To bail or not to bail? That is the question.

Unfortunately this is very scary! Losing three of the biggest employers in the United states would be an unimaginable blow to the economy. However, trying to keep three businesses in business that are operating with business models that keep them from being able to be competitive and turn a profit seems like we would be throwing our money away. What to do? I'm not sure, but I am sure that there isn't a ground swell for automaker reform coming from either Bush or Congess. If congress decides to go for a bailout, which I ultimately hope they do, it can't happen without huge reform. Perhaps Warren Buffett has a yen to be the next Henry Ford. Somehow the automakers are going to have to find a way to make desirable small fuel efficient cars profitable. It is hard to picture anything else as the future of the automobile industry. Can labor costs controlled by big powerful unions really be reduced to make them competitive with the international market? Will executives take dramatically reduced salaries? Will the automakers be able to refocus and make a more desirable product while increasing efficiency and reclaiming the role of technology leaders? With the very shaky future of oil will car makers rise to the challenge and create new technology that ultimately frees the US from foreign oil dependency and makes the creators of the new technology and their companies long term profitable? While I have no idea if any of these things are really possible I remain hopeful. The idea of losing a entire industry is to bleak to fathom.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081118/ap_on_go_co/congress_autos;_ylt=ArmsqrYOlJCXi0_AiT09oHeMwfIE