned by the industry (aircraft, clubs spas memberships and the like) should be sold/canceled. All auto related unions should be dissolved to allow the price of automobiles to normalize. If they do not like it, too bad. These are the only conditions that money should be lent to this industry.

To me it is like throwing good money after bad. Why reward those that have mismanaged their finaces and lost their shirts. They should have to deal like the rest of us. If the people of this great country thought the easy gravey train was going to last for ever...then I guess we were only fooling our selves. Other great governmental organization that have gone before us have topled and fallen from worldy grace over the centuries because of similar mismanagements. What gave us the false impression that we would not have our demise? Being the smartest and at one time the wealthiest country...why could we not lear from the errors of the past?
I had had my say ...none of them..auto companies or any other mimanaged groupes would get rescued..and their leaders should use their own personal funds to bail out their enterprises...even if it means selling the family home and cars to do it.

I think that we should give them the bailout money, now that they have a definitive plan. Many, many other businesses will fail if we don't, and many more people, other than auto workers across the country will be out of work if they fold. Why bailout the wealthy criminals on Wall Street that don't produce anything in our society,
when they're the ones that caused the problems for the auto industry, as well as the prospective consumers of same?!

No more bailouts! Chrysler was bailed out once before and did not learn a lesson. So NO. Let them file chapter 11 and reorganize and do away with the high cost of doing business. No one bailed me out when I had to shut down all three of my companies. Sell a product that's reasonable and fuel efficient you are going to have to compete with Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, and Subaru.

In the intrest of avoiding lay offs, give the Big 3 the bail out, but with limits and conditions. Tax payers shouldn't have their money going to pay over inflated executive salaries and perks such as private jets, etc.

This infuriates me!!! Let's just take this into consideration: While Ford Motor Co. may be losing money in their North America Division, this is not the case in their European Division, South America nor Canada!! So you mean to tell me that they actually want a "bailout" (which is exactly what it is), from a country they BAILED ON?! They gave away U.S. jobs to other counties!! They bailed out on American Auto Workers!! Return the jobs and then we'll think about it!! Where is John Stossell!?!?!?!?!? GIVE ME A BREAK!

I don't think we should bail out anyone but since the government has set a precedence by bailing out banks and financial institutions that made extremely poor business decisions and basically started this whole mess, why shouldn't we bail out auto makers that have been US companies for generations? The big 3 auto makers have multiple types of cars to meet almost any requirement and are of good quality. It's really a shame that more of the US population don't feel the importance of supporting US companies rather than buying so many products made in Japan and China. (This statement isn't just about cars. We really have to look ahead and see how much of our hard-earned money is going out of our country.)

Why pay for the guys drinking Champagne and eating Lobster? Staying in million dollar homes, and retiring on million dollar incomes. Make them sell their homes, and settle on smaller incomes. They need to live like the people who they are robbing. I'm tired of bailing out rich people. I have trouble buying medicine and taking care of myself. I am old and sick. I need help; but no one pays my bills. But the richer you are; the more the government wants to help them out. Why? Rich people spend money on wine, paintings, and entertainment. They have money to burn while the poor does well to eat and keep a roof over his head. Why should the poor keep the rich rolling when they mess up. Let them live like I do, without a pension or luxuries.

So, we have an industry which has, throughout it's history, sought to sabotage public transportation, persisted in designing and offering nothing but over-weight inefficient vehicles, systematically destroyed any company which offered competition, and generally lagged behind the world in innovation asking for OUR money because they can no longer sell what they want to sell.
LET THEM DIE!
I understand the consequences of jobs lost and security destroyed, but it is the only way Americans will gain the initiative to change a fundamentally corrupt economic system.

The time for accountablity from the big three auto manufacturers is overdue. A loan or bailout will not change the poor behavior of its executives and frankly the unions as well. I am sure that if they fail, new innovation with be the result. And frankly, while I am glad to hear the CEOs are driving hybrids to Washington instead of traveling in their private jets, they missed the boat again. Car pooling or taking mass transit would be the most appropriate. Take the buck cut and figure a way out without having the American taxpayer bail you out.

I think the way to help the big 3 would be to give any american who wants to buy one of the big 3 cars, $10,000 to put towards a new car or truck. This money would have than have to be used when it gets to Detroit to develop more fuel efficient cars. This way the cars sitting in the lots would move, the economy would be helped. They would still get the money but the US public would also benefit by being able to afford a new car, alot of people could afford a car with the help of 10,000 towards it.

when toyota was designing the prius, G.M. was designing the HUMMER. With forsight like that, let them file for bankrupcy.The U.A.W must be put in it's place.

No! Pirvate industry should be responsible with it's business. Ae they going to bail out every business that is failing? Let me get in on that pork!

Give them the money to save the jobs of the workers so that they don't suffer from this, but, also, include about $500,000.00 for me as well, since I too am in need of a bail out. Is that all I have to do is draw up a proposal to why I need the money? The rich stay rich and the poor get to watch like always.

DO NOT BAIL OUT THE AUTO INDUSTRY!!!

Any other business would be left to go out of business or sell. Let their value get reduced so someone else can buy them as an investment. If no one else wants to buy then we’ll buy, and then we are the shareholders. And the first thing anyone who purchased a failing co would do is fire the CEO’s that tanked the business. How do they have the absolute audacity to fly to a meeting for 20,000 and lay off a worker in the seem week? They have the nerve to say they have to be at a meeting. NO YOU DON’T. There is no meeting, you tanked the company and you should be FIRED for doing so. If I fail to do my job I will get fired. What make that person, the one that jeopardized others jobs and our environment above consequence??? We are considering protecting that person because?????????????????

In addition, it was their very own greed that got them and the shareholders and employees into that mess. Had they been focused on what people really need – green transportation – and not on lining there pockets by pushing people to buy hummers and SUV’s those businesses would be doing absolutely fine.

LET ‘EM TANK! WE NEED GREEN CARS!

Where are the shareholders and board members? Why are they not holding them responsible? Their stocks are in the toilet because of these guys and they are not demanding they get out??? why????

The guy making millions a year showing up in DC with his jet is equivalent to him landing on my street and asking for a couple hundred dollars. The value of his jet alone exceeds my net worth!!! Let him work the jobs he is cutting!!!

And the BS about the workers who’ll be out of a job – that’s what we have an unemployment system is place for!! They had security for a while. Things change! Adapt like the rest of us! Your lack of planning for a future shouldn’t come out of my pocket. I’m happy to help out in tough times: our tax money is already funding unemployment benefits.

When those CEO’s want to sell there jets, move into a ranch house, and take the subway – then we can talk about a LOAN FOR GREEN CAR MANUFACTURING.

NO – you cannot squander my hard earned money. When I have to worry whether or not I will have a house when I retire, no these greed whores cannot have my shelter!!!!!!! For congress to even consider something so preposterous is evidence that they have way too much muany and need to refund the taxpayers!!!!!!!!!!

leo I like your idea, too.

I will turn 60 this month and have worked as an airline agent for 20 years...I earn $20.00 per hour as opposed to auto workers who average $74.00 per hour. The ceo's of these auto giants have had the technology for decades to build energy efficient cars and instead have suppressed knowledge for greed. Why should my tax dollars bail them out? And why should we believe they would honestly use that money...the banks and wall street haven't.

ABSOLUTELY NOT! I don't totally agree with what the government did with the banks either. If all the small Mom and Pop buinesses went crying to the government to be bailed out because they overspent and didn't keep within their budget would the government bale them out? NO. These companies need to start at the top and began cleaning house with the ones that live very high off the hog rather than take it out on the blue collar employees who actual are making the cars, etc.

If the financial institutions are important enough to save the 3 or 4 million jobs supporting millions more
family members is important enough to give a loan to. It will be much more devestating to this country than not helping or loaning money to the automotive industry that has been the backbone of the middle class for generations.

NO! What happened to "Free Markets"? Besides, NOT ALL three will go under. Ford will most likely make it, Chrysler will go into bankruptsy-reorganize and come out of it, GM will be lost, DUE TO TOTAL MISMANAGEMENT! A Government handout won't make me or my neighbors buy a car from a dealer. A decent, fuel efficient vehicle at a fair price will...and the carmaker who hasn't learned that yet won't learn it in the future. As far as job losses, The numbers have been pumped up, dramatically, by the carmakers. Other statiscal reports show a much lower number. Ford wouldn't even be in Washington except for the fact that they figure if the other two dealers are gonna "get theirs", so should they. As far as job loss...an enormous infrastructure stimulus package will open a lot of USEFUL positions for many of the laid off GM Workers. Instead of wasting checks to the public like Bush did - so we could all go buy FOREIGN goods, investing in infrastructure will provide not only the much needed repairs to roads, buildings, etc...but also a couple million jobs...via the infrastructure rebuilding as well as contracts to LOCAL lumber yards, concrete providers, engineers, etc...
True, GM might go under, Chrysler will probably go into reorganization and have to renew their contract with UAW (which means no more "perks" like the job banks, which pay laid off workers 95% of their pay for two years at a time!), and Ford will survive, and learn from this no doubt. Bailing out the banks with no limitations was a Massive Mistake, doing the same for the Carmakers would be Dejavu. I like Obama, voted for him, but worry that he may feel the need to support the carmakers because of the Union Support in the election (I'm also a union member). The truth is, he may "owe" the unions, but he owes the country as a whole a much bigger debt. Let the markets take their course with the Carmakers, because they aren't going to change their ways when my hard earned tax dollars are handed to them. The carmakers that do survive will realize that they HAVE to run their business efficiently in the future, with gas efficient vehicles, fair (not outrageous) wages, etc... Then, work Hard and Quickly on the Government Stimulus package, which will fix our Own infrastructures (instead of just foreigh ones!), provided jobs and income to American Workers! NO on any bailout!

yes,the Big 3 are the backbone of America. Why are they being targeted so heavily when the banks can have anything they want with no problems. Frankly I feel a super incentive for the Big 3 would be for the Government to help bail them out by gifting American's based on their incomes with a set amount to go select a new car with a ceiling of course. This would get the Big 3 moving again and put people back to work along with getting their Bailout. Helping each other out always works!

the reason u.s. auto makers are in trouble is because of the unions. you can't pay unskilled labor $30 an hour and make money competing against the non-unionized foreign makers who are flocking to the u.s. sucessfully. The labor unions are a thing of u.s. history, beneficial in their day, but so outdated in today's world and economy. NO for the bail out! let it run its course and we'll go from there.

No, do not bail them out! These big-wigs need to work for several years at the salary of one dollar per year. Give back what they have taken from their companies.

yes i think we should an i think they should help us out buy dropping there prices on there cars an trucks and to give the people a second chance at owning a new car5 are truck and the big 3 CEO'S should cut there salarys and put the money back in to there companys but they really need us to bail them out and if we do i think they should return the favor and help the people out

AMERICA IS NOT THE LAND OF THE FREE!

NO! NO! & NO! No bail out for them! Give the American people the money so no one is homeless and has health care. All people deservce to be free all over the world. Then no one will need a bail out.

Jesus Christ! When will our government wake up? Does anyone care that the American People are suffering here? Who the hell can afford to buy a car anymore? Maybe a horse and buggy.

Everyone I know, including my husband and myself, can't pay our bills as it is. None of us got a pay raise when gas prices went up so most Americans are behind on bills and struggling to keep their homes.

Wake up and take care of those who put you in office and those who pay your outrageous salaries. Those guys in Washington should have to live on what we live on each month. They couldn't!

The only bail out there should be is to bail out the American people! Big business needs to get real with what is happening in the world.

My business is failing due to the poor economy - where is my bail out?? I don't think one is coming - and even if it was - I wouldn't want it. I was raised to take my lumps - I am responsible for the shape my finances are in and I will need to WORK my way back or find something else to do. These companies don't share when they are making money, but they are sure looking for hand outs when they have overspent. They need classes in how to make due with what we have and how to develop a budget.

The Big Three should have re-tooled a long time ago. When we can’t balance our own check books we are given nasty fines. If we can’t catch up we have to file Bankruptcy. Then, we as the self employed, try to figure out how to pay for our health insurance, liability insurance,workmans compensation and the list goes on and on. Why are we continually bailing out Million Aires and Billion Aires? For the Auto industry executives, they should have to go to the back room and wait for our financial manager to discuss what kind of payment they would like to make. Of course we will sell them that extended warranty package for a few extra payments!

Dear Nightline, My opinion is that all of the automoile industry that is in financial trouble need too much money. Even with projection of future sales, these projectons are just that projections. I believe that all of these many entities with their handout which includes the wallstreet bunch Fannies Mae, Freddy Mac, Lehman and AIG should all be forced into chapter 11 bankruptcy. Free infusions of our tax dollars at this time would not be wise. Restruction of these companies business plan's, looking clearly at the CEO's and the rest of the upper eschalon need to reckonize the absurdity of their salaries, bonuses etc.
I will never understand how any type of bailouts should be acceptable. If there is any taxpayer going hungery and not meeting their basic needs. There needs to a system where they can earn enough money (no Handouts) they can survive. Millions of people work hard daily and make less in a week than many spend on frivolous items not needs. Of course, this is America and we should not be limited from progress, however, these bailouts are not earned nor is it helping the country overall.

I don't think that the government should just give the big three money. They should give them discount vouchers for the public, Based on the price of the car to be purchased. Example a car costing 20,000, the governmet pays 5,000 for the customer.Then the big three will pay the government back the face value of vocher sometime in the future.This plan will make it easier and more attractive for people to buy American cars, it will also make it less of a risk for the banks to loan money, and it will give the big three a chance to earn repeat buyers,which in return helps build more business for the big three in the future.Now, if they are selling garbage well, I guess that their sells will not go up due to repeat buyers, at that point the marketplace would have decided their fate.

Why does everyone equate the bailout (gift) with no strings attached the the Financial industry with the request of the Big Three for a LOAN? In 1979 when Lee Iacocca went to Washington asking for the same type of loan, the same feelings existed. Chrysler did receive a loan for about $1 billion. They paid it back 7 years early and ended up paying you and I, the US Taxpayers, over $300 million in interest.

I have worked for Nissan for 19-1/2 years in the Detroit area. I can GUARANTEE you that if ANY of the Big Three were to go under, the ripple effect on the WORLD’s auto industry will be catastrophic!
What never is reported by the main stream media is how inter-twined all of the world’s automakers are, especially through their suppliers.
All major suppliers are selling products to several different OEMs. If any one of their large customers were to go bankrupt, the suppliers will either suffer greatly or follow them into bankruptcy as well. If GM goes under, it is very possible that their major suppliers like Delphi, Lear, JCI, Visteon, Yazaki, Bosch and several others will suffer greatly and likely face the same fate. That will then cascade to the other OEMs both US based and foreign based.
States that think they are impervious to this because they don’t have Big Three companies with facilities in their states are not looking deep enough.
Tennessee has plants from Nissan and GM (Saturn)
Mississippi has Nissan and soon Toyota.
Alabama has Daimler, Honda and Hyundai/Kia.
Kentucky has Toyota, Ford, GM (Corvette).
Indiana has Subaru, Isuzu, Toyota, GM and soon Honda
South Carolina has BMW,
Texas has Toyota
California has NUMMI (a joint venture between Toyota and GM building for both).

My point here is that this is not a Michigan or Midwest issue, it is a national issue. The current estimate are that 10% of every the job in the US has some affiliation with the auto industry. That is way too many jobs to put at risk.

Michaela: What you are suggesting already exists in the form of tax breaks for purchasing hybrids. Your suggestion takes it a bit farther, though.

Multiple: A lot of people are suggesting Chapter 11 as if there is some guarantee that the companies would come out of it. Let's assume GM goes bankrupt - the idea is that using Chapter 11, they can break franchise agreements and break union contracts. There is no guarantee that this would happen and no guarantee that anyone would buy their cars. But, for the sake of argument, say they somehow manage to do it and come out of Chapter 11. This, by default, will force Ford and Chrysler into Chapter 11 so as not to be disadvantaged relative to GM.

The "Plan": Most of you don't seem to have been following the car industry other than your own private purchases. The companies have been working on reducing the cost structure for years. The last union contract brings new hires in at $14/hr instead of $28/hr and in the next few years the health care cost burden is being shifted to the unions. The $70/hr figure that is quoted comes about when factoring in retiree pension plans. If the companies go Chapter 11, guess who picks up the cost of these pension plans?

Product lines: The auto companies made products that Americans wanted. Sorry if you liberal types want us all on fart-driven mopeds or some public transit system that doesn't exist. There are real workers in this country who need pickups to get their jobs done. Ford, GM and Chrysler all have been working on new product lines over the past couple years. Guess how long it takes to design these cars? What happens if the fickle American public decides that with gas cheap again that they don't want the puny gas-savers?

History lesson: Chrysler paid back its loan ahead of schedule in the 80's. They went on to invent a whole new class of vehicle called the minivan. They started going down the chute when they were taken over by a German company.

History lesson #2: In a time of war, if we need a manufacturing sector, do you really think Toyota and Honda will step up to the plate like the Big 3 did in WW2?

Recent history: Sales figures for all auto companies are falling. Ford has been having less of a drop than Toyota. Ford still builds the best pickups (okay, the Dodge Ram isn't bad). The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid gets 5mpg better economy than the Toyota Camry hybrid even using licensed technology from Toyota.

So, whatever. It's nice to rant and ignore the facts but ultimately the banks basically got a blank check - nobody asked their CEOs for a business plan or to take $1 salaries. Farmers still get paid to not plant crops through government subsidies. And the car companies are asking for a loan that they might not use. In a 1 trillion deficit, 34 billion in loans doesn't seem like a bad bet to save millions of jobs. It might cost us more to take over the pensions of these companies if they go Chapter 11.

The billions that are in det for are sitting on the lots across America,ones I cant afford.The Government should give the money to the tax payers that put it their. Could any one comprehend how fast that would turn our economy around.

When I was a little girl growing up in Detroit (in the 1960's) there was an expression we'd frequently hear: "As goes General Motors, so goes The USA!". I haven't heard anyone say that in a really long time however, in recent months, it echoes over and over in my head and I shudder as I think "God Forbid!

Was this just a flashy statement uttered by some egotistical automotive executive, a phrase that caught on? Or did people really believe that if GM was prosperous, the entire country would also be prosperous?

I highly doubt that anyone, at that time, would have ever dreamed that GM
might one day be facing "going down the tubes" as it appears to be doing now.

I'm wondering: What is the origin of that phrase? Who wrote it or spoke it and why did they say it? When did they say it? What was going on at GM at the time that made someone come up with that statement and why? Was it meant to be a slogan?

It would be quite interesting to learn whatever your Research Department could find out on this topic. (Or is this just common knowledge that My friends and I are not aware of?)

Is there, in reality, a direct connection, a supposed trickle down, that if GM (and Ford and Chrysler [Daimler-Chrysler?"] fold that there would be a domino effect and the entire country will follow? And what part does DAIMLER play in all of this? (Things that make you want to go: hymmmm?)

I'm just wondering.

I absolutely do NOT want the auto industry "bailed out". Chapter 11 bankruptcy should be their only option. The unions who have destroyed so many of our industries by demanding more and more money and "perks", striking when management balks over the union's demands, will be decimated. The "Big 3" should merge into one and work to produce cars with renewable energy which should have been done years ago.

Before that can be done the auto industry must declare bankruptcy and begin to reinvent themselves - merging together would help them all out and they can plan on building hybrid cars when they are reorganized and have a plan in place that works.

Yes, people will lose jobs but we are ALL losing jobs in every State and city. The workers who lose jobs will be glad to come back to work and get paid $47/hr as opposed to the $87/hr they got when the union was in power so finding skilled auto workers won't be hard when the company begins to increase their output.

With the economy as bad as it is right now, we the taxpayers, the working class poor can't afford to by a used car - let alone a new car so why throw billions of dollars to the auto industry to build more Hybrids when we can't afford to buy them ? They will survive while going thru bankruptcy without any financial help from the government - let them prove that by denying them the bailout.

Bail out the taxpayers who are losing their homes to foreclosure - these are the people who really need help and aren't getting it !

This "bailout" was pushed onto us because we the taxpayers were told we would be helped with OUR economic problems. There has been no help for any taxpayer yet and I doubt there ever will be. It's rather obvious that the bailout was for the very rich -- not the working class poor.

We need a few things changed as far as how the government handles our tax dollars. We should have a say in where this bailout is going as we are paying for it - and we need the government's, Federal as well as State to have to show accountability. They should post the amount of money that they intend to spend and then post a list weekly of where the money went and how much. Strings need to be attached to any money going out to corporations and banks so the money isn't swallowed up by CEO's and other corporate crooks. The government has failed us badly in this botched up "bailout" and they neeed to admit that and begin changing how they do things now. It's a nice dream but I doubt it will ever come to fruition as crooks and corruption will continue to be around and it will be "business as usual" as soon as someone gets "bailed out" - and the working poor are not being bailed out - just the crooks.

If you bail them out, everyone better get a bail out, clothing manufacturing, shoe and grocery stores and then the farmers because people can not afford the food. Medicine needs bail out as do older persons that only have SS to live on. Let auto companies go to chap 11 and be reorganized. Let the unions go!!!

I posted on the other page that we should "bail" them out, but not as a giveaway. There are as many as three million jobs at stake, and anyone who believes the loss of three million jobs at one time won't take more with them has his head in the clouds or in the sand.

But we should never give the money away. First, the government should demand a curtailing on corporate travel, insisting that executives forego the jets regardless of what it means about their productive time. Apparently, most of these clowns haven't been doing much with their time in the last, oh, 20 years.

Second, we must insist they replace high-level executives. Did you see what GM did to the Volt? It totally emasculated the car from low-profile, mean-looking new design to same old stock, Malibu-style dreck. GM's excuse was that the design change was needed from the concept in order to get the batteries to work as promised; I say they simply took the easy way out.

Third, we must demand repayment of any bailout with interest, as we did with Chrysler in the 1980s. If we don't, the companies and the idiots who run them (hopefully soon to be "formerly ran them") may very well burn through the cash with nothing to show (i.e., business as usual in Detroit).

Who is going to bail me out? I work all week and can't meet the bills anymore since gas went up. Now that gas prices have fallen the groceries have stayed the same. Still can't afford to pay it.

People need time to rest and can't work 2 & 3 jobs. We need to have time with family, time to live life.

Our mortgage, electric and all our bills are past due! We have gotten rid of all the luxuries and still can't get ahead. Lucky to have our DSL left to post this gripe. Thank God for dry loop!

Please take care of the people and let these guys fight their own battles. When we owned our own business no one offered to bail us out. We closed the doors and got jobs ourselves.

We don't go visit the grandkids and haven't been out to eat in years and Christmas... yeah right!

Just once in our lives I wish we could afford to do it up right at Christmas and celebrate. Instead we work and work and get no where.

Don't the car manufacturers get it? We don't want the cars they have for sell!! The public need cars that are economical to drive and priced right. Personally we currently have cars that get 32 mpg 40 mpg, and a pickup that gets 13 mpg-- which stays in the garage!! We're looking for a car that will get better mileage, is economical, with the newer technology that will help the environment and not depend on foreign oil so much.

With all the good years the CEO's have had, if their salaries were in line with their workers, instead of the major bucks, the bonuses, the other perks--it's possible with effort, things could turn around!

Sell what's on the lot for less, build better and keep trying.

NO WAY! Where will this all end? After the last bailout for the financial institutions we've yet to see results that were predicted. Let the auto makers bail themselves out... they make more money than the taxpayers who will be supporting this fiasco. What is wrong with our government leaders? Let's be aware of the voting on these issues and replace those who continue to support financial irresponsibility next election! These CEO's who are driving back to Washington in hybrid's for a second request should be ashamed of themselves for even asking ONCE, let alone TWICE!!! To the auto execs: Go home, cut your salaries and perks first, then look at middle management and cut theirs, then cut the rest back and see how much you come up with. $74 an hour? You've GOT to be kidding!!

The Japaneses and German governments support their auto makers financially. The Toyota Prius was completely financed by the Japanese government. GM, Ford, and Chryler would kill to have the kind of tax incentives that Toyota and Honda have enjoyed in the USA. Toyota and Honda do NOT pay for health care and retired employee costs as do GM, Ford, and Chryler have been saddled with. If you are a Doctor or RN driving a Toyota, you have voted for nationalized health care. From reading the posts, one can assume that most of the respondents hate the big three regardless, never mind they are have been weighed down by the health care, retirement, and waged costs.

Yes the Big3 need bailed out. We the people ARE the Big3 in one way or the other. We work for them in 'some' way and we drive their vehicles.They have helped us out during war times. They have given the middle class guy a decent job that a family can be raised on. What insurance company or bank has ever done this for us? Sure maybe some things need changed like better gas mileage but the Americana's need to support 'their own'! Don't let our government bail out the crooked insurance companies and banks and turn their back on the Big3 or we will be letting them turn their backs on all of us.

I think if we are going to bail them out they need to build electric cars. They all have Hibreds but not one is propelled by electricity. With onboard charging and digital electronics, batteries would only be needed for stability and there would be no range limits. You will still need fuel to make the electricity, but for this to be successful there will need to be advances in charging systems. They need to be smaller, more efficient to fit in the vehicle and produce enough electricity to propel it which is about the same amount needed to power the average home. Magnetism produces resistance but with mechanics we can make the resistance hardly noticeable. GM should explain about the EV-1, why was it ditched? If the big three file bankruptcy that doesn't mean they are done. 25 Billion won't get them far. I think Americans are waiting on the electric cars to come out. None of the automakers can produce them soon enough. Don't we as a Americans want to lead the world again with new technologies? Do Americans want to buy into companies that are not competitive because they keep using old ideas? It is hard to say if we should bail them out? I think we should just let time run its course.

simply stated.....NO!.....they aren't, nor have they been there for me and mine. I did my 20 plus years for *Our Country* including the first gulf war. My husband did 3 tours in SE Asia, my son is "bobbing" around the Arbian Sea/Gulf area (he's in the Navy) while his wife and daughter will spend Christmas without him. and my son-in-law is in the Army and stationed in Europe with my daughter and granddaughter that I haven't seen for over a year and a half. No, I don't think they deserve to get to have another chance to "get it right", sorry.

I am 65 years old and sitting near my wood burning stove to keep warm on this cold winter night reading all these posts. How many of you know the pain of having to cut firewood to keep warm because you cannot afford another utility bill? How do you think that firewood gets transported from the woods to my home? If it wasn't for a Chevy, Ford or Chrysler pickup truck I would be cold right now. Don't you people realize that the Big3 are part of our heritage? I mean why do you think America has always been so rich in the past? You can drive your Toyota or Honda for getting from point A to point B, but try to take a family road vacation in one of them? That's a joke. Do you know how hard it was for Unions to get going in America? Do you even realize all the suffering that was part of it? Don't down the unions and don't down the Big3. Get behind them now before it's too late.

most people dont understand really want is going on why not they did say they would pay it back not a loan. they are part of us that is the u.s and my husband does work for the no.one ford

I think all three auto makers should fail, the banks should fail, and and the bail out money should all go back to the people where it came from so they can pay their bills, prevent foreclosure, save their cars and pay off debt. That way the economy will rebound from the bottom up and those that made bad decisions will have to reap what they have sewn.

So the people buying hybrids or Japenense cars that don't get any better gas mileage think that the problem with the US three is that they sell SUV's & trucks. MMMMHHH, if you think about it, SUV's and truck profits were required to pay out for the huge health care and retirement costs of the US three. So either give them a loan or pay more in taxes for nationalized health care, and medicaid.
Not sure that Toyota or Honda (the Janpenese government) would pay to have the US military anywhere in the world, let alone the golf region.

My suggestion to Congress is...instead of giving the money directly to the Big Three why not give $30,000 (give or take) to each US Citizen that drives a car that has 100,000 or more miles on it or that is more than 10 years old so that person can purchase a new car from one of the Big Three. The citizens would have a new car, the Big Three would be depleting their current inventory and could use the influx of money to retool to make more efficient autos. It's a win, win situation. The Taxpayers aren't directly bailing out the automakers w/free money.
I drive a 1994 Chevrolet Caprice with over 127,000 miles on it. Still runs great and looks great. I've been looking for a new car for 3-4 years but haven't bought one because the American cars aren't rated good and do not get good gas mileage. If I bought one, it would be a Honda or Toyota but I just can't do that because my neighbor works for Chrysler. I would feel terrible buying a foreign made auto for that reason.

While I was typing my comment, I see someone mentioned giving each American that wanted to buy a car $10,000. That would work also. Anything to help the struggling taxpayers and the auto industry at the sametime.