Swear ta god, I'm THIS close from storming DC, wondering where my bailout is. If this various industries are too big to fail, then why did they allow themselves to get to the point where they are failing?!

Poor auto execs. If only there'd been some forewarning that inefficient clunky cars were going to get less popular in the near future.

The free-market side of me has absolutely no problem letting a failed business model go under. That it should take its workers down with them, that's where things get tricky.

I also find it rich that Congress is pointing the fingers squarely at the auto executives for building inefficient cars -- as if they couldn't have put fuel-efficiency regulations in place to force the Big Three to build better cars.

"Let the marketplace decide." I should have known that only applies in good times...

I also find it rich that Congress is pointing the fingers squarely at the auto executives for building inefficient cars -- as if they couldn't have put fuel-efficiency regulations in place to force the Big Three to build better cars.

I wonder why Congress has been slow to do that.

Raising fuel economy standards will kill the industry!
Raising fuel economy standards will save the industry!

This debate is so much bigger than the auto industry. What about industrial and passenger rail as part of the auto problem? Viable, subsidized public transportation? Tax breaks and zoning for walkable communities? The idea of giving money to automakers so they can build more tax-susidized "hybrid" SUVs that get 17 mpg just makes me SPIT. Can we finally get away from the it-must-be-done-now or the world will end legislation. If they don't get this money now they'll fail by January? Fuck you, auto industry, and a little more for our spineless congress.

/rant

Mitt Romney, son of and auto industry CEO, makes the case for saying no to the auto bailout.

I'm leery of his anti-union stance, but if labor costs are that high, it's an issue that can't be ignored. I'd love to see something like what Toyota is doing, as it would promote harmony between white and blue color divisions, while lessening the need for unions, but it seems improbable in America.