GM Bailout, What's everyone's take? Options

[blu94gt]

So what does everyone here think of the US government bailing out GM with X billion dollars?

I think it's just plain silly. I do agree that if GM were to go under that roughly 3 million jobs could be lost, and would be a huge hurt to our economy. Realistically though, if they go under then Chrysler and/or Ford or someone else will just absorb them and take control. It's called FREE MARKET, if your business can't make it then you close your doors, the government shouldn't be involved at all. GM obviously can't make a quality car that people want to buy, can't figure out how to not get screwed by the labor unions, and drop all their money into silly projects like the Volt. Plus they waste all kinds of money selling the same exact cars under 4 different brands. Buick Rainer, Chevy Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Saab 9-7x are all EXACTLY the same with different grilles and lights. What purpose does this serve other than wasting a whole bunch of money in having several different toolsets and suppliers? (all American companies do this, I've never been able to figure it out). Not to mention separate markets around the world.

So say the government bails out GM. They need to then supervise every financial move GM makes down to where they have a lunch meeting, require them to make eco-friendly cars or something like that, loosen the grip of the union, etc. Also to re-brand everything: Cadillac for luxury, Chevy for cars, GMC for trucks. Completely get rid of Pontiac and Saturn. After a few years of this setup, unify the US market lineup with the world market lineup of vehicles. Hopefully Ford and Chrysler would follow suit, I think they would all benefit.

In the end, I hope they don't get bailed out and are allowed to fail.

[lagos]

Here is what I dont understand...
They are failing because they make crappy cars that no one wants to buy. If we bail them out, it might help them in the short term, but they will still make crappy cars people dont want to buy.

[GotToyota]

Here is what I dont understand...
They are failing because they make crappy cars that no one wants to buy. If we bail them out, it might help them in the short term, but they will still make crappy cars people dont want to buy.

Exactly. The hit we would take from them going bankrupt wouldn't hurt us nearly as bad in the long run than throwing billions of dollars to help them out.