Sounds like a fantastic idea! As if the unions haven't done enough damage to industry in this country. While no one is innocent when it comes to alot of the manufacturing issues in this country, the unions are a major conern in all of this. As far as the big 3 are concerned, they were so arrogant and short sighted in their future they went ahead and agreed to too many union thug demands and this is where we are now.
The sad thing is, is that it's not about union wages either. BMW, Toyota, et al. all pay union wages or better to their employees. The difference is work standards and perks. The unions demand that there be no efficiency. No one is allowed to know anything about anothers job. Just try even dropping a box of parts off at a loading dock of an auto plant. Takes no less than 4 guys to get involved in just moving it from your truck to the dock. It's ridiculous.
But management is equally to blame if not more so. Biggest problem now that has been brewing for years here in Detroit, is that they've run the car guys out of town. People that all they do is eat and sleep cars. Their vision and strategies have been replaced by the executive of the month club. The current breed of cars guys, dare I even call them that, only bend over for the share holder. When years ago, car guys only wanted to build the best cars they could. They may not have always been the best with some models, but that was their passion and shareholders be damned. Plus they all came up from the ranks, they knew their business. Now they get hired from their buddies at the country club. I'm here in Detroit, many friends and my families business is dependent upon the auto industry. But this bail out stinks to high heaven. Unless there are some serious fundamental changes with the way business is done, then it's simply our good taxpayer money thrown after bad. Sure the big three want the money to line their parachutes because that's all they care about, themselves not the employees or the industry, only themselves. They can survive without a bailout if they get back to basics and just build cars. If the government wants to help, get the government OUT. The government does'nt create cars or wealth. They destroy it. Allow the car companies to make cars people want. Stop mandating progress. Ridiculous CAFE standards, and impossible competion in some arenas. Yes, the car companies can survive without a bail out. They just need to focus on building cars and getting back to basics and allow for some real help from the government by getting out of the way.