The hogs have wallowed up to the trough and are scarfing down the dollars.
The government has targeted 25 billion dollars to U.S. car makers to shore up those badly run businesses because so many American jobs depend on the building of cars.
Now, it appears that the car companies want an additional 15 billion dollars before they've received the first treasure trove.
In times of crisis, thinking out side the box, i.e. being creative and forward looking, can generate amazing leaps forward. This is definitely one of those times.
If the government can partially nationalize the banking system, then let's nationalize the car companies.
It is important to remember that management at Ford, GM, and Chrysler fought tooth and nail against higher fuel economy standards and succeeded in keeping CAFE standards low. They fought environmental requirements just as strenuously. In addition, they promoted the idea of low efficiency SUV's and used loop holes in the tax laws to classify them as work vehicles, when in fact the vast majority were vanity cars.
The car companies have always had a combative relationship with labor and have successfully undermined unions and workers' rights over the last 25 years.
If the American people are going to bailout these companies because they are so important to our economy then we need to have some say on the decisions these companies make: adoption of strenuous fuel efficiency and environmental standards with timelines for meeting clearly defined goals, refocusing company behavior to become good corporate citizens, and protect workers.