Would it be out of line to require all big 3 hoohahs to read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand? People who produce work deserve to reap the rewards of
their effort. People who don't produce work should not.
Originally posted by cognoscente
reply to post by jfj123
Exactly. How are we going to oversee how the auto companies use this money? We can't feasibly do that. Anyway, a public hand in the private sector isn't such a good thing either, even if what they [the private sector] is doing isn't all that great... It leads to too many conflicting interests. The best way to do it is to let them file bankruptcy. Otherwise, they have two weeks until Congress adjourns this issue completely, and if they don't come up with some startling business changes by then, or at least draft a reasonable business plan, proving they can make profits in the future with this $25B bailout package, then they're royally screwed.
Fiscal policy will not work as long as we are still suffering from the credit crunch. It's futile. Interest rates are already extremely low. So what other options do we have? Massive, and I mean colossal, investment in new technology. The automobile is so last century. Let's start pumping out flying cars. Just think of how many industries that will spur. Let's do something cool and crazy. We're Americans after all!
Anyway, this industry was just ready to fail. The recent economic crisis concerning the sub-prime mortgage lending only expedited its inevitable degradation. American corporations have become complacent with their technology, while the rest of the world is advancing at incredible rates; we have been completely surpassed in this area in the past decade. We failed; it's over. We need something new. The bailout will not help, even though it might secure people's jobs for another year, or two at most.
[edit on 21-11-2008 by cognoscente]
Big 3 automakers deserve to be raked over the coals, if for no other reason than flying 3 corporate jets to Washington to beg for a bail out! The would have gotten more sympathy if they would have carpooled (unless they chose and "evil" SUV).