I'm Anti-Bailout

[Jack_Dawson]

And frankly I don't understand why so many people want to throw bad money after bad money to keep Rick Wagoner and his lear jet-flying douchebag compatriots running once-proud companies further into the ground. There are other ways around this. You can't have a "let's keep making Ford Excursions" business model that's not going to blow up in your face one day.

Dems are going to give up at least 60 seats in 2010 if they sign on to this nonsense.

[rucky]

1. It totally depends on how the money is used.

I can't believe that isn't the central topic of discussion after Paulsen's scamola.

[IsItJustMe]

2. Talk to me after the depression and tell me how you feel about it all then.

[Jack_Dawson]

3. Better sooner than later

It's clearly going to happen either way.

[IsItJustMe]

4. You may have a point there.

[Mugweed]

5. Unless I'm in a rowboat with a leak.

Then I'm totally pro-bailout.

[ArrowMan]

6. Hi Anti-Bailout. How is Uncle Easy-Money?

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. !!

:evilgrin:

[Jack_Dawson]

14. Don't go there

I've been laid off more times than most people ever will be in a lifetime. The workers have my sympathies, but $25B isn't going to fix this mess.

[jwirr]

7. I would be to if they were calling it a bailout - free money - this is a

loan and it should come with rigorous conditions and possibly even a worker buyout. Chrysler had a loan back in the 70-80s and they paid it all back I think.

[LisaM]

9. They paid it back and the government earned money on it

But those who would rather see the US's manufacturing base and attached jobs vanish won't talk about that.

[Idealism]

8. So by allowing China to snatch up our last vestige of manufacturing

It won't drive the us into the next great depression? By losing 8% of our workforce and have millions collecting unemployment insurance (that the government pays for) we will somehow be better off? By letting our auto industry slip into Chapter 7 (most likely) or Chapter 11 bankruptcy, think of the billions lost in revenue by from their corporate and worker taxes. Sounds good? We already have a $600 billion shortfall this year in the budget, we should add to it when $25 billion may stave it these losses off?

[Profprileasn]

10. Bailout?

Not too sure if I am for this or not. Definitely doesn't make sense to do with no strings attached so they can fly there own jets around and have lavish get aways - not to mention those bonuses.

[LuckyTheDog]

11. Sorry, but you know nothing about the auto biz

First off: Why is it unpardonable for the Big 3 to make SUVs, but perfectly OK that Toyota and Honda make them, too?

The Toyota LandCruiser is about as much of a big, lumbering gas hog as exists anywhere. And Toyota builds it for the same reason GM makes the Chevy Suburban: because people buy it and because it makes money for them. The Prius is a commendable effort, but it does not earn a profit and is made possible by Toyota's profits made on other vehicles.

Ford, GM and Chrysler have changed massively over the past 5 years. And it is simply not true that they don't make fuel-efficient cars. Ever heard of the Ford Focus? How about the Chevy Malibu? Do they ring a bell?

Maybe Rick Wagoner IS a douche bag. But that is not my concern. If punishing him is the goal, I think we should find a way to do it that does not put 2 million people out of work.

[susanna]

12. One small fact check to your post, if I may.

The Ford Excursion was discontinued at the 2005 model year (2004 calendar year) for the US market.

Your other opinions are duly noted.

on edit: model year clarification

[Fleshdancer]

15. I'm pro-loan with new management...

which probably makes me pro-fantasy world, but the failure of the auto industry will cost a lot more than the loan they're seeking today.

on edit: I changed my subject line to reflect that this is not a bailout.

[DainBramaged]

16. It's a loan. The MSM is calling it a bailout thanks to the RNC

[quiller4]

17. LOAN not bailout 'bout time somebody pointed that out