Now the auto industry?
The bailouts for the financial industry aren't really helping the ordinary citizen. Now, along comes news of yet another bailout -- this time for the auto industry. It's not the first time they've been bailed out and it shouldn't happen without serious restrictions.
Horses and buggies worked for many centuries, and when the car came along, the buggy industry had to adapt or disappear. Cars have only been around for slightly more than a century, there's nothing sacrosanct about it. We should be moving past the era of individual fossil fuel vehicle ownership. That means the industry needs to shrink a great deal.
So what about all the people? That's whom the bailout should be aimed at. No money should be given to a company until two things happen:
1) The nation finally, much overdue, changes the classification of light trucks and SUVs to passenger vehicles, demanding the same fuel and safety requirements.
2) The average mpg requirements are significantly raised.
Then, the money should be spent only three ways:
1) Increase the fuel efficiency of cars.
2) Research into and production of alternative energy vehicles.
3) Retraining for the employees who lose their jobs due to the necessary industry shrinkages.
The owners will fight the first two and the unions will fight the last one, but the government needs to force both to realize that major changes must happen.
Horses and buggies worked for many centuries, and when the car came along, the buggy industry had to adapt or disappear. Cars have only been around for slightly more than a century, there's nothing sacrosanct about it. We should be moving past the era of individual fossil fuel vehicle ownership. That means the industry needs to shrink a great deal.
So what about all the people? That's whom the bailout should be aimed at. No money should be given to a company until two things happen:
1) The nation finally, much overdue, changes the classification of light trucks and SUVs to passenger vehicles, demanding the same fuel and safety requirements.
2) The average mpg requirements are significantly raised.
Then, the money should be spent only three ways:
1) Increase the fuel efficiency of cars.
2) Research into and production of alternative energy vehicles.
3) Retraining for the employees who lose their jobs due to the necessary industry shrinkages.
The owners will fight the first two and the unions will fight the last one, but the government needs to force both to realize that major changes must happen.