this is certainly a diillemna.not to bail out is to abet terrible hard ships where pension and health benefits are  lost. Future  labor pacts should not allow benefits to be  given  in lleiu of salary increeases

There is one thing that has not received much attention in regards to the American car industry, that being, national defense.  It is imperitive to our nation that we be able to manufacture vehicles that may be needed in times of world conflict. The Humvee is a prime example. We must maintain industries that can build and supply the necessary equipment to sustain us. Let us not forget that during WW2, it was American industry that provided the means for England to fight off the ***.

We cannot and should not put our security at risk because we no longer have the capacity and means to provide for ourselves.

Contributor Cory Bortnicke's post on GM is just one more entry in the "piling-on" that many ignorant stock-types are doing to GM and the American auto industry right now in both the Blogosphere and in the Main Stream Media.

Despite what uninformed and impatient stock writers would like, auto manufacturing is an industry that can't turn on a dime. It takes a long time to develop a new car.  It takes years and years of working with many other sectors of manufacturing and electronics to nursemaid new technologies from idea to practicality.  Just because you want super-efficient batteries, super-efficient fuel cells, and magical levitating cars that get 100MPG on water NOW does not mean the laws of physics can be accelerated or suspended to accommodate your wishes.

Along with the technical issues are the human and financial issues.  Because most American plants are located in heavily regulated and heavily unionized states, changes in work rules and changes in the complex financial relationship between the company and the all-powerful union can only come once every four years or so, like the labor agreements in the major sports.  The huge changes GM won in its last negotiations with the UAW regarding its pensions and medical care for retirees won't take effect until 2010.

Unlike Steve Jobs' Apple empire, auto manufacturers live in a reality where every aspect of their product is regulated, mandated, and controlled not only by the company but by government.

I'd like to see what Mr. Innovation's iPhone would look like after he implements these "National Phone Safety Administration" mandates:

1.  An autodeploying mini-airbag for when the phone is dropped, and 5-inch foam surround rated for a 5MPH collision.

2.  Corporate average battery talk-time requirements that can only be met by grafting a 55-lb Sears Die Hard to the phone

The American Society for iPhone repair excellence would of course lobby congress to pass a Right-to-repair law that outlaws the iPhone's battery that is not user-replaceable.

And the United iPhone Workers Union would of course demand that all iPhones be made in the USA and that iPhone assembly line workers be paid close to $85 an hour in salary and benefits.

After a few years of this, profitablity at Apple would go from a staggering 25% (and people are yelling about the oil companies---they only make a paltry 10%) to bankruptcy.  But that might be worth the chance to see Jobs put on one of his famous hissy-fits as he goes hat-in-hand to Congress looking for a loan.

We need to get back to the basic sand quit paying the executives more than they are worth especially when they are the reason the big 3 are in the position they are in.  They have been paid the big bucks forever....for what?  No vision, no new development and no forsythe to keep their companies going.  Let's get real.  We all need to make a living but paying Millions to CEO and management is rediculous.  I know the great American dream.  But paying Millions to management that does not keep you out of bankruptcy and protect the employees that have worked and trusted your judgement is down right stupid.

I THINK ITS ABOUT TIME TO GET BEYOND THE EXCUSES FOR WHY WE SHOULD BAIL OUT DETROIT.THIS IS A CHALLENGING TIME FOR AMERICA. IT IS WHEN TIMES GET THE MOST DESPARATE THAT INNOVATION WILL EVENTUALLY TRIUMPH. THESE AUTOMOTIVE GIANTS NEED TO CHANGE DRASTICALLY TO SURVIVE.THEY NEED TO BE SENT A STRONG MESSAGE, THAT MESSAGE IS 'NO BAILOUT'.THINK ABOUT HOW EVERYONE HURTING RIGHT NOW, NOT JUST THE CAR COMPANIES. THESE COMPANIES CANNOT BE REWARDED FOR FIALING.

The bailout will not help the car makers but it would sure help Obama and the unions that he owes a favor too. Blackmail comes in different forms. I wonder when the politicians going to bailout us.

In the town I live in we have lost three companies and close to 5000 people laid off. One of the companies is going overseas. That you liberals for voting for the fraud of a president.

No more bailouts, should GM fail, so be it, perhaps an innovative green company will fill part the void, a company who's designs and appeal, would be more to the liking of those who'd like to see the traditional automobile fade to black, and alternate propulsion innovations come to the fore front, and become less the curiosity, and more the norm.

GM is not a bank, nor federally protected, pull the plug on the dying beast, make way for the new guy, end the strangulation hold the big three have on our economy, and what we see as the standard for transportation.

The unions have crippled this country. When the average auto worker makes $83,000 per year, you can not sustain profitablity. And you wonder why everything is made overseas? If you owned a company would'nt you follow the lowest cost labor?

The auto industry has been slipping for a long time and i think the core reason is, they dont make cars i (as a regular consumer) would want to buy.  that is what the auto industry should be about!  They make cars that my parents might like - except they cant drive anymore.  I have specifically looked american first for the past 20 years, and couldnt find anything america is making that is right.  the big rave seems to be retro, what was hot in our youth - except in my youth i didnt learn to drive with a US muscle car and i'm in my 50's, where is a normal modern family car in america?  

An example, airport newstands seem to have more car mags than any other type of mag , and yet most are specialized, not one had a car mag covering cars for a regular family with all the gadgets or so it appeared.  some of the reviews were crazy, "this car didnt go fast enough"... not fast enough?  where are we supposed to take our car for a spin at over 140mph?  When all your eggs are in the trucks and retro cars basket, what is a natural conclusion when that is not the core basket to shop from?  The average family car/minivan model was ceded long ago, not sure america even makes them in a modern model, and especially not if you compare price points.  I want 2 or 4 dioors for 4 people car, looks nice, good gas milage and it will have gps and i would like memery stick stereo (even back when cd's were being introduced to cars - cd's arent a great mobile medium, but a san disk usb drive is - had to toss in this last one, and no Ipod is not what i am looking for, but what we got)  Also i dont want a huge car, i have to park the thing.  In fact most car companies make the mistake of all the gadgets are in the big car, oh, and this little two seater has them all also.  why no nice smaller form factor car (by small i mean midsize, not smart car small - just 2 adults 2 teens can fit in ok and adjustable for the real life things, like grocery shopping.)

It is unfair to compair a $200.00 ipod to a $20,000 car!!  It cost billions of dollars for R@D to develop a car!!!  Many countries subsidize the manufactures to do this.  We dont!!!!  If we don't help GM you need to make sure you have an Ipod, because you will be waiting in line to buy a car and you will need something to do before the other manufactures take advantage of you!!!!!