Well, it’s happened. The government has all this bailout money and just like a rich uncle suddenly all the vermin are coming out of the darkness to come begging for money. I read this morning that the big 3 auto makers want some of the bail out money to stay afloat to which I say nay nay.
You see, for years the automakers have been making bad business decisions and have not changed their ways. Think about it, over the past 10 years there have been major changes in computers. Operating systems are amazingly sleek and batteries and systems work better (except for Microsoft!, cheap shot I know!) Heck even power tools were updated to go from old NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries to lithium ion, smaller, lighter and more efficient. But yet the auto industry hasn’t changed a bit. Oh sure every year they eliminate one more corner and turn it into a curve on the newest generation of body types and add a new plug for iPods or another cup holder. But that’s all that changed. After all, why on earth would they want to change the engines to make them gas friendlier? Why would they want to try to make them cheaper? Why would they want to do anything different?
On the other hand, airlines didn’t change and they had to file bankruptcy to restructure and stay afloat. Clothing retailers are the same, and even the poor ol Sharper Image suffered some losses.
Why should the American people bail out the big three automakers? They shouldn’t. There are laws put in place to protect companies like the automakers, it’s called Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Yep, with that handy dandy little tool the company can get out of bad contracts, cut costs and restructure themselves. Instead they don’t want to do that for fear of pissing off the United auto Workers union. Boo hoo, the reset of the world is seeing layoffs so why should there be an exception here? I guess the reason is why change when you can just reach out and get $30 billion dollars from the United States tax payers?
I think the big three need to immediately file for chapter 11 bankruptcy, they need to sell their god awful tacky buildings and move into something more reasonable. They need to reduce operating costs (sorry UAW) and start actually making cars and selling them. One quote I heard was that GM was not a car company, but rather a Pension plan that happened to sell cars. It’s true, they pay more on pensions then anything else.
If the big three are handed $30 billion like they are asking it’s not going to do anything but delay the downfall of them. I mean, how long will $30 billion keep them afloat? I’m guess one year tops. So what will they do next year when they are in the same boat? We can’t keep every company afloat. They need to restructure, get with the times and do some necessary layoffs and expense cutting. Then they will be in a position to stay afloat.
If the government is at all thinking of giving them $30 billion I have to say this, rather then hand them $30 billion why not hand every consumer a certificate to go get a new car and then the government can reimburse them? I mean come one, as a tax payer we all paid for the bail out money, so if they get $30 billion handed to them for nothing, that’s our money! If you like this idea immediately call your senator and congressmen to tell them! You never know what can happen, I mean look at all the off the wall stuff that we are seeing go on.
As you can tell I’m a bit bitter. I look forward to seeing what the government does and hope that this auto bailout doesn’t pass. If it does I want a free car……. But then again is it really free if the tax payers are forking out the money?
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