Originally Posted by Scottw

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Nice.

I think we need to help try and save the Auto industry here in the US.

We being:

Consumers - We buy US cars .. because the bailout money should go as a tax credit or rebate check directly to the car buyer for cars sold by the big 3 that are assembled here on the next 10 million cars sold (around 2 years of historical sales). $ 10,000 per car on the first 2,500,000 sold, $ 7,500 per car on the next 2.5, $ 5000 on the next 2.5 and $ 2500 on the last $ 2.5. It's a fifty billion dollars and it goes to whoever buys the damn cars not the workers, executives etc. Direct benefit and 100% bang for the buck guaranteed.

Auto company workers - Everyone takes a % reduction in pay and benefits, workers, retirees, executives etc. Whatever the number is to make them competitive. Say 30%. If they say no friggin way... well then do it your way without any of the rest of our's money. The long term viability depends upon leveling the playing field with the competition. Otherwise this is just the first sip at the public trough.

Banks - Either loan money at reasonable rates to those that are credit worthy to buy cars, homes, etc. or we are taking our bailout money back.

Originally Posted by Drazzil

What I posted above isin't an article, its something I banged together in fifteen minutes or so, note the lack of in depth examination of the average American's role in this fiasco. Thomas Jefferson said something along the lines of:

"Our government isin't a representative of everyone, just those who participate"

We as Americans, well most of us have been content to let ourselves be lulled into a trap of complacency by those who would rob, cheat and steal their way through not only our wallets, but also through our civil liberties. Like an unchecked cancer the threat of special intrests threatens to kill our grand experiment into democracy, we are like a great liner sailing into an iceburg, and not many are the voices who would warn us of it. We are content to let madmen sail us straight into a disaster, in the name of short term gain, then we are content to let those same madmen load cash into lifeboats and set sail leaving us to drown, that ladies and gentlemen is the bailout.

We are perfectly happy to let our politicans point fingers and blame eachother and replace one set of corrupt men with another, like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

With any sort of bailout we are mortaging not just our futures, but the futures of our children, and grandchildren. We are not the beneficiaries of this bailout, but rather we have been victimized twice. To put it into simple terms, it would be like coming home to find your home cleaned out, and then ten minutes later, having the robber show up in a suit and tie to ask for your bank account number, and having obtained this then asking for your childrens addresses so he can do the same to them.

To say I am angry at the whole system right now, would be an understatement.