The Dems' bailout has strings attached, e.g., the USG will dictate what kinds of cars will be built. Bush doesn't want to use the bailout money saying that the pot of money set aside for the auto industry to make more fuel efficient cars should be used for that purpose.
GM has some awesome cars coming in 2010. We are talking cutting edge technology. I believe we may well become the world leader on new auto technology. I work for GM I know whats coming. Rick Wagner has been working on a GM transformation for some time-the financial crisis stopped this process.
Are you saying that the bailout should be based on merit? What about Ford and Chrysler? If the technology is so good, then it will sell itself and won't need a government bailout. I would prefer a short term loan.
The auto industry is crucial for the country in terms of jobs (milllions) and our future. This industry can and should be saved. The consequences of the failure are so bad that no responsible, sane person would contemplate it.
We will still make cars in this country, just not American ones. There is something called comparative advantage. If the US can no longer make cars competitively for whatever reason, then the industry will go bust no matter what the USG does to prop them up. No industry can be made immune from market forces.
Actually, we are talking about a bridge load for all of the auto makers of 25 billion dollars-the auto makers have requested a loan. Everyone calls it a bailout, but this is not accurate.