The Big Three On Welfare

Well-televised 'negotiations' continue around the 'bailout' for the Big Three US automakers.  They wanted $25 billion initially, then $34 billion.  Now it seems like they will get $15 billion to start, with more later if they behave themselves.

Part of the deal is the appointment of a 'car czar' to oversee the bailout.  This czar will ride herd on the automakers to make sure they are 'responsible to the taxpayers'.   Like the defense industry is responsible to the taxpayers ...

So what does this mean?  Will cars be made by congressional committee?  Will we end up one day driving the US equivalent of the Yugo?  Or will we end up paying $5000 for a shift knob?

Given Congress's current plan - and it does belong to Congress, since President Bush is nowhere in the mix and President-to-be Obama is keeping his head down on this issue (smart man), I'd really prefer the Big Three just go quietly bankrupt.

After all, what have the US automakers done for us lately?  

Well, they have:

- Closed factories and sent jobs overseas since the late 80's

- Persisted with fuel and environmental unfriendly SUVs 

- Bought foreign makers and ruined them (e.g., Ford and Volvo)

- Were bought by foreign makers and nearly ruined them (e.g., Daimler-Benz and Chrysler)

- Killed the electric car at the exact moment the US makers had a lead in that technology (GM)

- Blocked every attempt to start a new automaker in the US since the 30's.

A sterling record, I must say.  But not sufficient to hate the Big Three enough to subject them to the ministrations of a 'car czar', or any kind of 'czar'.   When has an appointed 'czar' ever done anything right in US government (remember the 'energy czar(s)')?  

No. Better to let them go into bankruptcy and try to renew themselves.  If they can't, that's business, and maybe we can finally get some new car companies in the US who embrace technology and don't try to squash it.