a way to save money and entertain the nation at the same time
Everybody's seen "Survivor." We all know the premise.
Why not do something similar with the Big Three (or Big Two) Auto Bailout?
Give each company a billion or two in seed-money--to keep them going during the competition.
Then send in the film crews to monitor the decision-making processes at GM and Chrysler (and Ford, if it's willing to play). Let's see those tantrums in the boardroom. The steely backstabbing in the development departments. The meltdowns in HR. The working-class comedic interludes at the union meetings. Just imagine all the dramatic possibilities.
But in the end only one car company is left standing and gets the full bailout.
Think of what the company gets. Free advertising. Instant buy-in from a nation of consumers. You could probably do a tie-in with the Super Bowl half-time.
Plus, it would put faces, identities with the faceless board-members, union-members, middle-managers, etc. Forget Joe the Plumber or Sarah the VP candidate. We'd have Willard the Board Member. Stanley the Union Rep. Earlene the Associate VP for Marketing.
I'm sure it'd be funnier than "The Office."
And since the Government wants to get into the marketplace it would at least be using a capitalist structure "red in tooth and claw."
And the ad revenue during the television series could actually go toward the bailout.
Now I have considered a model based upon "American Idol." But I just don't think any of the Big Three is ready for Simon yet.