I cannot believe all the opposition to helping out our automakers. Where is the pride in American companies and the American work ethic? If GM,Ford and Chrysler are forced into bankruptcy,we will see several things happen.
1-The assets of these companies will be bought up by foreign companies, just like what has happened in the steel industry.
2-As a result of the bankruptcy, retirees and their widows will lose benefits they spent their entire lives working for.
3-The UAW will lose members and power. Unions have always battled to level the playing field between workers and huge corporate interests. Is there anyone besides the rich who think destroying unions will result in any positive changes in this country?

i think the problem is nobody trusts them to keep the business running with or without the bailout. i mean, they came to washington saying they needed 30 billion just to stay operational through january? what is supposed to change feb 1 that wont require another 40 billion to make it through march? etc...

the big three are running into troubles for numerous reasons. but relying to heavilly on suv sales and cars that nobody wants are the biggest reasons. and until they show a willingness to change their business model on their own. i dont think anyone is willing to trust the government to force them to do it either.

you know, mike brings up a good point. steel wasnt bailed out and look what happenned to them! yeah most of the old companies are gone now and forign owned. but the industry is much stronger for it and the surviving employees have done very well there.

its a shame that so many people are being hurt by the economy now. but we have to remember the blessings we have had from that same economy for going on 14 years before the recent recession.

the lesson we all need to learn is to take the good times in stride, and use them to save for the bad times, rather then to insatiably consume as we americans are want to do.

besides, it wasnt that long ago when the government saved chrysler. yeah they had a few better years after that...but whatever happenned to them? (germans bought them)

and if we do bailout yet another industry, where do we draw the line? whats next? airlines (again) insurance companies (you thought the bank bailout was expensive?)?

the one thing, that i think is unforgivable. yes the pensions are way out of whack and must be reduced in the future. but for those that are already retired. thier pensions need to be 100% backed up by the government. it is not right to take away money that was already earned with years of employement by our current crop of retired citizens.

if your kid keeps screwing up and getting himself arrested, eventually a parent (most parents) is going to decide to quit bailing them out. i mean why would the kid change if there are never any real repercussions, or is no apparent danger of any real repercussions? i dont believe we can expect anything better from corporate america, until we demand better from corporate america.

i dont want to sound anti carmaker here, because im not. but im morally opposed to assisted suicide. and to me this is simply the corporate version of it.

Oracle its the pensions that are killing the big 3

no one disputes that.

But keep this in mind, the airlines, and steel mills shed their pensions real quick with bankruptcy.

I keep hearing that bankruptcy is bad, but if it is so bad, how come the airlines and steel mills are still in business? And they had the same issues with legacy costs that the big 3 have now

give me a 2% rate and I will be more likely to buy new a new car. Keep it at 5 or 6 % and I will wait and buy used, short term. they are killing themselves with the crying for handouts!

Come to think of it is anybody today actually in the market for a new car or truck that costs over $25k? That explains why the automakers are really suffering.