The US Automakers want a bailout - here's the conditions: [View All]

[LynneSin]

#1) The only people who lose their jobs are the owners of these companies and their board members along with all the lobbyists that pushed to keep CAFE standards low. These greedy cats have made a shitload of money so let's hope they still have some when they 'retire' because NO GOLDEN PARACHUTES!

#2) Change the thinking of how we make cars here in American by first and foremost investing in Green Technology. Change the CAFE standards to demand better gas mileage NOT bloated oversized gas guzzlers.

The reason why Toyota and other foreign car manufacturers are so successful is that they embraced new technologies from the get-go. Toyota was the first to come out with smaller cars during the 70s gas crisis and the first to push Hybrid technology into the market for the current one. And they built cars that lasted, which is why my last car purchased was a Toyota. I figured the market was going to get bad and I wanted a car that could last me thru these turbulent times. Sure, I drive a 8 year old car now but it's in good shape, gets the job done and I have no car payments. About every 2 years I'll put $500-1000 into some work on the car but that's alot cheaper than paying $300/month for the next 5 years just to be able to afford a new car. (and now that I live in a house with Street-Only parking, I have no plans to buy anything for awhile).

So while Toyota was giving us better gas mileage and Hybrid cars, what was Ford, GM and Chrysler giving us - more oversize bloated gas guzzling SUV. And convincing Americans that these were the cars we needed to feel 'safe' when driving. And when Congress tried to increase CAFE standards (that's the gas mileage average for all cars made by a manufacturer), the Lobbyists insisted that this could not be done and the bill was defeated.

If these companies want a fighting chance to compete in the market and survive they need to tackle new technology ABOVE AND BEYOND the Hybrid. Chrysler did that once by creating the Minivan, which was embraced by America as the new family vehicle until being pushed aside for the gas guzzling SUVs. There are still other technologies out there available such as Fuel Cells, Natural Gas and Electric Cars. If the Big 3 could get one of these cars on the market they could compete one again with companies like Toyota.

If we are to bail out these companies, and I'm not opposed to it because I realize that their failure will impact thousands of families across this country - working class families that do not deserve this - then they need to move into the future and embrace it. Clearly the vision of those who ran Ford, GM, and Chrysler have failed to do so these past decades.