Majority opposes auto bailout, poll shows

Good morning all, this morning while waiting on my 9yr olds school bus ( very rainy here in Greensboro) sitting in my 2004 Toyota Sienna Van, I notice my neighbor, works for the largest GM dealer here in GBO, he is the sales manager, leaving for work in his Company car,price sticker still in the window, his wife leaves right after him in another GM with price sticker still in the window ( not an employee of GM) Stay at home mom. I was just wondering what their monthly car payments and insurance are. Also how much they spend on gas a year? HAHA!! I think we all know the answer to this question!!! Looks like a good way to cut some fat off the bottom line!!!

 I have been through at least 4 recessions being in construction they were all cruel and hard.I cannot remember government intervention in any of them and all of them worked out rather well.this one however may turn out to be the mutha because of the govt. intervention

If it weren't for the Union, I think many people wouldn't have a problem with the government bailing out the big 3.

What I don't understand about the Union is that they somehow feel they are in a position to make demands.  To me, you either agree to work for less or you don't have a job.   Because that is what will happen if they are forced to close their doors.

No to bailout. no way, i dont care

The outcome will be the same whether they get the bailout or not.  Chrysler and GM are bleeding BILLIONS each month and 15 billion will get them to March maybe.  Nobody is buying cars, people are losing their jobs and homes. They are going bankrupt and nothing less than 100's of billions is going to change that.  Game over.

Who is buying their cars anyway?   Those laid off or those afraid of being laid off!    38,000 for a 2009 half ton truck   PPPLEEEAAASSSEEE

For 2 or 3 m,onths now I have heard how the big 3 are on the brink of losing money yet none of them have collapsed. The UAW said last week it would not give into paying their people a wage along the lines of Toyota, Honda, etc. Why? They know these companies have the money to continue on until January 20 when our president elect takes office and the Big 3 basically get a blank check.

If the numbers are accurate and so many Americans are against it, how are they going to justify such a bailout when those same Americans would probably be the same ones who would not buy the product. Throw all the money at it that you want. If no one buys the product it does nothing but put us in a worse situation than we are now.

Some how our government thinks it is somehow smarter than the majority that says let the Big 3 face the prospect of failing. Bankruptcy is the best thing for these companies.

 let us not forget that in the mid 1930's our grandfathers fought the auto companies for the right to organize. as a result we now have  the social programs and benefits [ pensions,heathcare,sick time, vacation time, workers comp ] that we rely on.

First of all, this bailout thing for the banks & auto industries stinks. Somebody gotta be making some big ones on these. History speaks for themselves that a year or two later, some sort of scam, stealing or misappropriation of funds etc. will surface. No one knows how to safeguard these funds 100% fool proof. Why is it that when the richest companies complains so Congress they immediately get attention but when a poor hard working American complains, he or she has to go to some extent in order to be heard (if anyone is interested). This bailout thing, especially for the auto industries, is no different than giving a law school graduate (who could not pass the Bar exam for years) his license because he cried to uncle Sam that the test was too hard for him to bear even though he hasn't done a darn thing to pass it. These auto giants have been failing for over 10 years. All of a sudden it will hurt the economy if they don't get what they want? The bailout money the auto giant is asking is for their own luxury. As soon as we give them the money, they will hire more executives that they will pay over $300K a year playing golf with the lobbyiest and lawmakers.

When the auto workers agree to drop their wages to the average wages of the people that are supposed to bail them out, I may support them --- on second thought... NOT!!! Keep the gov't out of ALL of the private sector and we will survive. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be a bad idea for our elected officials of BOTH parties that got us into this mess to give up 30% of their pay too... it might even be considered as the "patriotic" thing to do.

Anyone who believes that a failure of GM would not push us into a decades long depression is brain dead.

Our economy is so weak and distressed at this time as a result of what the banks and Wall Street have done to us that the failure of GM will push us over the edge.    This is not about whether they deserve to be helped  ( not a bail out, a loan, with interest to be paid back ) but rather about saving what is left of the rest of our economy.

It was the failing banks on Wall Street that should have been forced into bankruptcy.....lock, stock, and barrel....

Now we're arguing over the table scraps to keep America's manufacturing sector from total starvation....if we lose that our country is just asking to be over-run since we wont have that capability like the WORLD needed in the 40's

Just because it hasn't affected you yet doesn't mean it cannot or will not.

Tough economic times worldwide is a powderkeg waiting to explode into war....

 Look back in history to the last time we ignored auto and airline industries and were attacked by the Japanese. We paid in the extra cost in thousands of more casualties because we could not turn out the amorments needed to defend ourselves.

 No one will ever convince me that we can afford 3 1/2 million jobs to be wiped out out from Detroit to the silicon valley. Only thing I see lacking are the ground rules. The wall street crooks were pretty much given the money and yes supposed to be a loan, but we will see. Two things have to happen. With "loan"  concessions have to be made to lower cost of product to make them competitive. Second, the Govt. needs to get after their friends in banking industry to loosen money and provide loans to people buying american made products. If this does not happen, all is for nothing as we will see a depression. Equally important, we lose industrial capacity as well. I do not see problems with hourly wage, it is the benefits that are killing our competiveness.

 Do nothing and I guarantee we will see a depression. Scott makes a great point. Who is buying cars anyways, due to layoffs? Well, so 3 1/2 more are going to improve this picture?

Most americans opposed the Financial bailout yet they went ahead and did it anyway.   OUr government has foresaken us to the all mighty fiat dollar which has lost its value.  

We bailed out people who made profit from money alone.....nothing else.   

If the big 3 cannot keep up it is time to let other companies step in and fill the spaces.   Thereare other people who can and will design better cars and with more competition they may cost much less than the crap we have now.   $50 grand for a car!?!?   Thats half of a decent house!

If they go under, your car will not be left without things it needs to keep going.  There has been an aftermarket source for everything and they usualy have much better parts anyway.

As for the workers, yes their job loss will suck but if other manufacturers are allowed to step up, they may find employment with them.   OUr country has gone from a manufacturing economy to service and financial....this has been our down fall.  We are no longer a viable competitor in the world.   You cannot export service with a smile.   You can export a good quality car or other piece of equippment.  

I want a free car from GM or Chrysler.  It's the least that these pukes should do if they get all our tax money. 

Actually, I don't really want one of their crappy cars, but the tires and some of the other parts, etc are probably worth something - maybe enough to fill up my old Honda with gas and get an oil change.

I am amazed as I read over some of these posts!  I first have to say this ... In WWII, we won, and those who opposed us vowed to see victory in the end.  They may see their victory soon!!  They couldn't beat us in a war, but they will beat us financially.  They have already infiltrated our country, and purchased much of our land.  They run business' here on our soil, and send most of the profits back to their homeland.  We ask that they pay very little, and sometimes nothing, to import products into our country, but then either refuse our products or charge us very high import "taxes."  (Go to any department store and ask to see a "Made in the U.S.A." cordless drill.  I recently did, and among the many brands on the shelf, only one was U.S.A. made ... very sad!).  My point here is:  They didn't beat us in The War, but they will beat us economically, and own our country.

If our automotive industries fail, and we are taken over by all the foreign manufactures, and we are invaded ... who will be our supplier of arms?  There will be no Rosie the Riveter to bail us out again, because there wont be companies for Rosie to work for!! 

I believe the C.E.O.s of the "Big Three", and other top executives. need to restructure their salary and benefit packages to be more in line with keeping the companies afloat.  I believe the unions were a huge benefit when our country was structuring it's workforce practices, but those unions, and members, have become a thorn in our side.  The unions who fought so hard to bring safety and fair practices to employees are now supporting employees who are not being fair to the companies that employ them.  Union employees do not fear loosing their job for not showing up for work, and many other infractions, that most non-union employees would never dream of doing while on the job. 

Those of you who oppose the loans to the "Big Three" may want to take a look at where all those employees spend their money.  How will it impact you?  I live in a GM town, I know people who are employed at various other companies in the area.  If GM goes down, so will everything in this area and beyond.

Do some research on the Depression Era ... Do you REALLY want to go through that again?

instead of giving money to wall street,auto industry and all the other mismanaged industries-give the money directly to the end user (Taxpayer) and he can then pay off debt and  pump money directly into the economy.all the rhetoric agrees that in order for the economy to start up consumers need money to do so.these people continue to move foreward in their misguided notion that the system which they use is still viable.the bailout of the financial sector is laughable-hoarding the assets is countreproductive to the very agenda these instutions used to get the money-these poeple do not give a rat's ass about anything other than maintaing their status quo.

I take offense with a previous statement of "hardworking, middle class" individuals.

How is it possible to put those two items together when referring to the UAW?  With the expanded technological innovations and computer-aided work how can the UAW claim to be "HARD WORKING" in these days of modernization?  Of course you have to consider the source.  The UAW has the auto industry ownership right where they want them.

I believe an auto industry bailout is necessary to save the jobs of millions of people who not only work for the Big 3 but all those ancillary industries that will be affected, e.g. car dealerships, part shops, mom & pop stores and other small businesses that survive on the edges of this industry's economy.  To not stop the downward spiral now would cause catastrophic events that may be impossible to stop later on.  These millions of workers did not make the poor management decisions, didn't get the million dollar bonuses, weren't even consulted in the matter of what Detroit sends out of it's assembly lines, yet they will pay the most devastating price.  I don't want to have a blank check written by any means.  There needs to be a plan to save these companies with smart, fuel-efficient products that can compete with non-American made cars and intelligent leadership and decision making from the top.  These people have to be answerable to someone (such as being fired and no big pay days when they don't perform).   Workers have already agreed to pay cuts that go into effect in 2010.  Let's give the American car worker a fighting chance! 

I don't have any more dimes to spare. The auto workers can invest their money into the industry they have the faith in. I repeat, I have no more.

Bailing out the automakers and bailing out the banks is just more of the trickle down economic theory.  The fact is, and I think anyone with half a brain would agree, trickle down economics doesn't work, it never has.  Mostly, it evaporates on the way down.  How about bailing out the people.  Give every tax paying american $100,000.00 or $200,000.00.  The money will flood up to the banks and the auto industry.  The automakers caused their own problems by building gas guzzlers.  Do none of those over paid,  corporate morons remember the gas shortages of the 70's?  The banks are in trouble because of greed, plain and simple.

Contact your representatives and senators and tell them to do the right thing: Bail out the people.

Again what are the big 3 doing about all of the thousands of cars sitting at there dealerships now? no one is buying them for many reasons and there building more cars everyday shiping them to these over stocked dealers. Here is a thought stop building until you get rid of whats out there now?

So let me get this straight.  52% of Americans are against the bail out and we are putting it on hold.  yet over 70% were against bailing out Fannie, Freddie and AIG, yet the Congress went ahead anyway.  Why was that?  Could it have been that the those entities had the Chairmen of the committies in their pockets, where the Auto Industry has been hammered by the press and the Congress over the years?  Could it be that the US Auto makers have to contend with massive US Government interference and draconian standards set by the Congress over the years? 

Anyone ready to drill yet?

Reagan ended the cold war economically when Russia essentially went broke... socialism and communism (a perverted socialism) have never worked anywhere and never will. Even Barak Hussein knew he needed capitalism to support his socialistic agenda... a perverted idealism in itself. The very people who voted for this new socialism are now crawling back looking for handouts from the people that CAN balance a check book.

The "redistribution of wealth" started back in the Clinton Administration with the passage of the Community Reinvestment Act (1999) which allowed Freddie and Fannie to make loans (thru institutions) to people that couldn't pay them back... and hence we have a financial crisis. You see, paying it back is the issue. Clinton, the professed first black president, did not do anyone any favors in the long run. Financially, they are worse off through his brand of socialism.

The Russians learned very quickly from the lessons of capitalism. In the past twenty years, they have been drilling and building pipelines, and drilling and building alliances with the oil rich countries. Guess what... they are flush with money and influence through smart business practices. I am sure they have not let a few parasites drag them down.

The US on the other hand, is far more dependent on oil than we ever have been... which makes us very vunerable to all outside interests. We just can't learn our lessons. The Dems still will not drill or make any other good business decisions. Of course, they are not capable since they are not business oriented... they are socialist oriented. This is what this election was all about... YOU chose this path.  Live with it and make it work.

For the order of magnitude of billions to be spent which I have no faith in ever being paid back, let's spend the money on public transport... something that benefits all... not just the few panhandlers in Michigan.

AMEN, MC!!!