Treasury Secretary Sigmund Freud

He's right this time- American car manufacturing has been a clear and sad indicator of the state of our economy for a generation-- wretched excess, disdain for foreign competition, oblivious to change, denial of the future, destructive greed at all levels, and moral failure in corp ethics.
Remember "so goes GM, so goes the country"-- so right, so concerning...

Spinotitto--you are right, but that is only half of it. What happens in our country with large flaccid companies is that, in their weakness, they cunnive with powerful, dumb unions. Together, they preserve the status quo, which ends up screwing all other stakeholders, e.g., shareholders, taxpayers, car owners. Aid should go to GM, but only if it goes into federal receivership and the whole of management and all directors walk the plank, including giving up this year's compensation. They are one notch short of negligent criminality. If there were something to go after in suit, thousands would do it. Instead, there might be a Chevy door handle.

My stepfather used to say "What's good for GM is good for America."

I didn't understand then. I understand now.

Of course, we did give $135 billion to AIG. Maybe the car companies do deserve a fraction of that for old times' sake. However, life support will have to be removed at some time in the near future and the patient will still expire.

Ridiculous. Only morons would have denied what has been coming for so long. GM Management are those morons. Paulson said he is very supportive of management.

Manufacturing? Huh? Everybody supports manufacturing.

GM as a company is dead and no amount of "loans" will bring it back to life.

Taking care of its work force makes a lot of sense (they saved the world circa WWII), but management? Managers are a billion a dozen. They need to be put to sleep.

Just a couple of thoughts:
1. GM probably needs to go into bankruptcy, the management needs to be replaced. The employees need to be supported (perhaps the union is not looking at the employees but at their own interest and need to step back),auto suppliers and others related specifically need to refocus and look for other opportunities (think green).
2. Toyota stopped manufacturing trucks in San Antonio, TX for 2+months, but continued to pay their employees....that model should be explored as GM either develops/retools its manufacturing process or is closed.
3. The financial system received a bailout, did their model change? Will the gov't actually start regulating this "industry" as promised? If not, then the gov't will send a message that this is "business as usual", so why should I pay taxes to support them?
4. As the GOP continues to complain about Bush/Paulsen, are they going to complain for 4 years or offer plans?
5. At this time, whatever your political affiliation, can you get over yourself long enough to help resolve current pressing problems? If not, then you are part of the problem and need to be replaced.
5. The American people do not want to hear more whining by elected officials at ANY level, they want straight talk and action.
6. This is a national problem, but local officials need to be a part of national solution, not a local solution. They will be more respected for type of action rather than the "bridge to nowhere" approach.