SIPEDO SEZ

To give taxpayers money to the big 3 IS a stupid idea. Those companies make their money from sales and if noone is buying then no ammount of money will help them.

My statement is true, it is a stupid idea to bail the big three out. Just like the banks, its not the governments fault they(banks) made bad loans, its not the governments fault that sales are down for the auto industry. What does the government have to do with the fact noone wants or could afford to buy a new car? Nothing. So again my dear sipedo, reread and comprehend the statement, yes bailing the auto industry out with taxpayers money is a stupid idea and that senator was right if he was one of the brave and smart few that say NO.

I lived in Pa. during the start of it becoming the RUST BELT and watched greedy unions close shop after shop, a lot supporting the big 3, just to move them out to the south west.

People up there are hurting big time and have for awhile. Nothing DC does is going to help that. Ever since Reagan was in office jobs kept going away and it hasn't stopped in 3 decades.

The big 3 need to file a bankruptcy under the conditions that they cut wages to that of related work in this country, i.e. machinists, fabricators and even those working in Jap auto companies on US soil.

CEOs need to step down, put replacements in for a decent wage and not millions in bonuses.

Follow this path and shoring them up with tax dollars is feasible. We did this before and it just went to the unions and CEOs.

Washington needs to start taxing all foreign cars sold or coming into this country. PERIOD!

The taxes to buy a US made car from the big 3 overseas is astronomical! The DC dimwits allow it and give tax breaks away like candy to trick or treaters!

Like I said, hang on, this ride is FAR from over!

Ozzy_man.. taxing all foreign cars is not the answer. The rust belt you speak of died because we spent YEARS taxing foreign steel in order to prop up domestic steel that was wrapped up in the Unions. The foreign folks simply raised the tariffs on other goods to make up the difference, it hobbled our export capacity, and all in the name of Unions over everything!

Its long overdue for America to get BACK to fair pay for a fair days work! Democrats have been neck deep in labor/union antics, to the point of even the Teamsters making the Sopranos look like the mickey mouse club!

Greed for money and power has taken over honest ambition. Democrats even thinking they can tell people when bankrupty is on or off the table is a key indicator that they do NOT have America's interest at heart.

You know I think we could consider a bail out package, in the form of a loan that must be paid back! NO MORE FREE HAND OUTS! Why can't they pay back what they are given?

I think the big three...

1. Over pay their employees
2. Charge way too much for their vehicles!
3. Management needs a serious reality check in the form of severe pay cuts!

How many Americans do you know can afford their hefty $30k + price tags? I think they have priced themselves out of the market if you ask me!

Ford and GM also have their fingers in the mortgage industry too! Chrysler makes inferior vehicles that they don't stand behind, it wouldn't bother me in the least to see Chrysler go under.

All The big 3 are asking for is LOANS, not BAILOUTS.

Eric, you second answer was better.

However, is the Senator from Alabama crossing his fingers that the big 3 will go under?

Is Senator Shelby persuading his colleagues to deny any help to the big 3 to benefit his own state?

On bank bailouts, Chase got 25 billion, I told my brother, who has his mortgage with Chase to go and renegotiate his mortgage, they ARE working with him, and will reduce his mortgage by 40 percent. That is the first positive news I have personally been privy to. I am now going to approach Wells Fargo with the same attitude, since they have received bailout money too. If they won't bend, I will walk away from the mortgage and file bankruptcy.

I am conflicted over the bailout/loan to the auto industry. On one hand, I would HATE to see all of their employees on unemployment. On the other hand, where is the incentive to run a successful business?

I would much rather the government give incentives directly to the CONSUMERS who purchase GM, Ford or Chrysler products. That way the consumers are rewarded for buying American, it keeps the Union out of it and it keeps any bailout money out of the CEO's hands. The fact that they traveled to Washington in their luxury jets really, REALLY burns me....

But I have a question for you Sip... is it really wrong for a Senator to do what is in the best interests of his state and the people who voted him into office?

I'm sure no one wants to see the Big 3 go under. But I still say no to a 25 billion bail-out, and here is why.

How long do you thing it will take them to go through that amount of money? 3 months? 6 months? And then where are they? Right back to where they started. The big 3 are hemmoraging money almost as fast as the government can print it.

No one wants to see American workers lose their jobs. But what is wrong with letting the big 3 file bankrupcy, and reorganize? Yes, it will be painful, but the workers will keep their jobs and make the company more competitive. Cut CEO's wages and renegotiate the contracts with the UAW. I believe they will then emerge a stronger and more viable operation. Just my opinion.

Your Puppy-girl looks like she just got busted with her paw in the "treat jar"!
So when will they lay the "big spreadsheet"out for all to see? I don't think they have one. I
believe they just want to dole out their multi-million dollar, end-of-the-year bonuses. They ARE
a bunch of weasels, and the American People are their chickens!

Nowhere in your original post do you use the word "loan". Not once.

In your first paragraph you yourself even say (He's skeptical of a bailout plan for Ford,).

Then again in the last paragraph you say (Should there be a bailout of our auto industries on the US?)

And suppose the American taxpayers "LOANED" the big 3 automakers 25 million. How much good do you think that will do when they are spending that much every other month?