Now I am from this area (Chicago and have relatives in Indiana and Michigan) and this issue cause me great pain. Not only what it would do to the states in the Mid West, but the ripple effect that will be seen across the country. But when the Execs. show up to ask for money in private jets, my pain lessens. I know it's not the workers fault, but their leadership is faulty and corrupt. So I am comfortable with the failure, because I believe it will bring a restructure and new attitude that is far over due.

Who built our tanks and planes in WWII. We need this industry in more ways than one!!!

If tax payer money is used for the intended purpose of making fuel efficient cars go for it, if it is to support the lavish life styles of the CEOs and the top executives of the automakers no bail out.

Folks, a bailout won't solve the problem of people not buying cars. It will be 2 to 3 years before anyone wants to buy cars again. The U.S. Taxpayer should not be bailing out anybody. It's called capitalism.... The bad companies fail the good ones succeed. The U.S. Automotive industry died years ago.

so 25 billion now, GM spends 79 mill a day, how long will this help them? 10 days? This will not save this industry, it is simply going to prolong the inevitable, let them go. The flew to the hearings in private jets, they demand 25 billion, and have no plan, they refuse to consider bankruptcy because then the execs and UAW have to face reality. Don't believe that the Unions are a problem? look at the teachers union, no wonder the kids are so damn dumb, never in school and teachers have no accountability. How about the airlines, another industry that wont face reality, and another parasite (union) that would rather kill its host than compromise. Teamsters, you drive a damn truck, if you don't like it, finish middle school and get a real job. I am sick an tired of paying for people to do nothing, the auto industry has spit in the face of consumers, government and taxpayers for to long. they refused to change and even now facing certain bankruptcy, they are arrogant, and defiant. So long.

What everyone fails to realized it that if these companies go down, our economy is really in the toliet. There will be so many jobs lost not just with the car companies but those that they buy parts to make the cars. There are too many people that will be devastated by this. I know that things need to change starting with the heads of the big 3, but it is not the fault of the auto worker who is a member of the UAW that our economy is in the shape it is in. What the auto worker makes doesn't even begin to match what the CEO's of the big 3 make. The CEOs need to take a pay cut, stop the private jets, and see what other executives can reduce their salaries and see how much that will cover. Then come back and tell us how much money they really need. I bet if they even attempted one or all of these things they wouldn't need one penny.

I belive that the auto industry should fall on it's but an not be bail out by the people of america. They should go back to the basics of making cars & trucks an suvs so we can save money on repairs. With the cars of to day it requires a specialist to work on them an they to are chargeing to much for that. So I don't want the big 3 to be bail out

That's the problem gjkotw01...they are using the "fuel efficient car" ruse to fool America....they don't need it for R&D...they've been pouring funds into R&D for years and still don't have a fuel efficient car. They want it so they don't have to change their lifestyles. Once again...thank you UAW....they, plus the executives are the ones that got these companies in this mess. If they are so concerned about saving the lowly employees jobs, and they should be, then the UAW and the execs need to look inward, instead of to the American public's tax dollars.

One other thought, lock car prices at market value and give everyone who buys a new car a $10,000 tax credit. It better than giving billions directly to the auto industry. It will stimulate sales..... I don't see the goverment bailing me out of all the losses to my retirement account, don't expect too either.

I would fire the CEOs of the big three.Sell their private jets do not give them any severents pay.Then I would make the employees get rid of the unions make them put money in their retirement programs then I would give them bailout money.

Allowing the automakers to go down will be the biggest mistake the United States will make but at the same time the CEO's should all go. They are a utter disgrace. Also, dont tell me we can afford to spend ten billion dollars a month in Iraq to fight an endless war but we cant afford to spend 25 billion dollars on the Big three. My only problem is that they do not have a blue-print to get themselves out of this mess and they should before any money is released. Otherwise, they would be back in three months and we may all be trying to prevent the inevitable.

Oh, and just for the record...after retiring from the Navy, my father worked for GM long enough that he draws a pension from them as well. I spent half my "growing up" years living off the auto industry pay. I also spent half my "growing up" years being threatened by union workers when strikes came into play because my father happened to be a supervisor. Ever had to have a police escort because your father was simply a low-level supervisor in a plant? It will give you cause to hate the unions, trust me. My first husband worked in a union bakery. I almost ran over an idiot blocking my path out of the plant during a strike. I had to take my husband to work across the line and take the truck home so it wouldn't get damaged. Ever have a bat waved at your head by an angry mob just because your husband was still in his 90-day probationary period and had to work or lose his job? That will give you cause to hate unions.

I can understand the attitudes of those who aren't closely connected with the auto industry. However, I am a white collar worker w/one of the Big 3. I barely make $60k and have to support my family since my husband is self-employed and there is no work in Michigan. I have no union protection, we will lose our home that we've lived in for 20 years. We have never lived beyond our means but when your "means" are cut by 2/3 it gets really hard to live period. I am very upset at our CEO and am angry at the way all 3 are acting ... they don't give a hoot about us. Please remember, not all employees of the BIG 3 are UAW and not all of us make big bucks ... I just want to be able to pay my bills and feed my family.

OfficeDrone: I do feel for you. I hate anyone having to deal with this kind of situation. You and your fellow workers have been sadly treated by the execs. However, I still cannot think that this $25 billion would be anything but putting off the inevitable. As someone said, it would take less than a month for them to go through it and come back for more.

Right now, I'm thankful I have a job and that I work in a small office and that we are at bare-minimum staffing right now. For the time being my job is safe. However, there are several hundred in my area who worked for manufacturing places that have closed their doors.

God bless you and yours. I hope you can make it through this.

No Bailout....Chap 11...restructure & re-negotiate the labor agreements....

Before ANY other money is handed to the auto makers AFTER chap 11...Use some this money they are yacking about to fulfill the pension obligations that retirees are due!

THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!!!!

Scott says: "good luck getting parts for your cars if they go under."

One person here is "thinking". Scott is correct...if anyone of the big 3 goes under, that will effect the suppliers of all their 'pieces parts'. If the suppliers go down....and your vehicle goes down....where do you get the parts to fix it....especially if only that one supplier makes that part.

we need to e-mail our Senators and Congress. Blogging on here venting our anger is not going to help. I have already e-mailed my Senator Diane Feinstein and Nancy Pelosi. I told both of them if they approve this bailout without fighting to extend unemployment benefits or sending out another stimulus check especially for the holidays, I will use my power to vote them both out in 2010. I am sick of everyone coming for our tax payer money and not using it for us the tax payers is just simply beyond common sense.

WHY NOT MAKE OIL COMPANIES BAIL OUT 3 CAR COMPANIES---THE CAR COMPANIES HELP SALE THE OVER PRICED GAS WITH THE OVERSIZE CARS.....OIL COMPANIES HAVE THE FUNDS---I KNOW I AM BROKE-I NEVER GOT A INVITE FROM AIG--BAILOUT FAILOUT-EACH AMERICAN COULD HAVE HAD $250.OOO DOLLARS---GOV COULD HAVE TAXED IT THE REST OF THE MONEY COULD HELP BUILD UP THIS PROBLEM----OH WELL FATCATS HAVE WON AGAIN......IN GOD WE TRUST ON THE BACK OF OUR MONEY---ROOT OF ALL EVIL IS WHAT THE FATCATS ARE DOING---ROBBING FROM THE POOR GIVING TO THE RICH--OH WELL---GOOD LUCK TO US ALL AS WE WATCH THIS COUNTRY FALL...........

That answer is simple. AMERICAN INGENUITY, salvage yards and people like me who know how to get things done. I have watched as the government has regulated, taxed and made every conceivable effort to prevent me from doing what I do. I fix vehicles. I know other (mostly) men who do the same thing. You may not always like me, but I didn't make it. I did not derive one moment’s pleasure from operating it. But once it breaks you act like I should just fix it for free. I will never be without a job. You, however, will always be at my mercy. Play nice!

Just shows how stupid you people are. Yes its true the union situation is out of hand but there are laws that prohibit companies from busting unions.GM,Ford are global companies they do business in other countries not the ones we protect with OUR military though. How much has Korea given us and how many American Autos have they bought. How about Japan? If it were not for OUR military, who would protect them. How many American cars have they bought. Toyota pays Mexican workers just over two dollars an hour Now tell me how do you compete with that. China allows us only to be partners with them in the Automotive Industry, no such restrictions apply to them here.I think the union sucks and yes all three need to close dealerships but there are state laws that prohibit that.Easy for you to point fingers at companies that are trying to do the right thing but when they do everyone says "Your closing plants, your Bad" Michale Moore's Roger and Me vilified GM for closing plants. You want to be mad, be mad at the unions and the government regulations regarding them.These companies are trying to lower cost and have been doing so. I want American Automakers to be the best in the world and with products like Chevy's volt they will be. GM leads all manufactures in Hydrogen vehicles but where is the infrastructure? Did anyone get forced to buy an SUV or truck? Chevy has more vehicles than ANY manufacture that gets thirty miles per gallon or better. When GM built fuel efficient cars no one bought them and they were built with Toyota,Suzuki and Isuzu as a partner. You still didn't buy them. I guess you people would like America to take a back seat to all other countries in manufacturing. Tell me one thing Americans make that is the World Standard.You need to take a look at what the Automotive Industry has in its pipeline. The pre orders for the new Camaro are through the roof. Try to get in line for a Volt,GM has said it will build all they can to fulfill orders.Tell me what the hell any Asian manufacture has made that can be called classic. NOTHING. They have built plants in the south and mid west, pay a fare wage,no pension,limited health care benefits but if it were not for the pay that union auto makers make it wouldn't be anywhere near what it is. We are well on our way to becoming the next slave labor rate country. If your kids don't or can't afford a college education where are they going to work.I know,Honda for nine dollars an hour with no retirement and no social security left for them.They will live at home until you die and the reverse mortgage you took out kicks them out on the street.I am ashamed to be an American. We bailed out white collar workers but we can't help out the working class. Is that what you guys are saying. This is a loan not a give me.If I remember Chrysler paid back its loan in record time and the tax payers made a profit.I wished bankruptcy was an option but others not the Union Workers would be the ones most hurt.The suppliers,The small manufacturers, you people don't care about them? The union is the problem but you have to realize the companies have their hands tied by our own government when it comes to these contracts. Just look at what the UNIONS cost, there's the answer.Gettofinger hates GM with a passion and has said as much in the past. The new contracts with GM that take effect in 2010 cut the Union to the bone. Getto hasn't forgotten. When was the last time any of you went into a drove an America car at a dealership. I know the new Malibu is as good or better than anything from Asia. The new Cadillac's are fantastic. Chryslers products since the Daimler debacle are wonderful and Ford is doing all the right things since their new CEO came on board. I thought it was funny that the senators jumped on the CEOs for flying in the companies planes but I know for a fact these same guys will borrow those same planes to go on junkets. Bill Clinton,the Bushes ,Obama and most all of our politicians have flown private jets to many functions. I agree it was pretty stupid of them to do so.But I also know it didn't cost twenty thousand dollars to do so as reported. And no I don't work for any automotive company, I just have enough common since to realize two to three million people out of work would send us into a depression we haven't seen since the great one! Wake up! Bankruptcy guess who gets to foot the bill for that one. WE DO!