United States Automobile Industry Solution
Viewing a Failing Industry as an Opportunity

PROBLEM

U.S. car manufacturers have been operating at a loss for the past several quarters and are on the verge of bankruptcy. There is much debate surrounding the reasons we have arrived where we are, but virtually no dispute surrounding the reality that only forward thinking can solve the problem. A “government (tax payer) bale out or bridge loan” of $25 billion has been sought by the industry. As tax payers, we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t provide the funds.

DILEMA

The effects of auto industry failure are far reaching. It has been said that one out of ten jobs are somehow related to the industry. Up to 3 million jobs are at risk and the U.S. stake as a manufacturing power in the world is on the line.

Lending tax payer money to the big three without control over outcome is not wise. Merely loaning money will not increase demand for their products nor guarantee that the money will optimize the likelihood of a favorable result for the taxpayer lenders. Further, it is doubtful that $25 billion will get the industry to positive cash flow, especially given the current state of the economy.

SOLUTION

An ideal solution to the problem would not only optimize the chances of industry survival, but it would also work towards accomplishing many of our future U.S. goals:

1. Infuse necessary working capital to U.S. auto manufacturers
2. Ensure industry works towards fuel efficient/green autos
3. Create demand and sales for American autos in the near term
4. Protect and promote U.S. manufacturing sector
5. Immediate jobs/income, stimulate economy and help struggling consumers
6. Reduce carbon emissions
7. Promote energy independence

THE PLAN

Phase 1 – Bridge Loan

Immediately infuse $25 billion to U.S. auto industry as bridge loan. There is no doubt, the big 3 manufacturers will return to Congress with a “viable” plan on December 2nd, whether it actually is or isn’t. We must give them the money.

Phase 2 – Generate Sales/Demand for Green Cars, Stimulate Economy, Jobs

Issue $25 billion in vouchers redeemable from U.S. car manufacturers for energy efficient/green autos. The vouchers, x quantity, can be issued to taxpayers through a lottery type arrangement. Energy efficiency and green should be pre-defined but should not include, for example, Cadillac Escalade hybrids. Vouchers should only be redeemable for current efficient and innovative new green products.

So what if a voucher winner doesn’t need a new car? They can do whatever they want to with it:

1. Keep it and sell what they have to somebody else.
2. Give it away to someone more needy
3. Sell it at a discount. Selling it gets money moving.

Phase 2 spurs competition among the big 3 to race to market with products that meet our goals as stated above with real demand and sales, not just handing money over. If they don’t innovate, they won’t get their piece of the pie.

SUMMARY

This stimulus plan will protect 3 million auto industry jobs. The plan will actually increase employment as a result of a new industry for innovative green auto products. Phase 2 actually creates new demand/sales and stimulates our economy. The plan will create new green jobs; sell new insurance, new battery innovation and production, LNG autos, hydrogen autos, new registrations for autos, etc. etc. etc….

What might seem as the last straw in a failing U.S. economy could become a part of our solution to recovery. Let’s view the failing car industry as our biggest opportunity.

It only makes sense to me.But it appears that some are taking this opportunity to kick the Big Three while they're down. Everyone who ever had a bad experience with their American made car and no doubt that list is a long one, is trying to exact some revenge maybe, but this is not the time or the place. Nobody said boo when Wall St. was being propped up.That was done with the speed of light with very little rancor. What's the difference.

It really depends on what they plan to do with the money and if they have a clear objective in making things better and this should include protecting their workers.

Yes – we have to do all it takes to save US jobs. Stupid legislation [not economics], unreasonable insurances and crazy court judgements have made USA a difficult place for employers and led to a massive job loss to other countries!! China, India, Mexco etc are getting our jobs because they do not take an anti Employer stand, not because labor is cheaper there.
The least we can do is to save existing jobs while putting in place proper legislation rolling back some of the past populist laws so that employers can again start employing Americans in america without fear!!!!

One of the big 3 needs to go bankrupt, as a lesson. The auto makers need a clear define plan as how they plan on turning a profit, and show that they are going to produce something that we want to buy.

I think if we had single payer healthcare in this country, the big 3 wouldn't be in as much debt. Healthcare costs is their biggest expense. Now they are taking those benefits away from current employees, as well as retirees. I fear my mom and dad will lose theirs. My dad had 43 years, and my mom put in 30 years with GM.

Larry,

I am worried that we are going to make another pre-emptive decision based on need of an industry in peril, perhaps self-induced to some degree, without making sure that the end-user's (buyer's) of these vehicles will have an opportunity to actually finance any of these products in this current financial market. If we assume that the banks will all of a sudden lend money for over-priced cars & trucks currently offered, then we are in for another round of congressional hearings in the very near future as well. If we don't make certain that our banking industry will support our buying customers and taxpayers for these products prior to lending the Big 3 billions, then we will have accomplished nothing in the end. Many will be out of work,
the money will be gone and with the taxpayer holding the bag once again.

Thank you,

Ed Hull

I believe that this is the perfect time to prevent our long term fiascos.
In the automaker arena, the deterioration of our fossil fuels alongside global warming are two issues that can be swept aside in a single move.

The auto bailout should be tenatively passed, with this prerequisite:

Automakers intent on recieving federal funding shall focus primarily on the transition from traditional vehicles to hybrid and 'green' vehicles entirely. The auto companies' inherent revenue (outside of the bailout's assistance) shall be rerouted to provide accessibility to this neccesary technology.

To define the aformentioned tenativeness: a schedule towards the transition to the green auto industry shall be measured in fiscal increments. If the auto companies are not progressing towards the stated goal, then the funding shall be returned with interest to the federal government, subsequently paving the way for a completely new company or companies- producing green automobiles alone.

The risk of running a monopoly is present, though it may be for the better good if an appointed body supervises and publishes the revenue(s) of the new companies.

believe that this is the perfect time to prevent our long term fiascos.
In the automaker arena, the deterioration of our fossil fuels alongside global warming are two issues that can be swept aside in a single move.

The auto bailout should be tenatively passed, with this prerequisite:

Automakers intent on recieving federal funding shall focus primarily on the transition from traditional vehicles to hybrid and ‘green’ vehicles entirely. The auto companies’ inherent revenue (outside of the bailout’s assistance) shall be rerouted to provide accessibility to this neccesary technology.

To define the aformentioned tenativeness: a schedule towards the transition to the green auto industry shall be measured in fiscal increments. If the auto companies are not progressing towards the stated goal, then the funding shall be returned with interest to the federal government, subsequently paving the way for a completely new company or companies- producing green automobiles alone.

The risk of running a monopoly is present, though it may be for the greater good so long as an appointed commitee supervises and publishes the revenue(s) of the new companies.

Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky
42101

I oppose bailing out American auto companies!

I am a liberal democrat who voted for Obama. But, where is it written that I must also blindly support the unions whose have created the legacy costs that are choking the life out of an industry?

CNN has consistently failed to report on the other, successful, companies that build autos in America, employ americans, pay a comparable wage to Americans and build better cars. Tell America about Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai. That is the future! When the Big 3 die off the "little3" will move north, buy the factories, hire the workers and it will be business as usual. The difference? No, bloated retirement perks.

This sounds harsh. But maybe it's not up to a car company to provide for the long term, retirement benefits of it's employees That tast should fall to the government to make sure there is affordable health care for every retired person not just a retired auto worker. Let auto companies make autos and let government provide access to health care.

Let the American Model of Bloated, Top Heavy, Union shackled, auto business die the death it's meant to.

LaDonna

Re Gary M., 4:53 pm: It is clear to me that much serious thought has been invested into most of the previous comments. Unfortunately, many of them are too long to be aired on your TV program and will likely be committed to what serves as your dead file. I suggest you forward all of them to President Elect Obama's team. I would also suggest that a committee be formed comprised of a few plain old civilians, some auto workers, and perhaps someone with a legal background. These committee's should be inbeded in the three management and decision making groups with a veto power. This may help keep them from straying to their old, error filled way of making decisions. Someone involved in energy development other oil should also be included.

NO. Not one penny.

Let the big three get their bail-out through the oil companies, after all
they are like brother's. cannot have one with out the other.

and if all the fact were on the table. like all my co worker friends and myself as well, if it were not for such high gasoline prices over the past
6 years, we would have all made our mortgage payment's on time and in full, no problem.

The oil companies profited hundred's of billion's of dollars causing most of the economy problem's .

last year i had to spend $420 per month in gasoline. that $5,040. yr.
I net $18,000 per year. mortgage payment $265. per month

Although the big 3’s don’t deserve a cent from our tax money, given the current conditions of our economy, a bailout should be given with strict oversight of every cent they use.

A bailout to the auto and any industry by the tax payers' money will be a clear "injustice". The employees of this so called special industries earn more than we that are been asked to bail them out.... Uhm. I see they are the chosen one. We who have been struggling to survive long before this their orchestrated bailouts are not part of the equation that sums up the american dream.
Its a NO to this bailout, let them cut back on their lifestyle , make adjustments like we the ordinary people have been doing in the last several months and stay hopeful for better days will come .... but with sacrifices from everyone. No one is above the much needed lessons or sacrifices to get us out of the hard times that we are facing today.

Kingsley Obanor

For Brad Pitt,
Both my wife and I are very environmental – and I even lived in New Orleans for a couple of months back in the mid-eighties and loved the flavor of the whole experience. The people, music, food – it was all amazing. Yet I could never get past the fact of what a polluted part of the country it was and still is. It lies at the base of the extremely polluted Mississippi – and with Katrina – all of the flooded areas were completed covered with these toxic waters.
Why rebuild there? Do you really think it is safe now? Aren't the grounds saturated?
It reminds me of so many places around the country where schools and playgrounds have been built on old dump sites.
Why not build a new version of the Ninth Ward and New Orleans on safer ground?
Even so – what we see you and Angelina doing is absolutely amazing!
All the best,
Jude and Gina

Meant to add ...
we're from northwest CT

First, I would like to see not only the ceo's to take drastic pay cuts, but also the other top management. Absolutely no bonuses. Trim the fat from the top and then trickle down to regular workers. I would like to know how many regular workers does it take to equal one year salary of top management. Cutting management first will yeild substantial savings when you consider the perks: insurance, large retirements, stock options, receiving bonuses after leaving the company and more.Afterward, go to middle management, cutting positions here also and funnel down. For over twenty years, the auto industry has received huge salaries and bonuses even though they were loosing money. At this time, I would like to see how tight they can run the ship before I give them the money.

Agree with Ed Hull 100%!!!!!!!

I support the bailout ONLY IF all the 3 auto makers convert ALL their manufacturing to make hybrid vehicles for consumers and for public transportation.

Norb Lyle
Buffalo, Wy.

@ Gary Mermelstein,
I agree with your proposal but feel some additions are necessary.

Under SOLUTIONS.....1. Infuse necessary working capital to U.S. auto manufacturers. ( Should be amended to stipulate that taxpayer funds shall be used for US Plants only for retooling and retraining and until the company operates in the Black for two (2) consecutive quarters or repays the loan, no bonuses shall be paid to Executives or dividends to stock holders.

As far as Chrysler is concerned, being a private company they should do an IPO as taxpayer dollars should not be used to shore up investments made by unknown private investors. Should the company decide to open it's books for inspection to insure that not more than 49% of the company is owned by investors outside the USA and to insure that it is using the Bridge loan to benefit the US employees of Chrysler and the US Chrysler plants only. If the company agrees to the terms being applied to the others then they shall also be included in the bridge loan.

The AWU is just as much to blame. The wages and BENEFITS these people get are outrageous. I am a nurse and make nowhere near the amount these folks get and I am responsible for peoples lives! The auto industry has made their own greedy bed. ..from the poor quality vehicles they have made for 30 yrs. to the AWU...I do not like being robbed while I work my - off 16 hour days due to a nursing shortage.
They can suck it up like I have to.

I feel sorry for these workers whom may lose there jobs, How Ever I remember when I needed a job in Manufactuing back in the 70ty's. the unions would not consider hiring me in good times.
After all these years, I have learned a new trade and aim working.
I really do not believe in giving my tax dallors to unions.

it's my turn. your going to be laidoff.

Marry Christmass!

Bill
Iowa

Not for Chrysler, they are a privately held corporation and we are not privy to heir financial records, the mess they made. They got a bilout years ago and still can't funtion, what about the billions earned by the top ranking employees and chief?
GM and Ford, let the employes buy a share in the company, fire the fat cats, stop paying people for being idle, this way they only hire who they need, idle teachers, nurses and so forth do not get paid so why should thye, no work no pay, simple math.
GM has sold me car after car, to support my family and they are worse than ever, my current lease is my last auto with them, high prices and low value and constant problems with the cars I have had for the last two purchases, I have bought GM for over 20 years, no longer will they get my money. Family or not.
Government should take over the pension portion and the retirees should get there share, not the CEO:S they earn to much for a failing vbusiness.

I was surprised that a consummate professional like Larry King would join the foray of misquoters of the candidate then, now President Elect Barrack Obama on the question of going into Pakistan after Terrorists.

Mr. Obama's reply to the question of whether or not he would arbitrarily send troops into Pakistan after terrorists without the approval of the Pakistani government was so very precise and unambiguos that even a relatively uneducated person like me had no problem understanding his position with the greatest degree of clarity. Yet I have heard so many misquotations of his position on CNN with little or no rebuttal.To hear Larry also doing this was most disturbing.

What the President Elect said was that if Pakistan could not or would not take action against these terrorists then his administration would consider arbitrary action.

I was pleasantly consoled by the Pakistani Prime Minister's correction of Larry's misquotation of the President Elect's comments. Bravo to him.

The Prime Minister said in the interview that the world is having a romance with the President Elect and that he is looking forward to co-operating with him for the good of humanity. Bravo to him, again.

NO DOUBT THE WORLD IS UNFOLDING AS IT SHOULD!!

Matter of fact when they get laid off, tell them to go to nursing school- we darn sure can use the help!!! Jobs o plenty....16 hour days whenever they want!

For Kelli
It is not the unions, how about top managements salaries got higher and higher and took huge amounts of money as bonuses. Not only should the unions take a pay cut , so should the guys who made millions while not being profitable. After all, top management set the future goals of a company and charts its direction. As long as they got their huge salaries and benefits package, top management did not care where they took the company.

Oh Dianne-don't even get me started about the CEO's!!! They are not even human!

I think these CEO's are as addicted as drug addicts- but their addiction is luxury. It is just a disgrace...all of them...and I hope more cities and states are going to start sueing these CEO's – AIG, GM, Lehman's...all of them need to be sued over this- then they can have someone BAIL them out of JAIL!

Why is it so hard for Western media to agree that there are extremists in Pakistan and they are linked with ISI and Pakistan's army?

Yes I feel we should pull the car industry out because they create more jobs for this country and we didn't mind giving 700 billion to the mortgage companies so that they could pay all their CEO's so why not help the auto industry out.

Danny Claxton
Hazlehurst GA

With all the big CEO's and big wigs in the auto industry, are thier million dollar a year paychecks going to remain the same or will they take a huge paycut to help the cause?

The rumor is they are all going to take $1 a year if they get the bail out- looks like they all went home and read Ioccoca's book over Thanksgiving.

Larry,

I've been watching you for years and I have always enjoyed your shows. I was upset about how you interviewed that poor woman last night , her husband and 13 year old daughter was murdered in India. You could see that she was so sad, almost still in shock. You interupted her and didn't seem to be really listenening to her. And when you broke away to break so abruptly, I changed the station. Please watch that part over again and ask yourself if you came across compasionate to this poor womans heartbreak. Thank you.

As a 37 year resident of the metro Detroit area and an automotive worker I am appalled with Michael Moore. The very company (GM) that put food in the mouthes and roofs over the heads of his fellow citizens of Flint, Michigan for many, many years has now become a financial punching bag for him. Unfortunately your words do carry some weight with some and if the "Americas 3" don't get the LOANS that they want I hope you do a documentary on all the thousands of people that will be out of work. Mr. Moore you have really lost touch while living in your multi-million dollar estate in the resort town of Traverse City. Ironically isn't that where the auomotive executives vacation in the summer.

Absolutly the Feds should make the loans to the Detroit 3 and Mr Moore should get get his head out of the sand and STAND UP for America! Obviously Mr Moore has not tried the new Chevrolet Malibu or the Cady CTS, or the New Generation of GM Trucks... they are World Class. I'm sick and tired of the bashing of the Detroit 3. Where is your Patriot commitment Mr Moore? Forget the past, now is now and Detroit builds world class iron. I'm ashamed of the misconceptions brought on by negative attidudes. A North American Revolution? Why Not !

THIS IS IN GENERAL INSULT TO AVERAGE WORKING CLASS WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR AUTO INDUSTRY AND FOR AMERICA . ONE TIME IT WAS EXAMPLE OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY FOR SUCCESS OF LABOR AND MANAGEMENT. SURE EVERY ORGANIZATION HAS ITS FAULTS; LIKE BANKING INDUSTRY. WHERE IS AMERICAN PRIDE AND FAIRNESS. IS THERE ANY REPORTER WHO REALLY CAN STAND AND SPEAK UP FOR AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY FAIR AND SQUARE. IS THERE ANY REPORTER WHO WOULD TAKE THE SIDE OF AUTO INDUSTRY WHICH HAS SERVED AMERICA WELL FOR GENERATIONS.

Maybe these 3 big automakers, need to renegotiate with the UAW
unions to keep from laying-off workers.
I don't understand WHY the autoworkers continue to get paid a high percentage of their weekly pay, – – while they sit at home, during the "retooling" for the next years car line ! ! ! ! Maybe someone can explain that.

Its high time that the CEO's of these auto companies get what they deserve. As far as the bailout goes, I'm not worried about the management, I'm worried about the workers. Since 2006 there have been 100,000 job cuts, and if it passes they will still lay people off. To blame the loss on the unions is completely unjustified. These people are what keep the company going. We must nationalize the auto industry and let the people run them. Eliminate the greedy controlling this industry, and there would be less problems. Vote down the bailout, and start moving away from oppressive control.

Pat / Michael more you are the most honorable true American in this country, you put if on the table like it is, not like the others, they tell you lies and candy coated B.S.

The Big Three Auto companies have littered this country with mostly
JUNK AUTOMOBILES, And Spit on 8 out 10 American's.

Michael Moore GOD BLESS YOU.

Regarding the bailout of the Big 3, I believe my suggestion has strong merit. As much as I believe that the Big 3 should not get any bailout money, I believe that this would be too much of a strain on my fellow hardworking Americans. What I suggest is the following, one if the Big 3 should be allowed to fail, this will show the Big 3 as will as the American people that the government will not bailout every company. As far as picking one, honestly, it should be random, all 3 have failed equally. Of the 2 remaining companies, they should both be made to dump their most unprofitable brand. Also the Big 2, should now be split up into 6 individual automotive companies. This will promote a strong competition in the new U.S. automotive industry. In these new 6, each CEO salary should be capped, at something more reasonable like $2million, and also held accountable for their companies very strictly.

A good way to look at this would be, this example. You have Ford, GM, and Daimler Chrysler. Lets says Daimler Chrysler is let to fail. Now you have Ford and GM. Ford and GM dump the unprofitable brand, say GM dumps Buick. And Fords drops says Lincoln. Of the remaining brands from GM and Ford, lets say GM has 3, and Ford has 3. GM and Ford are now broken up into 6 individually run companies.

I still can say that EVERY American vehicle I have ever owned has been junk!! ( A total of 5 of them)...I am not buying junk from anyone!
I would NEVER buy an American car again!

Tell them Michael!

Mike you are a Socialist!

Thank you Mr. Moore for shedding light on the malfeasance of the Bush Adminstration these past 8 year.............How about Mr. Romney putting his money where his mouth is........his company Bain Capital has stripped more jobs from Americans and shipped them overseas.

Now is the time for a change and bailing out companies is not the change we need.

Michael Moore can't even make good movies. Why should we trust his opinion on how to run the economy?

Absolutely NOT, for all the reasons Michael Moore states. How dumb do those three blind mice think we are?!!

No. There are better cars being made in the US by companies like Toyota and Honda.

– Pablo Faja (Florence, SC)

I am opposed to the government bail out of the Auto Industry. However, I do have a solution that does not involve the government:

Since the oil companies have been experiencing windfall profits and since a majority of their profits are based on auto-industry products, why doesn't the auto industry secure funds from the oil industry to help bail them out? Simple. Logical. Good business. Done.

Tom Gabrielli

Absolutely NOT! They don't deserve it, for the past 3 years they have squandered the money they had, let them go bankrupt, I understand this will affect alot of people but let the chips fall where they may.

I haven't heard of any of the bail out companies includebringing jobs back to the USA. Are any considering employing our US citizins instead of stimulating other countries economies? Seems to me offshoring and manufacturing plants in foreign lands was the beginning of our downfall –

Due to the lack of Government Administration with the AIG and Banking bail outs I am uneasy to the extreme with this new bail out consideration of our auto industry without major and quantitative oversight!

In addition, General Motors is boasting to cut 31,000 jobs and 11 plants as part of their "new business plan" – I want questions raised in the upcoming meetings to find out if the intended job cuts and plant closings are relative to their overseas operations, the United States, or a mix. If they do not intend to cut major costs overseas let them get their bail out from another country – NOT FROM MY TAX DOLLARS!!!!!

As a recent victim of Auto Industry lay-offs I know for fact that if GM (Ford, or Chrysler) fail other manufacturers will re-tool their vehicle demand/supply manufacturing operations thereby increasing employment within their plants, dealerships, and, dealers will hire additional service technicians to service and repair GM/Ford/Chrysler models.

I currently own a GM product and have it serviced/repaired at a Nissan Dealership! I am sick of the chicken little/the sky is falling baloney about this – in fact, if I needed an alternator or any other mechanical part for my American made automobile I do not have to buy OEM and in most cases they are far less expensive, perform and last just as long and in some cases better than OEM!

Please do not give these companies card blanc on my tax dollars – make them agree to extreme scrutiny and accountability for every dollar spent as well as major cuts overseas and bring those jobs back to the United States where they belong and should have never been allowed to leave with tax breaks to boot!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Linda Lou Starr/Colorado Springs, CO 80904

No, I strongly disagree with the auto bailout. It seems like the taxpayers would be delaying the inevitable. I feel sorry for the auto workers but what can you do... these are tough times.

Larry...
The responsible thing to do is to preserve the infrastructure of the American workers in the Auto Industry.
I believe that the American Taxpayers money should be accountable to boost the Auto Industry by providing an investment to the Auto Industry with a ESOP structure by giving faith to the Auto Workers.
Let us provide a Taxpayer's bailout in the form of an Employee Stock Option Program; the true backbone that the American Taxpayer's support to this industry and watch how this investmen will payoff far better supplying the funds directly to management!

I do not.

No, I don't support a bailout. I feel that like Michael says, they're just going to take the money and blow it and making cars that we don't want and that are not feasible. I feel that we should let them file bankruptcy and start from the ground up. When a child makes a mistake, we punish them, not give them a sucker and hope that they don't make that mistake again.

No I don't support the current bailout plan, I agree with Mr. Moore. On the other hand, we've spent 1.6 trillion on a financial industry that no one understands....so what's the point of quibbling over 35Billion? Are we missing the larger discussion?

Michael,

What do you think about the financial bailout?

Thanks

Herve, the french guy.

Why would you have someone like Michael Moore commenting on the car business! He can't even keep himself looking clean enough to be on your show. Who in the world would even listen to someone who looks like that. Tell him to clean himself up and he might be taken more seriously.

Will the CEO's and big wigs of the automakers take a generous pay cut if givin this money? How much money do these big wigs in the auto industry make and how many little people jobs does that covert to?

NO NO NO

Yes, Yes, Yes. We cannot let the workers down. It is NOT their fault the companies are not making a profit right now. But we MUST continue to make cars in this country!!

Larry,
I could n't agree more with Michael more. He is absolutely correct. How come one can trust the same management change over night or over a period of one month seeking for $18B of your and my money?

No, the Government should take that money and put it to training all the out of work auto workers. I agree with Michael, we need mass transit.

LARRY, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE THEM A BAILOUT, BECAUSE GM IS BUILDING A NEW PLANT IN RUSSIA. WHY SHOULD WE BAIL THEM OUT WHEN THEY ARE GIVING PEOPLE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY OUR JOBS? TELL THEM TO BRING THE JOBS BACK INTO OUR COUNTRY AND THEN WE WILL HELP YOU. THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG HERE. THE CEO'S SHOULD TAKE A CUT IN PAY. WHY SHOULD THEY STILL GET ALL OF THESE PERKS AND THE MANUFACTURES ARE BEING ASKED TO GIVE UP MORE MONEY. WHAT ARE THEY GIVING UP? WHY DON'T THEY TRY TO LIVE ON WHAT WE HAVE TO LIVE ON? WE THE MIDDLE CLASS ARE THE ONES THAT MADE THESE CEO'S WHAT THEY ARE. THEY DIDN'T DO IT ALONE, BUT THEY DON'T THINK TWICE ABOUT SHIPPING OUR JOBS OVERSEAS. WHY DON'T THEY FIND SOMEONE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY TO DO THEIR JOBS CHEAPER?

Michael seems to have the common sense necessary to move the auto industry forward....Obama needs to hire him on as a consultant!

Will the CEOs give themselves a bonus if they succeed in this bailout?

NO WAY. I thought this was AMERICA, and I thought we had a FREE MARKET. Then again, I am only 23, what do I know...

Larry,
It is my understanding their is more middle management then labor employee's. Is this true? If so get rid of the weight the proper way, element the managment salaries and keep the worker bees.

I agree until they change their ways NO BAIL OUT.

Portland Oregon

What doesn't Big Oil bail out Big Auto? The auto industry has been in the pocket of the oil companies for years, helping Big Oil make all of that Big Money by building inefficient cars. Let Big Oil help solve this mess.

NO, they do not. The big three had their chance and they screwed it up big time. Give the bail out money to a company that's really going to do some good

I totally agree with Michael Moore's view that we should not provide bail out money to the automakers and then have them lay off more middle class hard working people.

I absolutely agree with Michael Moore, I usually do. I really hope our President-Elect is watching the show tonight.

No

The government should give the money to the companies on one condition force them to keep the jobs in america.

The United States needs banks to function in financial world, not auto companies. I get it, there are a lot of jobs at stack, but even with all the money in the world, all three companies will be making job cuts. People will lose their jobs, no matter what.

Let the "big three" figure it out on their own.

Absolutely not. I do not support a bailout of the big three. Where does it end. Who will be next to need a bailout. Like Lou Dobbs said that money could be used to better our schools. Why aren't we bailing them out.

Absolutely no money should go to these rich guys who have failed their companies, their employees, and the United States. They make millions of dollars a year because they're not supposed to let this kind of stuff happen!

Give the money to Michael Moore and Brad Pitt. It will go much farther!

If anyone should bail out the auto companies, it should be the oil companies, because they are the one's who pressured them to build non fuel-efficient vehicles.

I support a bailout on the following conditions:
1- All 3 must declare Chapter 11 reorgnization first
2- All 3 must have a viable 5 year plan after reemerging from Chapter 11
3- Chrysler should be merged with either GM or Ford and Cerberus should not be compensated for a bad financial bet

Absolutely no bailout for the big 3. The arrogance to use America and the tax payers as its pawns is purely disgusting. They have had years to retool and recognize that ecomonical vehicles is what americans need!

I believe that the 3 major auto makers should come up with better more efficiant vehicals, then go ahead and ask for a bail from the goverment

Between a rock and a hard place on this one. Bailing out the Big Three is better than outsourcing these jobs abroad...

Eric

Boston, Mass.

It's ridiculous but needed..Give them the loan but with the leaders removed and new management installed. A strong vision 2012 is necessary NOT elimination of job vision!!

I don't support bailing out the Big 3 unless they come up with a plan like Michael just came up with. I think he's dead on!!! Unless they want to eliminate 22,000 Upper mgmt jobs they shouldn't be eliminating any jobs or sending anymore overseas.

Thank you,
Connie

My initial reaction to this question is no...but then after thinking about the billions and billions of taxpayer dollars spent on Iraq, it seems like they should be helped out...if only they do the three things that Michael proposes. I hope Obama can see this through.

I agree completely with Mr. Moore. The financial bailout makes sense because the banks don't have a history of failure but have been leading the world in finances. GM has been strugling for the past decade competeing with foreign auto makers.

If the oil companies want to continue getting rich off of the backs of americans, then the oil companies should bail out the car companies.

NO!!! We have bankruptcy laws in place for this kind of situation.

No, I do not support the bailout. What are competing companies doing differently? Where do the big 3 stand in scheme of things? Who sells the most cars? None of the big 3.

I think Michael Moore is absolutely right on!

It is interesting to have Michael Moore one of the biggest union supporters against a bailout. The reason they need a bailout is due to the Unions and their rules. 1. Paying people who do not work, and 2. sticking to old rules that do not let them get things done as efficiently and allow the big 3 to compete. So no I do not support a bailout but I am shocked MM does not.

Yes, I support the bailout of the Auto Industry, when and only when GM, Chrysler and Ford have the same vision and put out the quality vehicles with the needed alternative fuel technology as Volkswagon, Toyota and Honda.

George from Germantown

I agree to a bailout if terms like the ones Mike put forth could be adopted. I live in Houston where it took us 15 years to build an above ground rail line because of all the permits and garbage obstacles that come with building something through the public domain.

If the president set a mandate that said 'Enough' of this crap, get the mass transit system done, and get it done now, our country would be a lot better off in so many ways. Keep up the good work Mike!

This bailout to the automakers should only be rendered and contingent upon the resignation of these idiot corporate leaders. America should not lose sight of strict accountability.

No. Give the money (far less) to Better Place, Tesla, Ballard Power, etc.

I think the Gov should give us tax payers a coupon to buy an american car. The car co's will then boom and us tax payers get a car. We all win not just the executives of the car co's.

I agree with Michael Moore....there should be no bail out, the auto Industry has been a let down, let them layoff their execs!

NO.....Let the automakers reinvent themselves. We the people are forced into bankruptcy in trying times like these. Corporate American can face the same fate.

No bailout please. Nobody bailed me out when I got laid off. I am still laid off and almost dying of stress trying to figure a way out. So everyone should do the same

I hear what Michael Moore is saying, however, 20,000 out of work is better than 2million......

Two tips from my article about the auto industry

Give up the fight for being #1
--------------
Look at VW. It does not sell the most cars, but it does make a lot of dough. GM needs to give up the race for being the number one automotive manufacturer and settle for simply being an automotive manufacturer that actually makes some money when a vehicle is sold.

You make a lot of cars which spend a lot of days on the lots resulting in a lot of discounts which leads to a lot of loss. How about, you only make the amount of cars you can actually sell.

Rename the cars
-------–
And for crying out loud, rename some of the cars. Who wants to drive a car called Mali-boo regardless of how many improvements they have made. How come Civic is synonymous with value and quality and Cobalt with penultimate in cheap materials and quality. Shake things up and provide consumers a new perspective. Oh and do you remember if the Grand AM was a step higher than the Gran Prix?

NO WAY JUST TO PAY THEIR HIGH SALARIES. WHAT GOOD WOULD IT DO, THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MONEY NOW TO BUY CARS, WHY WOULD THAT HELP. WE ARE THE ONES THAT NEED A BAIL OUT.

if the car mfg's want to be "bailedout" shouldnt the car mf's bail out those individual borrowers who purchased their cars thru theri lending companies, e.g. GMAC credit corp?

The automakers are in this situation in part because of the economy and credit markets, but also due to poor planning and management. Why would we finance this same leadership with our tax dollars? Capitol Hill needs to make sure American dollars are being invested wisely before we give billions of dollars to the big 3. What is our ROI?

I never thought I would agree with Michael Moore, but he is right on! It is time to get rid of the me generation upper managements in this country. We should be judged how the poor live, not the rich.

Greed and inept business tactics should not be rewarded, but doing nothing is not an option either. As a wholesale car dealer, I am worried about the millions of jobs and countless mom and pop small businesses that will be effected if the companies are allowed to collapse. There is much more than the big three and their workers at stake here.

I do not support the buyout. Back in October the federal government gave the nine largest banks $250,000,000,000 to bail them out. Banks are in the business of lending money....not the gov't. The nine largest banks, the three automakers, and the gov't can all get together to figure out how the banks can lend some of this $250,000,000,000 to the automakers to assure that all three entities and the tax payers win.

No. Let the government take over the industry, hire responsible managers to produce the right kind of transportation (green), then resell them at a profit to the tax payers.

Although they don't deserve a dime of our hard earned dollars, I feel that it is needed given the state of our economy. If they are given this money, they need to bring all jobs back into the US and STOP firing their workers.

I do not support this bailout unless we demand from the Big 3 that they produce public transportation, hybrid/electric cars, or any other demands the American Public needs. Take a note from Hunter S. Thompson's Hells Angels.

They need to flounder just like all of us loosing in this horrible economy

Michael Moore says he wants to bring in the best minds to run the auto companies. How does he propose to pay those best minds? I think he will be shocked when he finds out they wont be paid in potatoes and cheese...... When he finds out they will have to be paid multi million dollar contracts, his fantasy world will finally collide with the real world.

I am concerned that so much media coverage has been given to the automakers, yet there is not even a mention of citibank. Where is the oversight on this money that is not a loan, like the proposal to the three automakers, but an out and out give away. Yesterday Citibank was proposing hundreds of millions of dollars to a stadium for putting their name on it. Where is the outcry?!

Will we have to march on Washington, DC to stop this big bailout giveawy? Any plans for that Michael?

There was a funny comic I saw today that suggested using a bailout plan where a bag of money is held over a cliff, and the fat cats chase after it and fall off the cliff.

It is hard for me to feel too sorry for the guys on top, but I am concerned for the workers. I wish there was a way to help the company so that it benefits the workers and not the fat cats.

Yes, I support an investment in the auto companies, as long as:

* The union cuts costs
* Management cuts costs
* They build cars better than any other country

Otherwise, we (the USA) will be in deep, deep trouble economically.

No!!!

No. I do not support a tax payer bailout of the big 3. They've made their bed, let them sleep in it. I would rather have a slightly longer recession and a restructured auto industry through bankruptcy then for us to postpone the inevitable.

I do not think that leaving the current people in charge is a good idea. If we are going to pay for these CEOs' mistakes, then new CEOs should be appointed and they current ones should get no bonuses or anything of that sort.

Larry, I agree with Michael Moore 150%! The CEO's need to be fired and let them go bankrupt and then restructure. The salaries should be ut and get rid of the unions. Even if the economy recovers, who wants to buy these outdated gas gusslers? They need to focus on mass transit and hybrid vehicles. I feel for the autoworkers, but hey, no one is bailing me out. I have no job, but I do get unemployment insurance, so can they!

Michael Moore is expressing my thoughts and I appreciate his viewpoint! We need more electric and hybrid cars. They should be made in this country and exported to others. Its time for a change.

I absolutely do not support the bailout of the automakers.

The big three should be denied a taxpayer funded bailout. If the auto industry needs someone to float them a loan, I'd suggest that they contact their friends in the oil industry.

It would help if the Big Three were to make cars that people wanted to buy.

Jimbo in Toronto

I am from Lansing, MI. I say let the water seek it's own level. I do not support the bailout. How many years have high school educated people protected by a union get overpaid and underworked? Fire everyone, start again with non-union labor. Why do you thing the south has been so successful? They control labor costs!

No, I dont support the bailout. But remember, Americans didnt support the 700 billion dollar bailout either. The american peoples opionions are being undercut by the poloticians we elect to speak for us.

No No No..............
They should not get a penny unless they can produce
cars that can compete With Honda, Toyota & all other
cars from all over the world......
It will be a waste if we help them without conditions &
Brand New Managments......

No, I don't support the bail out. We need to look and think strategically at the very idea of continuing to make cars and assuming our economy must continually expand. Resources are finite and the earth's capacity to accommodate our waste is finite. Cars are dinosaurs. Now is the time, after decades of ignoring the opportunity, to move into renewable energy, mass transit, local economies and sustainable systems.

Larry I agree with Michael, Detroit has been doing this for decades! We landed man on the moon in 1969, but yet we can't build "green cars" or those that perform like the Japanese?

Is it just more, or shouldn't the oil companies who have made all these record profits over the years from these 3 automakers who refuse to make fuel effecient cars bail them out? They would suffer more if these companies go out....Foreign car companies are making cars that run on less oil! Let them use these record profits to bail them out!

Is this a loan or a bailout?

Yes we should bail them out, but only with controls. The big 3 have arms that reach into almost all of our hometowns with various parts they and the sub contractors purchase.

Not a dime. Give it to the people instead. The CEO will work for $1, but how big is his bonus?

I support the bail out but stiff conditions should be attached. A plan as outlined by Micheal Moore is what is needed, a strict government hand in determing what is made and sold to the customers, taking into account the majority of the people's interest.

Yes but it should be an investment rather than a freebee. The government should enforce them to build more fuel efficient and environment friendly cars. Streamline the different brands. Reduce the redundancy. Renegotiate the contracts with UAW. Diversfy the business to build similar products.

I'm a current GM worker now and Congress never asked me if I wanted my tax dollars used for bailing out Wall Street.

Why shouldn't Wall Street bail me out now ?? What's good for the goose is good for the Gander, right ?

The only way to lose the current management is to let them fail. So let them fail.

I do support it, but under the right circumstances. New management, and new methods of energy efficient transportation. No more job losses! I just got laid off can somebody hire me?

I agree with Michael, that bailout should be supported conditionally and shouldnt be be given to automakers under current management

Big 3 Management must step up and reduce the lead time to cars that the people want, not what management wants to make. They must be more aggressive and set higher goals. 3 years to a gas efficeient car is ridiculus and if they can't make it, don't wast our money.
Dave

NOOOO! We should not bail out the US auto co's. Their leadership is arrogant and has not changed. They think the country owes them instead of the other way around. Replace them all and we will think of bailing out the companies to save jobs. We used to produce the best cars in the world. Now we are behind Korea.

Kevin Houston

I support a bridge loan NOT a bailout. Let's get the semantics right. Do we want to let the auto industry fade away like we have alot of manufacturing companies? Yes, the auto industry has made mistakes, but it will be a real tragedy to let another industry fail.

Are you kidding me? Hey Congress, come down here & bail me out!
I think all of us should refuse to pay taxes if they keep bailing out the filthy rich!

Yes I support the tax payer bailout as long as it does not support the unions that put the auto industry in the postion that it's in. We need to work on eliminating the cost associated to union labor. Talk about a restructuring!

I dont expect anyone to come to our rescue.People have been jealous of auto workers along time so now here's thier chance to try and hurt us.The back bone of the US economy for many yrs.10 jobs are related to every auto worker so think about it.

I support Mr. Moore's idea of how to fix the auto industry. He knows what he's talking about. We can not give all this money to these idiots who run the industry now.

A bailout is not the solution – the US economy is already massively in debt because of factors external to all of this – which means their involvement globally in world affairs (i.e. Iraq et al) spending money where it could be used more wisely.

A bailout is not the solution – the solution is stop wasting tax payer money on an illegitimate war.

My question is: Since the Big 3 have foreign interest in building
vehicles in other countries are those countries and citizens of those
countries going to promote their tax dollars to provide bridge loans?

Giving the Big three tax dollars is just going to keep digging the hole deeper. The only way to get these car companies from siphoning more money from the American public, they need to go green and invest more in fuel efficiency.

The auto companies need a bail out for the good of the workers...BUT not with the present CEO's of this company. They do not care about the american workers and they do not care about the quality of their cars. They need new talent with a vision on good economical cars. I am against any bail out with the present leaders leaders in place.

Absolutely not. Unions had their place in manufacturings history, but no more. Unions have destroyed the big three automakers. Look at the man hour of one the three mentioned above versus one of the southern auto manufacturers. There is no comparison.

No I do not support the bailout. They will waist the money as they have in the past. I agree with Mr. Moore that we have to move to mass transit but in addition the unions must be broke so that Detroit can compete with foreign car makers in the south.

One of the three has been involved in buidling a new plant in Russia. Is that still in the works and if so why is not be scrapped in order to promote more American jobs?

I do not hear much about the Unions taking pay cuts, is it true they make approximately $70 per hour? Don't you think that the union workers are over paid and should be willing to make sacrifices?

Absolutely not, the civilians get poorer and poorer everyday, while the CEO's of the auto industry drink fine champagne and caviar. The car companies need to get their act together or we will just bring in the international auto builders to take over.

Why do we need three automakers?

Michael Moore speaks my mind!

I support a bail-out with restrictions to the big three and the union. In addition, Chrysler needs to make those statements public before they get a dime of tax payer money, period.

Instead of giving money to banks, auto makers etc. why doesn't the government give the money to the people that will spend it...the middle class. We will go out and spend (i.e. buy cars etc),save some of it which puts money in the banks for more people to borrow....What an idea...we get our own money back to actually spend so more people can keep working. We need to limit compensation and wages to management should only be 10% above the people that wrk for them..like it used to be...

Larry what part of NO! Don't you Understand? Michael is right if we give them the money they will take them and fill the gap in the payroll department, suppliers and paying off the past loans. Paying for the fuel trips for the corporate jets. Oh yes they will fire 30 or thousands more employees. Just Like Senator Clinton Said. " No way No how no Bail Out"

I say let the automakers go bankrupt and dissolve the unions as we know them today. No one is worth $75 an hour to drive a forklift. Give the workers reasonable health-care and other benefits for retirement but let the business become what business is supposed to be.,..able to stand on their own or fail. Thomas Jefferson once said, "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

Instead of goverment bail out, why don't we get the oil companies to put up funds needed?

Michael Moore is critical of the current leadership of the big 3. Does he realize that both Ford and Chrysler have fairly new leaders with new ideas? He has no idea how these leaders have changed the culture of these companies. Moore is living in the 70's with the information he displays.

For the sake of those viewers, who don't fully understand your question, I would encourage CNN to refer to the 'bailout', as a citizen-sponsored 'LOAN'. This will eliminate the misunderstanding that we will 'give' the auto manufacturers anything. Believe me, there are those, who think the latter...

the government has been bailing out all the big corporations, and while YES they hold a huge portion of available jobs, they still have been manufacturing non-fuel eficient cars and they have also been shipping jobs overseas. i would like to see a bailout for small business owners, people who have worked their lives, not only to improve their lifestyles but also to give jobs to more families...

Yes I support bailing out the auto industry...but only if the management heads and ceo's heads are replaced and sent packing to whatever country they've sold us out to...without pensions. The loyal workers and taxpayers deserve to continue making a living but these crackhead ceo's need to be terminated. Lets send these money mongering meatheads packing!

U.S. automakers lose money, move plants out of country.
Japanese automakers move factories to U.S., shows profit!
What's wrong with this picture??

They need to cut the workers pay,these guys make 30 to 40 dollars an hour.

Yes! ONLY if they will have available a car/truck that has an avg of 50 MPG by 2010. other wise no!!!!

No money to the big three!
If it does go through...then we need to change the name of the company to Tax payer Motors.

Larry,

Tax payers should not bail out the automakers. I think Exxon and Mobile should support the bailout.

Michael is right about this. Earlier this year we shopped for a new car and I was astounded at how poorly the auto industry had improved in the past 10 years since I last bought a vehicle. I was looking at the same vehicles, same gas mileage with GPS, DVD, etc.

Go to the SouthEast and you will find auto makers doing just fine. I say forget Detroit and lose the unions. The unions destroyed the steel industry and now they've destroyed Detroit.

The South has risen once again!

None of the three automakers have shown how they will effectively compete with the Japanes and European car makers. Until they focus on this, there will be fewer deals in the showrooms for them...which in turn will determine the ultimate outcome of any bailout.

My concern regarding the loan is "who" is going to buy the autos
they build? There are thousands of vehicles sitting on the docks
in California right now. I agree, we need to re-think this whole
trillion dollar bail-out.

No...When things were good the big three enjoyed huge profits they should have saved for a rainy day like the rest of us.

Yes, if the auto industry fails shortly after it will all circle the drain.

Yes, I support the bailout (with conditions). The company and unions must be accountable to someone. We cant afford our auto industry to self distruct.

I do not think that the auto makers should get help. I believe that the 800 billion should have gone to creating jobs, mass transit, repairing our bridges, and building schools etc. Create jobs for the environment.

I think wallstreetwelfare.com says it best.....

The big three do not deserve a bailout.

The unions and the executives together destroyed the big three.

They ignored consultants.

Ignored the environment....

They deserve to fail.

I served my country for four years. Union members get better benefits than US military members.

Where were they when national healthcare was being talked about years ago....

Now they support it....

it is all disgusting.....

Not willing to take $1 salary the first time they came to DC. Now they are...

I dont think we should bailout any of the big 3. Although I am with most Americans in that I think the auto industry is vital to our US economy, I dont believe a free handout will secure their financial future. Instead, we need to spur economic growth in ways that drive demand for our vehicles and increase the ability for the consumer to pay for them. Simply giving free cash to for profit companies doesn't seem to be the best use of taxpayer dollars.

I agree with Michael Moore. We need to keep the plants open, but not under the same incompetent managements. We need to stipulate they re-tool to build appropriate products. o blank check for current management.

why should the US taxpayers support this bail out?
did we or the gov't help the steel market?
the gov't let the steel market go overseas.....
how is this different?

Yes Yes Yes. We must not let them fail. It is NOT the workers fault they are not making a profit right now. We must continue to make cars and trucks in this country. It is imperative to the survival of this country. And why is it that only the auto industry had to provide Congress with a plan. Why didn't the banks or AIG have to do that. That is sad!

Greenfield, Indiana

How many times have we gone to a car dealership and have been ripped off paying 10 times what car parts should cost!!! They have built built-in junk obsolescence. Bail out the company, with collateral and then FIRE ALL THE CEO'S AND top management. Get some brilliant minds in there to take over and steer those ships.

If the big 3 close all the plants & jobs they sent outside our borders and return them here and hire american people...and do what mr. moore is speaking of – building hybrid cars, rail transportation and buses then yes I do! Thanks

Yes, I support the Big 3 Automakers bailout–without it millions of jobs will be lost if these 3 automakers sink.

I SOOOO agree with Michael Moore. The CEO's in charge of the Big 3 have run them right into the ground. Step one – no bailout without the CEO and their immediate minions stepping down. Search out the guys who tried to warn management they were headed down the wrong path – and put THEM in charge – or hire the best, the brightest and let them take over.

Step Two – no bailout if there are massive layoffs. Why on earth would I want my tax dollars going to a company who is going to further damage the economy?

The Big 3 need to find ways to keep ALL their workers working – and they need to stop making the gas guzzlers. They should have realized when Toyota and Honda hit them hard what it is America wants to drive, but they were greedy.

Step Three: the Unions, in order to keep their workers employed need to give up some of their benefits and accept some type of pay cut. Seems to me the choice is give some or lose it all.

Michael Moore ROCKS!

Larry and Michael,

I think it would be hard to decide whether to help them or not.
Over the last 50 years man has brought their ownself to ruin.
Let them deal with it by cutting back on their own luxurious
lifestyles. I can't afford a new car. Lower the prices of vehicles.
It's ridiculous. We will keep our vehicles until they die. lol

Michael I think you are great and right on.

Larry your a great man.

Linda
Indiana

I agree with Mike I think we need to bail the auto companys out but we need to tell them how they can use the money and what to build. Dave from Traverse City, Mich

What automakers need to do is stop making cars which consumer don't buy. Re-focus efforts on making fuel efficient cars and limit number of products in the pipeline to be competitive with global manufacturers. Let's stop making 20 hours instead build 5 cars which customer will likely to buy.

Let the oil companies bail the big 3. There should be full disclosure on the PAC monies give to all elected government officals.

I think michael is absolutely right. Today is the time to demand that the automakers begin to produce practical solutions that relates to the changing demands of the current economic and climatic problems. Imagine what a country and what a WORLD it would be if all the great thinkers gave their effort in all the right places....Its time to be proactive, not reactive!

Nuts! To the bailout. Throughout its history, GM has used predatory tactics (controlling all the copper in the 1950's) to eliminate fine auto companies like Packard.Let GM now taste its own medicine.

No. I think they should declare bankruptcy, reorganize and start again, like any other company. Bailouts are not capitalism or socialism, it's something else entirely. Stupidism, maybe

Agree completely with Michael Moore. Get rid of current people who've been running the auto companies and get new leadership that understands and will promote the kind of transportation that is needed now.

Go Michael Moore!! Your email to me was the best. We can't let the Big 3 go down. I live in Flint, MI and it's a sad site!

I agree with Mr. Moore. We, The tax payers, don't need to throw money down the drain so the Big 3 can stay the Big 3 and put more people out of work

I believe that the automakers should be allowed to fail. The government cannot keep bailing out failed business in the US, failure is part of free markets. Someone has to be accountable for the mismanagement. I support replacing the auto industry in Detroit with a new change, clean renewable energy in its place. Give 34 Billion to invest in our future.

I approve a federal bailout of the car companies only if there are fundamental changes in their business plans and the management that created the problems in the first place. They have to stop building the wrong cars for the wrong time.

The contemporary definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting a different result. No, I do not support the bail out of the BIG Three. We need to issue money based on bids for alternative fuel transportation vehicles. If we are going to pay for something, let's pay for a future, not to bail out the past!

Yes, but it must be to better, safer, and more efficient vehicles. How about some $ towards public education?

No. They should not be bailed out. Michael Moore has a grasp on right and wrong, but does not understand today's economy. US automakers need to be competitive, or they will continue to lose. The big three need to cut capacity in half. The UAW is obsolete and should be dissolved. This is todays reality.

No I do not support tax payers bailout the big corp of American . I think they should send out vouchers to all us Middle and lower class ..This way we can purchase cars from the overstock car lots, Then maybe with transportation more people can work

Dear Larry,
THINGS TO BE DONE FROM 01-01-2009
1} BUILD ONLY HYBRID CARS AND BEYOND.

2) NO MORE 100 % GASOLINE/DIESEL CARS.

3) FLOOD THE MARKETS WITH HYBRID,FUEL CELL CARS ,CNG CARS ONLY

4) HUGE CONVERSION INDUSTRY TO CONVERT WILLING AND ABLE CARS ETC TO HYBRID AND BEYOND.

IF THIS IS DONE JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
DR. KRIS TAMIRISA

The current management in the auto industry, as well as the banking industry, should not be there to spend any bailout money. Think about it. If it were the average "Joe" on the job who messed up 1/2 as much as they did, they'd be fired! Pure and simple. But not only do the management stay in their jobs after failure, they give themselves millions of dollars in bonuses, etc... and then turn around and lay people off. It's insanity and it's been done for decades! No money unless we have new talented capable people and new plans. No business as usual.

Congress needs to give a $2,000 tax rebate to any person or corporation that buys a new vehicle from the big three. This would create demand for their product.

What does Michael think about the bailout the banks got? Funny they didn't have to jump through hoops to get theirs.

The American auto companies produce beautiful vehicles. Shame on the Americans who buy foreign cars and don't support their own country.

I completely agree with Micheal as in these idiots will continue to make the same mistakes they have in the past. We can't throw auto-industry workers to the dogs but there are other kinds of cars they can build rather then what they've been building. Mass transit vehicles is a good idea to have them build.

Yes, but only with strict terms set by the Congress and assured oversight of these three companies. Perhaps they should become the big ONE to be able to deal with foreign competition.

Also, we need new management - why would we continue to have these companies led by these ineffective leadership who led us into this mess. They ignored the trends that were occurring...Toyota got it!

What happened with the bank bailouts??? I have a 710 credit score and my records are being scrutinized as if I am asking for a bail out. they just keep the money and dont do anything!
NO TO AUTOMAKERS BAILOUT

Instead of GIVING the Big 3 the money, the government should enter an agreement to BUY a certain number of cars over the next 10 years. The cars could be given to rural police departments, charities to raffle off, etc.

I dont think the tax payers should bail them out. For years they have built cars that just make it till the warrenty runs out then fall apart. and that wont change

Yes, we do support the bailout. Robert is a GM retiree, we need the pension, benefits, etc. The government should do this. They did it for Wall Street. We need to keep this country an industrial base.
Thank you!

Larry.

Why not let the oil companies bailout the automakers? They are making record profits and they benefit most from all these gas guzzling, oil burning cars that the big 3 automakers are manufacturing.

I agree with Michael...Poor management, padding their own pockets while the workers hang on by a thread. That's right...count the silverware!

ABSOLUTELY NOT. NOT AT THIS TIME WITH THE LUDICROUS PLAN THEY'VE PROPOSED. I AGREE WITH MICHAEL MOORE. HIS VISION OF WHAT THE BIG 3 (IDIOTS) NEED TO DO IS RIGHT ON TARGET. THEY HAVEN'T LISTENED TO WHAT THE CAR BUYERS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR AND NOT WANT OUR HELP IN LAYING OFF MORE WORKERS TO LINE THEIR POCKETS AND CONTINUE ON THE SAME TRACK. IF WE BAIL THEM OUT IS IS ANOTHER SAD DAY FOR THIS COUNTRY. ROE- NY

The auto dealers have made millions of dollars and are some of the wealthiest individuals in this country. The dealers should re-up their franchise fee based on past sales to the manufacturers. At that point there could be some matching funds from the general public.

Our new President has supported the UAW, so asking them to give back so the automakers can stay afloat is hypocritical. The UAW should suffer for all of its greed. Workers should never have been given this much leverage over their employer. Bankruptcy is the only way out. Let the Big 3 fail and get out through the financial markets.

No, don't use taxpayers' money to bail out the big 3.

Make the big oil companies bail them out...they have the most to gain.

As an engineer for GM, I find Michael Moore's comments ridiculous. He wants an automaker that is applying for $18billion in loans, that needs to get back in the black, to hold on to extra workers it cannot afford. Then he also wants the government to force GM to make products that are un-profitable in the current economy.

I'll debate michael Moore with an inside view on the REALITY that is the New Detroit.

Absolutely not. If they had been spending their money wisely in the past, they wouldn't be in this mess now. Don't give them any taxpayer funds to waste. Let them file bankruptcy and restructure the business.

Please, no more bailouts!

Absolutely not! I aggree totally with Michael Moore. An infrastructure public transportation must be built. This whole conversation is a joke! When I left home for college, one of my younger siblings got my bedroom, no return home available, no safety net. What's up ?

I support the bailout only if the money is spent to re-tool the factorys with cars that dont use fossil fuel. The CEO needs to be fired and all funds accounted for.

Lonnie Atlanta

The auto industry will have to employ a lot more people to build buses, rail systems. Public transportation is good on so many levels.
I agree.
Can Moore touch on Gatmo

Boston, MA

What ever happened to the free market? Do not bail out GM. Bail out schools that have in trouble for the last ten years.

I agree with Michael Moore, it cannot be business as usual. Such a bailout should require a selected team to look at the big three and determine a successful future direction. Mass transit developmentvis an excellent idea. The Europeans realized this after WWII and their citizens have benefited from that investment. It is a pleasure to travel in Europe.

As for the layoffs, that is the very issue that the bailout should be preventing. MJY

Absolutely not. The auto industry should fail. It's a mature industry. Production should follow lower cost labor. Invest in job retraining and allow the industry to fail. Why delay the invevitable at great tax payer expense. We have larger problems and better places to invest federal dollars.

NO, no no

Michael Moore is exactly right. We need to throw out these dumbies and build green transportation; our workers deserve to be on the cutting edge of energy conscious technologies, especially to compete in a global marketplace. This could be the greatest opportunity yet for America to lead the way!

Larry,
Yes, we should help the auto makers, but we should require them to work towards building cars that run on alternative energy. Executive perks should be limited as well. The auto companies should also be required to pay the money back with interest.

No. Auto makers should not be bailed out. I run a small business which is vital to the economy like every other business and my job is every bit important as auto worker jobs. If I fail in my business who is going to bail me out. I don't want my tax dollars to bail out this failed industry much less any other industry including financial industry. I pay my mortgages monthly but now I hear that Govt. is going to give out 4.5% loans for new home buyers. This is in additions to bailing out millions who made poor choices buying expensive homes that they can't afford to begin with. This got to stop.

The Big 3 need to focus on what has gotten them in to this mess – the vast majority of consumers do not find their products relevant anymore. Everything from gas mileage to styling to product mix speaks to consumers from 10 years ago. The only way to force this change is to let them fold. Bailing them out with a $25 billion band-aid is not going to solve this problem long term.

Last time I checked, in the free market it goes 3 strikes and your out, not 3 strikes bailout.

Micheal is right! I'm from buffalo, when we lost the steel company the whole water front died, and is still dead warehouses. The big 3 want to cut jobs as part of their solution? That's CRAZY. Yes you can have the money, IF you make only cars that run on water, air or electicity – GO!

Definitely no buyout. Make them go bankrupt & be reorganized. They need to rid the companies of overpaid corporate management. Workers also need to keep their jobs – even if concessions must be made. By the way...this Ohioan loves Michael Moore and all he does for our country.

How can Congress give 700 billion to the fat-cats on Wall Street, but not give a fraction of that to the Big Three to save hundreds of thousands of jobs, pensions and health care?

How can you keep throwing money into an inefficient industry? The $34 b. will be exhausted soon & then what? The auto industry has to manufature what is required & not just keep manufacturing more of these rubbish vehicles when the demand is at its nadir. You have to lay off people, become efficient & then only will this industry survive & again grow

We should let the Detroit automakers go. The "other" automakers like Toyota, Acura, etc all have plants in the US and those companies will absorb the marketshare and most of those workers if they are willing to relocate.

Why must we bailout people who make a crummy product year-after-year?

Hi Larry
great interview with Brad Pitt.He is doing wonderful work.

No, automakers should NOT be bailed out.
Let them go out.
Us Govt.should take over.
we need better cars.These losers don't know how to do that.
Thanks.
Raj

One has to hold your nose and vote for the bailout – but, it is extremely
frustrating because the auto makers created this problem and the
unions only added to the overall demise of the industry – and finally,
there is no guarantee this will work – more billions in three months!
It stinks –

Absolutely not !!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been in the country for over 20 years and never bought an American car.

I will stick to Toyota, Nissan or Honda until they are able to provide quality for what they offer.

i'm not sure. but what happened to being able to claim interest from the car loans and credit card interest? who amended the tax code on that? i think that's when people started NOT buying cars. and michael is right about the wealthy sucking their money in.... thanks

Why are there diffrent standards for Big three car makers and Citi Bank. Citi bank was bailed out overnight- No questions asked. These big three employed more jobs than Citi bank

For every one job lost in auto industry there will be seven other which will be lost? How do you justify loosing over 5 million jobs ?

Please ask Michael if he thinks the compensation package for health insurance for workers is a factor in the auto industry financial problem...If, say, national health coverage were available as a right, not a privilege, would they not need a bail out? Not to detract from better more efficient vehicles, but is the benefit package really bankrupting the manufacturers ?

It's not the union workers fault for GM and Ford not adapting to making hybrid vehicles that Toyota and Honda made.......I hate to see anyone lose their jobs, but let's see management stripped to the bare bones before we give any federal dollars..........Hence let's see Mr. Romney's Bain Capital buy them out if he is a true "capitalist"

As a retired autoworker, I have never felt so un-American. I feel as if the blue collar workers have no chance in this white collar world. I have worked hard for 30 years as an auto worker and count on my 3,000 retirement. I feel as if America wants to take the retirees (legacy costs) out in the backyard and shoot us.

John from Brooklyn writes... It's time to clean house in Detroit, declare bankruptcy, renegotiate all the labor contracts, and consolidate the big three into the big one.

I'm 14, and I'm a high school student... I personally do not support a tax-payer funded government bailout... The reason for my thinking is based what I have seen on previous news coverage, such coverage saying that the CEO's of the big three coming out of their private jets, while holding out a tin cup, begging for money. Personally, I believe if they can afford their private jets, but they can't afford their own home, I believe they need to get their priorities set straight... My father has been unemployed for 3 years and we are doing perfectly fine, here in society. i realize that I may have gone a bit off topic , but I do believe that this expresses my opinion.

WHy not have the oil companies bail them out.. They are the only ones benefiting from the gas hogs!!

I agree w/ Mr. Moore – w/ new auto industry leadership –
a plan for mass transit, subway system, smart cars. That is the ONLY
way I want my tax payer dollars to go to them. I do not trust those
CEO's who have continued to get the huge salary & fly on the private
jets while they got to this point.
thank you –
Sheryl Putnam

Let government take over the auto-workers payroll (like unemployment insurance) for 1-year. During that time, the big three can first:
Use existing Natural gas Conversion Lits and convert a good percentage of existing car models to natural gas
At the same time, work on hybrids and SCRAP this idea of Gas only vehicles.
A Proud Canadian,
Georgetown, Ontario, Canada

No bailout. The companies which have been mismanaging their resources need to go under. Yes, innocent workers will be affected but we need to find the strength to be resourceful and reinvent the wheel literally! We can recover and be stronger for it. All of us need to learn that continuing to do things the way they have always been done is not good. We must change our ways or we will not survive as a country.

You bet I do ---we gifted the people who helped to start this mess a trillion. NO STRINGS ON THAT!!!
Why not the workers at least its a loan. Chrysler paid back the loans the congress made decades ago.

Can the congress require the big 3 automakers to restructure without the union employees like the Japanese auto makers? How do you think the public would respond?

Michael–We live in MI, also. Haven't you noticed the domino effect working on thousands of other people and busiesses? We all will gain from this loan–and hopefully the 'big boys' will learn about other lives. We have 3 family members who have lost their jobs because of the fallout. It's a sad time.

No, I do not support any more bailouts. The Government is bailing out one company after the other with the tax payers money. What about the main stream? Foreclosures, job loss, etc. who is bailing us out? Will the executives who are still being paid bid dividends with our tax money pay our bills and feed us?

I don't support a bailout of the auto companies. There is a reason why Toyota and Honda are the hottest cars in the auto industry, It's called innovation developing vehicles that are built with quality and integrity. The best GM could develop was a new gas guzzling Camaro? They are missing the point and living in a dream world. I don't want a dime of my money going to a company that continues to develop products we don't need. The CEO's need to step aside and let innovative businessmen take over.

I do not support the bailout of the auto industry if it means just handing over billions of dollars to the same leadership that has failed miserably in keeping American cars competitive with better foreign car makers. Hire the the foreign car makers to run the American car maufacturers and they will turn it around, pay back the bailout, create more jobs, control the unions and make a car the American people want!

Not at all! These car makers havebeen cutting corners for years. They have done an amazing job of producing cars that fall below production standards on a global market. The only thing that will save them is a partering with foreign car makers. This is a global market. The days of us car companies are over.

Larry & Michael:

We need to take the proposed bailout money for the Big Three and instead put it into a research center that will develop new technologies to replace traditional powerplants in vehicles. We have to accelerate the pace of R&D for this sector of the economy. Our national security depends on it.

The automakers remind me of my teenage kids. . . "I need more. I need more. I need more." As a parent, I say, "No, you'll have to earn it." We should say the same to Detroit – as we should have said to the banks. I'm outraged that taxpayers are being asked to fund the welfare state of the rich.

How dare President Bush state in January that we have a good economy and then in December we finally are told we are in a recession. Three weeks before Christmas. Happy Holidays.....

Unfortunately, yes. But do we really have a choice. It's a taxpayer bailout but the taxpayer doesn't really have a choice.

I agree that the current state of the big 3 will burn through the money. Make big management changes and they at least have a shot.

Brandon
Kansas City, MO

Here's part of what I told my congressman, Chet Edwards:
). LET THE BIG THREE HAVE BILLIONS TO SAVE THEMSELVES IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR BUILDING ONLY ELECTRIC AND HYDROGEN-FUEL CELL CARS. (HONDA’ created a working (hydrogen) fuel celled car IN 1992 AND they’ve spent the $ and invented more than one way to create and “distribute” hydrogen (including manufacturing it in our homes using natural gas and solar): LET THE BIG THREE HAVE BAIL-OUT MONEY BY TURNING THEIR CRISIS INTO THEIR AND OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GO FOR THE NEW BIG TIME!: Demand pick-ups drop their weight by 1,000 pounds minimum, strictly limit them to 15-20 % of total production, and not allow them to be sold unless they meet CAFE mpg standards. AND create only hydrogen fuel or electric cars AND home hydrogen-creating machines AND regional large scale hydrogen sources for big cities. (Think GM’s WW II transformation from building cars to tanks in reverse!) Do it all, all at once. Give them more billions if needed, but with strings and/or supervision and/or quality standards required, etc. Thereby keeping and creating jobs, keeping carbon emissions minimal, and creating millions of vehicles to use and to export (including a little inexpensive AND SAFE “VOLKSAUTOS” line for the poor or the wise —and use Honda technologies and quality assurance methods, techniques, etc. (Pay the patents, insist on using HONDA’S top advisors-consultants, do a merger, whatever it takes! Jump from planned obsolescence and “less than” to THE FUTURE, THE ECONOMIC, THE PIONEERING, THE GREEN, A TRUE TRANSPORTATION REVOLUTION

Yes, I do support workers in the auto industry. The government should support them with conditions and not make this an excuse for "Union Busting" They should be forced to change the way they do business – more fuel efficent cars and other modes of transportation.

No, I do not agree to this bail out on the tax payers dime. If our government decides to bail them or anyone else out, it should go to the employee's who are losing there jobs and to the communities that are left empty and cleaning up the old junk buildings that these auto makers leave behind!

Dayton, Ohio

Only if the current CEO's resign without retirement package (they've made enough money while running this industry into the ground) and under new leadership the entire industry is converted to making hybrids and vehicles for public transportation.

I provide services to auto dealers to help generate traffic and move cars. I just recently started this company however I have been involved in this industry in the dealership level for 15 years. I think it is important that the Big 3 have the needed support RIGHT NOW!
I agree with the masses that there needs to be many diciplines in place to ensure appropriate usage of funds but we need to take steps NOW! Think for just a moment to yourself how many people that you personally know who are DIRECTLY affected by the condition of the Automotive Manufacturers. I think you will be surprized.

Great Job Larry,

Todd

NO BAILOUT-INSTEAD GIVE THE MONEY SAVED TO THE TAXPAYERS AS A TAXCREDIT IF THE BUY AMERICAN BUILD CARS,
HYPRID OR HIGH MILAGE VEHICLES.
THIS WOULD HELP THE EMPLOYEES OF THE BIG 3,HELPS THE BANKS,HELPS OR ECONOMY,WERNER WEBER

I agree with Michael Moore in the sense that giving money to these automakers only extends their suffering. The United States should impulse the creation of clean-fuels technology in its cars. Maybe this money should somehow be linked with that promise.

yes

help the auto worker

please help us larry and michael

Only if they intend to manufacture fuel efficient, environmentally friendly, dependable vehicles.

I have worked at one of the Big Three as a designer. While there are a vast amount of talented people who create the so called "Automobile", the people who lead, manage, dictate and run these car companies is so out of touch with reality, we should let all of the leaders of the Big Three burn, burn, burn so we can get some real leaders back in the drivers seat.

Larry,
I do not believe that the big 3 deserve a bailout. The 3 companies have be on a downward spiral for the past 2 decades making unreliable, shoddy guzzlers and were oblivious to the competition.

Even today, I do not see any future product in the pipeline that can save General Motors. Chevy Volt looks good on paper, but it expected to be priced around 40K, well beyond the average car buyer. Today they are closer to the competition no doubt, but still not in a position to beat them.
And UAW does not help as well. laid off employees getting 80% of the pay. Not seeking another job because they would lose their severance.
The bailout money would be better spent by employing the people to build the infrasturcture and education of michigan.

Bail out the automakers. You have got to be kidding. I worked in the apparel industry for 20 years and where were the bailouts when all those companies went under and put 25,000 people nationwide out of work. We did just like everyone else did, we got out and beat the pavement and took jobs that we would not normally do because of the low pay but we did them to keep the families a float. I think if we bailout the automakers then I think all American should never pay another tax to the IRS. Give us the pay we pay in taxes every year and we can live and will not need a bailout.

I do not support this bailout. Michael makes excellent points on why and I agree completely. That money could be put to much better use. This country and the tax payers cannot afford to make any more poor financial decisions.

Michael Moore is correct. Put our taxpayer dollars toward something useful. Have them build mass transit. I have always owned foreign cars. If Detroit built a car that was up to the standards and quality of a Toyota, VW or Volvo, I might buy one. I just haven't found it yet. Thanks for reading my email, Cathy

Regarding the bailout. What authorization does our government have to give them this money? Let the free market work it's course.. They should file for bankruptcy. The more government gets involved the worse off we will be.

Yes if the automakers are required to re-tool to make alternative fuel vehicles. We need to get away from fossil fuel. If the government would wake up and legalize the growth of industrial hemp we would have all the fuel we need!!

Larry,

Look at what Conrail did after a federal takeover...They turned it into a profatable venture.

Luke

Fremont Nh

I have been a Chrysler employee for 10 years and have been laid off for the last 3 months. I have personally seen the waste of money without regard for cost; however, I believe I have several ways in which to save money, at least for Chrysler, without eliminating the “supplemental pay fund” or the job bank.

One way to save money is to cut managements perks. Management, from Area Managers up, receives two cars including gas reimbursement, to use as they see fit. Management also takes frivolous trips to conferences, including Las Vegas and Palm Springs.

Another way to save money is to stop throwing out perfectly good parts. I have personally been part of an inventory team and ordered by management to throw out parts simply because they were out on the plant floor and not in our parts “crib”. At our plant, Indiana, we have a number of machines that are no longer used which are taking up valuable space and holding costs. There are also “overlapping” management and union jobs, two people hired for a one person job.

As for the union, they waste money by offering double retirement to International representatives. Union officials waste money by endorsing political candidates when the company as a whole is suffering. The company also pays union officials 12 hours pay per day whether they are present at work or not.

My family is dependent upon me as the breadwinner. I have a rent payment, car payments, student loans, and two children in school, just like everyone else. Unlike everyone else, I have been fortunate enough to be paid while I am laid off in the hopes that I will return to work quickly. During the time I am laid off, I am not just sitting around watching TV like some would have you believe. I have been afforded the opportunity to volunteer my time to my sons’ schools and my church and the YMCA. I feel that my family will be in dire straights if this money is abruptly halted. I am unsure what will happen to my family, as my wife does not make enough to support us.

We can not as a nation keep bailing out big expensive corporations and or country's who make rich people richer. We need to put the tax dollars back into the pockets of the american people...I for one, am living on the edge of of poverty. I have a masters degree in nursing and can no longer afford to live the american dream. Give me a tax break, one that will make a difference in the struggle I face day to day. Forgive my student loans...

The Big 3 need to focus on what has gotten them in to this mess – the vast majority of consumers do not find their products relevant anymore. Everything from gas mileage to styling to product mix speaks to consumers from 10 years ago. The only way to force this change is to let them fold. Bailing them out with a $25 billion band-aid is not going to solve this problem long term.

Rob
New York, NY

Not one cent for current automaker management. Let's save the industry with major changes– energy efficient cars that don't use oil, lite rail, electric buses– and level the pay structure!!! Workers earn about 1/40th what the executives make. That's unacceptable. I agree 100% with Michael Moore.

Hi Larry,
I guarantee if we voted on this bailout-none of the bail outs would have been allowed. Michael is right-we cannot give the big wigs of these companies anything. Keep the workers, fire the brass-in the real world when the president/ceo of a "regular company" doesn't perform they are canned. Our system has been perverted. Bailing out companies that are not successful is not capitalism. When the banks were going out of business there were many companies fighting over who could buy them. Why not let the companies go, someone will buy them and make them successful.

I do support the Us Auto Bailout. I have seen these companies change there business practices 2007, and yes these companies were struggling but they were making better car, and fuel efficient cars. After these guys failed on wall street, and the projected cars sell are 6 million units lower then last year. This auto bailout is not caused by these companies bad business plans, but the economic situation now, caused themselves.

Here is the letter I sent to the White House....

Dear President Bush,

I am writing to encourage you to resist any pressure from Congress, the media and President-elect Obama to bail out of the American auto industry. As a life long Democrat, union member and, yes, liberal, I strongly believe that my party is on the wrong side of this issue.

The American auto industry has spent the last thirty years fighting against CAFE standards, safety standards, technology innovation and the list goes on. If there was ever an industry that needs to go up in flames it would be the American auto industry.

Our government should help the US autoworker by giving grants to new upstart companies that create smaller cars using electric, hybrid and/or alternative energy sources.

Thank you,

Larry
Seattle, WA

Michael Moore takes the words out of my mouth and
brings it to life !
Thank you God!!

i think the oil companies should bail out the auto industry. detriot made the cars big and gas guzzling and the oil companies profitted so now they can give back....especially since they (oil companies)have made record profits

Larry,
Why not give the 34 Billion to innovators and inventors around the Country who have more brains and skill to get the job done. I worked for Johnson Controls for 12 years and I know first hand what insane union demands can do to a company and it's employees. GM might want to go back to Toyota and ask them how they have been able to do it.

Larry B.

Absolutely Not!

This will only postpone their demise.

Bailing out the big three auto makers only makes sense if they are going to pay attention to the needs and trends of today, not 20 years ago. The reason why we have this mess is bacause they have never paid real attention to trends, but to their own ideas and ideals. Why else would Toyota and Subaru be doing so well here?

they want the same people that the banks won`t give a loan to , to take their tax monies and bail them out ?

This is my recommendation: Government buys companies. Tax payers, based on their tax returns, receive warrants or options to purchase shares in the companyies five to 10 years from now when they are profitable.

Tell the big guys to give all the money they have stolen towards the bail out, and prove it's not in off shore money.

I believe they should not be bailed out. They are victims of their own
poor planning. The CEO's and their arrogance is apalling.

The automakers are trying to blackmail the country into giving them money for antiquated technology cars. Give us the money or we'll lay off workers!! This is blackmail. Work for $1? and give up your stock options and multi-million dollar expense accounts? Let's bust the unions and give these 30,000 workers a job making things we need – infrastructure, energy and transportation devices. 30,000 workers making $40 an hour is 1.2 billion dollars. A drop in the bucket compared to what they are asking for to continue making vehicles that don't compete or function as they should!!

I think Mr. Moore nailed it: Instead of letting the big 3 continue to blow taxpayer money, make their factories work for us. Obama has already advocated New Deal job programs geared towards future, environmentally sound industries, and here's a chance to use the automotive industry's infrastructure in exchange for supporting them. Great opportunities are always born from bad times.

I do support the bail out for the 3 companies. However when it is given, ALL the money should go into the companies and their employees. None of it would go to the CEOs. They make enough. They should also sell the jets and use that profit to go back into the companies as well. Greed is all it is.

Why not persuade Exxon and other oil behemoths to acquire car companies. They have lots of cash and they need auto companies to sustain their empires.

No I absolutely do not want a bailout of the auto industry on the backs of american auto workers. I want all CEO's to work for a dollar a year until a satisfactory solution is found

How can we restructure our suburbs so that mass transit will work? After having lived in Europe & existed with mass transit, I am now in south Texas and can go nowhere without my car.

I DON'T KNOW................PERHAPS YOU SHOULD HAVE LUNCH WITH LEE IACOCCA AND ASK HIM THIS QUESTION...........YOU MIGHT GET MORE THAN A CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH.

Mr. King

All that is needed is eliminate the federal and state sales taxes on automobiles and people will flock to the show rooms. Best thing is no money changes hands.

David Egli

no....put some brains together and find another way. I am a business owner and couldn't get help if I needed it!! Lets use common sence! Some of these workers make 70 dollars an hour! Please!

NO! They didn't have a plan 2 weeks ago, why do we think they can come up with one now? These clowns need to be kicked off of their high, stuid horse they have been riding and new leaders need to fill in the void.

This makes no sense! Failure IS an option! and is the only one that will lead to success. Let the US succeed by letting outmoded business models die the death they have earned!

Support should be conditional upon gurantee of current jobs being maintained, interest on car loans should be tax deductible for 3 years, and many other stipulations like a guaranteed payback of the money to the government in the form of direct profit sharing into the treasury department, but not government ownership of a public company. We have the ability to change the fundamentals of business, but only change in executive management and accountability will change the way companies are run.

Why does everybody not see who started the jobs leaving the country? It was Bill Clinton that gave most favored nation status to China, with that ha took away the purchasing power of the middle class!

Obama ought to consider engaging Michael Moore as an advisor. He is america and knows the needs of americans!

Does America want to drive the cars that the Gov't wants them to?

let bob nardelli bail them out he stole 240 million dollars from home depot when he was run out from them.

My question is Why would taxpayers, U.S or not, bailout the largest polluters in the world? it makes no sense. The world needs change!

Michael Moore has wanted GM to go broke for years. How much does he make on a movie? What kind of vehicle does he drive? Lots of hot air from him with no real substance.

No way, absolutely not. The Big 3 had decades to improve upon fuel economy and just kept feeding us gas guzzling vehicles. It's time for a change towards mass transit such as light rail and high speed rail across the country.

It seems that you would want bailout money to fund innovation, but why should the American taxpayers have to pay for something that is a natural part of business?

Yes I support the taxpayers bailout, it is imperative to mantain the automakers active. Naturally the people in charge have to start anew with fresh ideas and better cars in terms of fuel efficiency. America would be a substandard country if we let this kind industrie fail and disappear. Let us save money from the useless wars that we enjoy making around the world let us concentratye our effort within.

I agree 100% with Mr. Moore as to the way auto makers bail out must be handled. The executives of these companies can not be trusted with our taxpayers money to do the same things they have been doing for years and I would not believe them for a minute as about what they say they will do with the money they want to borrow. They will add to our problems rather than resolving them.

No way Larry. Lack of planning = Lack of Dollars. I can't believe Americans are considering this option. For these "innovators" not to think ahead is a huge disappointment to the workers in Detroit and those who supported their products.

I don't want to reward bad management and poor product choice. Allow the market to determine the fate of a failing company. Fund innovative car companies and those making green friendly automobiles.
Stop blaming auto workers and unions, as they were the driving force of what was once the greatest middle class in the world.

no bailout is needed. look on the roads, people don't want to drive those "Big 3" cars anymore because they break down more often than asian counterparts. Change to quality.

Why not consider giving $10 billion to consumers to allow the first 1 million to get a $10,000 voucher to purchase a fuel efficient vehicle?

Larry…
I AGREE WITH MICHAEL MOORE
The responsible thing to do is to preserve the infrastructure of the American workers in the Auto Industry.
I believe that the American Taxpayers money should be accountable to boost the Auto Industry by providing an investment to the Auto Industry with a ESOP structure by giving faith to the Auto Workers.
Let us provide a Taxpayer’s bailout in the form of an Employee Stock Option Program; the true backbone – the Auto Workers. The American Taxpayer’s will embrace this support to the Auo industry and will have more confident that this investment will payoff far better supplying the funding directly to management!

Larry I agree with Michael we should not give money to companies that are going to cut jobs. If they are going to cut jobs that means they already restructuring.

I agree with Michael. The Big 3 are out of touch with where our transportation needs are as a country. I do not see them making a "turn in the road" and taking us in a new and need direction.

I think that we have to bail them out, but we HAVE to have stiff rules for the use of OUR dollars to get them out of this trouble. Too many jobs will be lost, How about they fire a few management people first.

I don't support the bailout. How can we pay these CEOs tens of millions of dollars a year and the workers $40 an hour to watch a robot and expect a man making $7 an hour to buy their cars.

Michael,
Couldn't we mass produce electric cars and sell them for 10 to 15K each and other stipulation should be that 100% of the components and assembly is done in this country. Everyone would want one, the plants would all open, people would be back to work. Why wouldn't this work?

Larry,

Let the government stipulation be that a new management team is put in place for a 90 day period to reorganize and structure the automobile company's. This include restructuring of the Labor Agreements and bring them to the levels of Honda and Toyota. Right now the avg GM union employee makes more income than a college PHD professor. It's not only the management of these companies that are broken.

Thanks,

Derek

No NO NO!!!

DON'T give them the money.

They don't have any plans to change what they are doing now. The high price of oil just a few months ago should have made these automakers change their thinking and shift to building cars that get very high miles per gallon, or electric or more hybrids – they are just going to waste this money and still layoff many people. If we give them the money how are they going to save the industry???

Don't bail out the big 3 if nothing is changed. To give money to the big 3 and they cut all those jobs, ridiculous. Honda and Toyota are not asking for money. People are not buying the cars from the big 3.
I'm listining to your show from Canada and we are in the same situation of bailout of the big 3. I drive a Honda because it is what I want for a product.

When a large corporation puts a small company out of business, it's called compeditive capitalism. When a large corporation puts themselves out of business, it's called a crisis...

Yes, I do support our government taking steps, including bridge loans and grants, that aim to preserve our nations ability to concieve, engineer and build the products we need to preserve our way of life. The alternative is not only to be dependent on other countries, but to have only one choice – their way of life.

The key condition should be the preservation of jobs in America! the preservation of our capability to define our world and, finally, for our leaders to define a vision. Automakers are like all industries. They are a capability – what comes out is either thought out carefully by our leadership or completely random. We've had enough of random!

I don't support any bail out of the big 3. The best solution would be to have the big 3 go bankrupt so that people who could actually compete with foreign car makers could take them over. The import car companies are just praying that the government bails out the big 3 so that they continue to have no competition.

Larry and Mike!!!

I think we need a new paradigram in this country. I do NOTsupport the bailout of automakers. I suggest we employ all those who lose their jobs to be retrained and repair our country which is very badly needed. All suppliers, we can pay for retooling for bridges, roads, dams, etc

I agree with Michael Moore. I do not want my tax dollars given to any of these three CEOs. They have done nothing but squander the money they have already been given at the expense of their employees. I haven't bought an American car since 1989 and have no intention of doing so. President Obama needs to establish strict guidelines before approving this bailout.

This proposed bailout is nothing but a postponement of the inevitable death of the American auto industry. We will be putting them on temporary lifesupport until the economy recovers and their demise will no longer be a trip down Depression Row. Instead of bailing out the automakers, use the money to fund the Pension Benefit Guaranty agency and extended unemployment benefits for displaced autoworkers, since we will be on the hook for that in the end anyway.

I work for a Japanese automotive supplier that has a plan for up to 2015. We supply parts to the Detroit automakers, but most of our business is with Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Those companies have cut back production but still require parts from us because of great planning. Why can't the "Big 3" do the same?

Michael Moore has it RIGHT !!!! The rich seen it coming. The CEO's need to take more responsibility. NO BAILOUT. The average tax payers are already suffering.

absolutley no bailout money for GM unless they make a change to their business model. their cost per car is roughly 2 thousand dollars more per vehicle than a comparale japanese model. The root cause is the money they are paying in pension and benefits to retirees. until they re-negotiate with the UAW, they will continue to bleed cash......

I've been in and out of temporary/contract work since losing my permanent full time position five years ago. No one has bailed me out! We've bailed out Wall Street, now it's the auto industry. What's next? Pharma companies? Major retailers? Everyday people want a hand up, not a hand out. Shame on big business. Is there no end to the begathon?

The big three put themselves in this mess, they need to get themselves out of it. Time to restructure from the top down. Save our tax money start new auto companies, it will be cheaper long term than saving these behemoths that do not understand their own market. To right side it at this point is more difficult than to emerge anew.

yes,but like micheal moore said give it to a social woker. when a poor welfare get a check ever month she given a socail worker to make them pay the rent, feed the kids and paid the bills.

Why should Ford CEO Mullally leave when he just came a year ago into this mess and is trying to straighten Ford out. It hasn't even had time for the changes to have any effect yet. There have been buyouts, plant closures, white collar lay offs, temps working for $15.00/hr. Give it some time and help through this economic time.

Not if they keep the same bums in charge of running these companies

My husband owns a small business that has been successful for 35 years. We have paid for private health insurance out of our own pockets for ourselves as well as one employee. The small business owners of the U.S. employ more than the three auto makers but if any small business owner gets into financial trouble in his business there is no way the government will bail him out. I am against the government bailing out the car companies with my taxes.

Well Larry,
Why isn't anyone talking about the new Ford Fiesta? the ECOnetic that will be sold in Europe but not here because of regulations? The car is environmental freindly and great mpg... The big 3 can't compete because we are reluctant to diesel engines.
Eric, Chicago

Hi Larry

I agree with Mr. Moore. One of the criteria for the big three to get any money from the government should be that the current heads of these companies be removed...

Mr. Moore made a great point that the productive capacity of the auto industry should be refocused to produce products that not just America needs but that the world will want to buy. That's what made America great and I think fundamentally will not only save the manufacturing industry but your country's economy

I opposed the bailout unless one of the conditions is to close all the factories that we shipped our good paying jobs to and bring those jobs back to the USA. Prehaps we should nationalize the auto industry, the same way the railroads were and then sell it back with a profit.

Two questions – who killed the electric car? And who has the swiss bank account to show for it?

Bailout of auto industry – no, no, and no!
We make much much less than UAW represented workers,
and what's even worse the CEOs and higher management take disgusting salaries. I can't think of one reason to trust them, I feel that they will not pay us back when the time comes, and they know it.

No, I do not support a tax refunded bailout for these big 3 automakers. They are the ones who got us into this mess to begin with. Now they want to propose billions of dollars to get us out? I don't think so. I hope Nancy Pelosi does not pass this bill. If anything, the auto industry owes us taxpayers. I refuse to have another dime taken out of my pocket. I payed for my education, and I worked hard to get where I'm at, so why should the taxpayers suffer? What if the bill is not passed. What happens then?

Don't give the big three a red cent. They need to get rid of their management and be accountable for all the misspending. If the government would give all this bailout money back to the American citizens they could turn the economy around quickly. Let them go bankrupt! I always bought American, I never will again!!

As a former auto employee who left over a year ago, I simply cannot support this bailout that will continue to reward inferior management practices. The mere fact that Wagoner and his cronies had to be called out on using corporate jets before they turned them is proof that they are not interested in making their own sacrifices. A dollar annual salary doesn't mean much when you've spent the last several years making $12 Million.

How can we keep bailing out the big corporations when everyone around us is struggling to figure out how to feed their families and make it through the winter with the heat still on? The Big 3 hasn't been responsive to the needs of our society and the global economy. They lived by the credo: Keep putting out the gas guzzlers and line our own pockets. The workers need to be bailed out, not the execs.

Wait a second! I support a LOAN to the automakers, which is what they're asking for, not a BAILOUT.

Tony Davis, Alto, NM

The short answer – yes, with conditions & oversight. The US has lost enough jobs to offshore. Can you spell M-O-N-O-P-O-L-Y? That's what the Japanese auto makers will enjoy.

this a very important time in a American history lets hope the gov. does the wright thing...........

If we can bailout the Fat Cats on Wall Street, We can bailout the auto makers too.

We are being had once again. any time an executive makes 20 million a year and can have his hands out we are more than dumb if we go for it. I agree with michael except I would like to see the government take over these companies and we own them. I am tired of the haves always getting the big breaks.

no i dont agree with the bail out. i think they should give the money to american citizens, who would then in return would pay their mortgages off which would help the banks with the home loans, and would probably go out and buy car which would help the car dealerships out of this rut.

I support a taxpayer funded bailout of the Detroit 3. Without a bailout, there will be further devastation to the economy than without, which will be much more costly to the taxpayers when all is said and done. If any of these companies go into bankruptcy, the impact it will have on all suppliers will be significant, putting a further strain on the financing and liquidity within the auto industry and (industries) beyond. I do agree that the Big 3 need to provide a viability plan to the key decision makers, however, time is running out and things need to start happening quickly or we will move swiftly from an extended recession that we are currently in toward a depression.

I absolutely agree with Michael Moore on this one – I'm not seeing how giving away all that money will better our economy. Major changes have to be made, including cutting salaries at the upper management levels, so we're not having some people making millions while thousands are getting fired. A new plan needs to be drafted, which would take into account the energy and environmental crisis, because the auto industry is dying anyways. $34 billion is a HUGE amount of money, and we can't afford to spend indiscriminately.

Yes, for Ford and GM on a strict conditional basis.Chrysler should not be bailed out AGAIN.

As painful as it is we must keep at least two of the three companies viable. This might mean forcing GM and Chrysler together and some jobs may be lost but we must not let our manufacturing base erode itself. Michael Moore is correct in saying that many of the top management should be moved aside. These guys are largely out of touch and hidebound to old ways. There are surely younger and innovative people in these companies that would do better if given a chance. So, keep them from going down completely but the government should use a heavy hand in making sure this money does not get wasted.

If we the taxpayers are giving our federal government $700 billion to lend to the banks, why can't the big 3 automakers get their loans from the banks?!

HOW DID THE BANKERS TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON?

I would bailout the workers and fire all the managers. I just hate it when I agree with Mr. Moore. I WAS a republican for 50 years until I listened to him a year ago on your show, Larry!

Soon the tax payers are going to be bailing out everyone and every company. what will be left? We will have nothing more to give! Nobody has come up with a plan to bail out the average american who is still working 2 jobs, trying to raise a family. Why are we not rewarded for being financially frugal? Why do we have bankruptcy laws? That being said, if it is is going to be done, I think the bail out needs to be done smartly. Was nobody else outraged whent he big wigs came to Congress in $1000 suits on their private jets?? Bet thier kids did not have to worry where their dinner was coming from that night! There needs to be oversight and insurance that the workers will be taken care of. Pay people to research better ways to make the cars. get rid of the current management who got us in this mess...
Dana D.
Nashua, NH

Kick the big three while there down michel Moore. You've made millions off of the middle class for years. It's people like you that are the real problem. Also, wall-street and bankers–you got us in this mess and all of you think your so smart and you are not.
To the cnbc anchors you are so misinformed your station should be blown into outer space. The middle class is what made this country not wall street clowns that will drive this country into oblivion.

The Big 3 Automakers do not deserve any kind of bailout – they've done everything they could to ignore their customers and fight innovation for years! Let foreign auto companies take them over – they're actually paying attention to consumer needs and preferences. If you're going to hand out money, use it to retrain the autoworkers in green technology instead. The executives in those firms should all be cut off without a penny.

Larry,
Today I thought of all of the cars that GM, Ford, and Chrysler manufacture. For the life of me, I cannot think of more than five GM models, 2 Chrysler models and 4 Ford models that are worth a damn. The current "Detroit mindset" just doesn't get it. They refuse to design for right-hand drive (which limits export potential), they ignore environmental concerns, and quality, while improved, pales in comparison to most other automobiles on the market.

GM had the best electric vehicle some 10-15 years ago and totally scrapped the project. Their answer to maintaining a competetive stance has been to reduce American jobs. Clueless and arrogant.

Save the workers? Absolutely!!! Support "more of the same?" Absolutely not.

The government (you and I) should do no more than loan the auto makers enough money to stay in operation as they come out of bankruptcy. And those loans should be secured with the common stock of the reorganized companies.

My question is Why would taxpayers, U.S or not, bailout the largest polluters in the world? it makes no sense. The world needs change! this is our chance isnt it?

I do not belive in bailouts, but if you can bailout wallstreet, why not the main street – manufacturing jobs. Just look over the pond, the EU nations are bailing out and helping auto makers. I totally understand the auto companies are responsible to a certain extent to this mess, but also we need to understand the credit market too. The congress needs to give them stirct guidelines to the auto makers and hold them accountable for every dime unlike the TARP program !

We do have to lend the big 3 the money. To many jobs are at stake.

I do believe that the present CEO's have to go. Investors need to take a hit too. When you invest you take the chance anyway.

Americans need to get their heads out of the clouds and realize it's not a me, me, me generation any more. We have to get real.

Michael Moore has it right. Get rid of the leadership – all of them. Bring in new leadership who will do it right – Michael Moore as a consultant (seriously). There has to be a price for malfeasance or it will continue.

NO!
They made poor decisions, wasted their and our country's resources, and should not be rewarded with a gift of our hard-earned tax dollars.
Their businesses should be foreclosed and the government should set up a bidding process for the purchase of the companies.

Whoever can make an economical vehicle that looks good will win this war. American made vehichles do not appeal to the younger generation. The focus needs to change. I am for a bailout as long as there is accountability.

I DO NOT SUPPORT THE BAIL OUT OF THE CAR CO. BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BUILT CARS OF BETTER QUALITY THAN THE JAPANESE AND GERMANS. U.S. CARS BREAK DOWN EASILY AND THEY DON'T LAST LONG. HOW CAN FOREIGN CARS SALES SURVIVE HERE IN THE U.S INSPITE OF THE CHOICES WE HAVE WITH AMERICAN CARS, IT'S BECAUSE FOREIGN CARS ARE BETTER QUALITY.

I do not agree with a bailout of the big 3. I especially do not feel for the UAW workers. The UAW has been a major cause to the car manufacturers not being competitive.
Tom from Audubon NJ

government must help auto industry, but, if the government really wanted to stimulate the economy they should give every tax payer 2000000.00 the banks would get there money most tax payers would pay off mortgages, buy new cars would actually put money back and stimulate banks,auto industry and be able to feed their families.

Larry & Michael:

We need to take the proposed bailout money for the Big Three and instead put it into a research center that will develop new technologies to replace traditional power trains in vehicles. We have to accelerate the pace of R&D for this sector of the economy. Our national security depends on it.

Rather than fund failed companies and reward CEO's that don't get the bigger picture why not offer those billions as grants to start up companies that can take on the "Big 3".

New American companies would form with innovative plans that could buy up mothballed "Big 3" factories and start turning out cars the world would be envious of.

I couldn't agree more with Mr Moore. We need to save the industry and preserve jobs but there needs to be a restructure. CEOs should not make millions when their companies are going down the tubes. Maybe it was OK they made millions when their companies were vibrant and in the red but NOT NOW. A bonus should be a reward for a job well-done and a share of the wealth-there should be no bonuses when the company is failing!

No! The industry would be absorbed by overseas carmakers, and if we need to use more taxpayer dollars for any reason I wouldn't mind it going towards helping the workers of the big three so they could find more work.

why hasn't anyone including the auto makers executives, jounarlists, or any one else, blamed the sudden outragious sky rocketing of oil prices in the last two years, as a factor in slow down in car sales. It appears that there is some fear or hush hush in talking about the most horrific rape of american public in the U.S. history by these oil companies and other associated culprits. Drill baby drill...

Michael Moore is right. We have to keep the automobile industry but we should throw out the failing CEOs. Take the companies over and make them viable. Since they have failed the last 30 years to fix it. We had better fuel standards in the late 70's than we do now!!!

I oppose the bail out for the Auto industry, but working Americans need to accept that we have little say in the matter. After Citi gets a 400 million tax payer wasted baseball stadium we swallow the fact that the bar is set pretty low. Michel makes a great point that capitalism has not really worked when these companies have done anything and everything in the name of profit. Capitalism is a pyramid scheme and it is time that the working poor pay their share. There needs to be a oversight board to hold these profiteers accountable to smart decisions so we don't end up with another mess...

I do support a bail out for the automakers but for sure that industry needs to get a change in practices, R&D, Management practices, Market focus....many other things. If GM, FORD and Chrysler thinks that only a cash influx will do it, they are wrong and with that kind of thinking, in a few years down the road we are going to have them again in Congress, asking for more help. The world has changed, the consumer needs ahs changed....they have to change.

One word of advise, if they are being asked to provide sound plans...great. What about the Wall Street companies? A blank check? Government needs to ensure proper supervision across the table for everybody.

We should protect this companies just because of these hard working people.. Like we should with our ship builders and steel workers ...

Re: auto bailout

While I understand the fear of the trickle down from the auto industry 's financial issues, there is also the issue of smart business ventures to change with the times. Many small businesses have had to change the size of their store, change their products, change their store hours, downsize, move to online shopping, etc. in order to stay "afloat" in today's economy. What changes have the auto industries made to improve their product? Why have their engineers and highly paid company officers not seen a new trend?

This issue is not going to be solved with a bailout. It's just a money pit for a poorly run organization.

When did the USA become a Facist State?
Let the Big 3 file bankruptcy!

The Exec's will have to go find another job, maybe a real one!

Michael is correct! There is a Looting of the US Treasuary currently going on by people have run there industries into the ground!

Perkins,
Houston

I think the automotive companies need the help but the first thing that is needed is every employee should undergo drug testing and if they fail the drug test the UAW should not be able to protect them. they should be fired just like any other job.

I do not support a bailout of the auto industry any more than I support any more tax payers dollars going to mass transit. It is time for the executives, workers and labor unions within these industries and corporations to find a way to operate at a profit. If that means firing the executive and throwing out the unions – so be it.

We taxpayers just bailed out wall street – yet where has that money, help and assistance gone? You have banks denying loans to small businesses, credit company's unilaterally raising interest rates to sky high rates, unilaterally cutting credit limits and then imposing penalties for going over just changed limits – this is happening to the middle class, citizens who pay their bills on time and pay taxes – those same taxes that are benefitting wall street and now we are expected to do the same for Detroit? I don't think so.

I absolutely do not support the automakers bailout. They've spent the past thirty years adding additional lines and models of new autos each and every year. They could sensibly have from ten to fifteen models each and still make money – as opposed to the fifty-three models (GM) they currently can't sell. This practice is the ultimate in mismanagement. I emphathize with the autoworkers – however, it's not their fault that this chaotic situation has evolved.

The Big Three automakers do not deserve our hard earned tax money.
The CEOs are overpaid, the workers are overcompensated, and their
products are consistently inferior. CEOs and auto workers alike deserve to be put out of business – US ingenuity will fill the void.

I absolutely agree with Michael Moore. No bailout under the CEO's leadership. We need mass transit, alternative energy and better energy cars. Fire the heads of all three auto companies and bring in new people. Mitt Romney and Michael Moore are right and exactly where we need to go. Let all three head honchos give back their salaries and bonuses and they will not need a bailout.

my question is this what happened to the American dream? by bailing out these companies the country is being short sighted. what about the fledgling auto companies that would be given the opportunity to capture market left open by the oligopoly of the big three. wouldn't the increased number of producers both drive down prices and provide jobs?

For years, the Big 3 automakers have fought tooth-and-nail against higher energy efficiency standards. For years they pushed wasteful SUVs simply because they offered a higher profit margin per unit. For years their products have lagged behind Europe and Japan. And now their technocrat CEOs want the taxpayers to bail them out? NO WAY! NO WITHOUT SOME SERIOUS DETROIT REFORM. Let's start with senior management.

i agree with michael moore. fire the big 3 and buy gm and get some smart honest people to run the cos.

If General Motors or Chrysler went out of business because of business reasons, fine. But their situation is terminal because of the credit freeze. Two trillion dollars to banks without any question by Congress but no emergency LOAN for our native auto industry?

No Bailout! I work for the auto industry and I will lose my job when they fail. I think the Big Three should fight it out with each other. One of them will survive and rise from the ashes. They could call it "United American Automotive.

Why aren't we supporting companies like Tesla motors that have a proven track record of innovation? Why aren't these the types of jobs we are attempting to create?

I think we should support the bailout. What would happen if we lose the backbone of American manufacturing? We will depend more on foreign technology instead of investing in America's future. There would be a huge ripple effect accross the country and we will then be facing a serious crisis resulting in massive job loss. Ford has had a plan in place for years now to return to profitability before the major credit crunch. Ford also made a profit in Q1 before the major economic crunch. Did we forget who made military equipment for WWII? We can't let these companies fail.

Jon
Allen Park, MI

These same kinds of bailouts also come from wealthy investors, if they can believe in the investee. Can we (the taxpayers) believe in the investee. The investors are also capable and willing to oversee their investments. Is the govt. capable and willing. I doubt it.

S. Daniels

Instead of a bailout. Stop the fedeal withdraw tax from wages, Ths will give more money for people to spend and my by a new car.

No - let the oil company's bail the automakers out - they have the money and everything to gain by doing this.

On the bailout of the Big 3 Auto Makers. If they're so "big" why do they need a bailout? Absolutely not! They should be made to go through bankruptcy like millions of Americans have to do all the time!

Mike, I disagree with the focus on Hybrid and electric cars! I was told by a mechanic that the batteries to sustain both are so expensive that a minor fender-bender, per the insurance companies, renders the vehicle TOTALLED! They are not effective! All this does is funnel money from one corporate pocket into another and the consumer is STILL LEFT HOLDING THE SOGGY, SMELLY BAG! In addition, this mechanic says they are not fuel efficient for the bulk of the driving done in this country.

No taxpayers $$$$ until they prove they can make a change that will be profitable. Offer more fuel efficient cars and trucks and use more green energy alternatives.
They can start by selling their private jets, their homes and take a cut in their CEO pay.
I agree with Michael Moore, get rid of current management.

The American public has already voted on the financial stability of The Big 3 – with their dollars, by not buying their cars! Now we're supposed to save them when we had a direct role in their demise? The vote is over and The Big 3 lost . We need an entirely new bread of car company to arise from the ashes of the old, just like it happens in ever other business in America. When are we really going to put our faith in a free-market economy?

We don't owe the auto industry anything but our prayers. They got themselves into this mess, why am I responsible to bail them out? Where is the ACCOUNTABILITY? We need ethical leaders who know how important it is to do the right thing. These auto industry leaders just don't get it. Why is it that our county has become so greedy? More is just never enough for these misguided leaders?

In no way do I support the auto bail out! Where is it going to stop? Even if they got the money it has already been proven that the people who are paying for it (middle class) won't see a dime! Maybe the auto makers should have better managed their money to begin with and built affordable and efficient cars. The unions need to go away and the pay for CEO's need to be greatly reduced!

No I say let them sink!

We can not continue to run the bank the way it has been – WAKE-UP people! We can't allow any money to be given to these auto mogals – they aren't going to spend this money any different they have been – throw them all out – hell throw them in jail! The #1 criteria for any loan or grant would be to scrub directors and corporate heads and replace them, and have a close review and check process to assure that they follow a strict "GREEN" plan.

Not when the Big Three's idea of an affordable, energy efficient car is the $40,000 (!!!) Volt...

MIchael Moore is right. Why should we reward failed leadership? One of the responsibilities of corporate leadership is to, yes, make a profit; but also provide sustainable wages to workers.
I love MM's ideas of radical transformation of these companies under new and gifted leadership to provide for the "public good", public transportation.

Back in the early 1980's an elderly couple in Helena, MT were real excited about buying their first new car. They bought a Ford Taurus. After driving it a couple weeks they started worrying that the gas gage was broken because it was not going down. They filled it up with gas and it took very little. This went on for a month or so and they couldn't believe that this car would not consume gas. One day they got a knock on the door and the Ford dealership who asked for the car back because it was a prototype that wasn't suppose to have been sold. They reluctantly gave up the keys and got the standard gas guzzler in return. If these companies could make gas efficient cars in 1980, why can't they do it now?

No. I do not support this bailout. The cars they are making don't make sense. The lifetime health benefits costing $1,000 per vehicle for retirees and $400 per vehicle for current employees are not realistic for todays market. these costs will continue to rise as the boomers retire and employees are reduced. They need to stop this practice.

Stop bailing out the CEO's that make bad business decisions. The tax payers have been paying for too long! Have we forgotten the S&L bailout from the late 80's?!? Come on, a little history (or memory) would go a long way!

GM will use the money to give the employees a huge severance package and full benefits until they are 65. Let them figure out how to give these guarantees out of their own pocket. Enough! Are you going to give Starbucks a bailout next?

There is only one thing I can say as a watch CNN is to review history. One who reviews history can figure out the solution to a crisis base history is deemed to repeat itself no matter what. Why do you think we are required to review history in school?

NO, NO NO Let's not give them a bailout. Let's offer some sort of loan to maintain the jobs. Mike is right, they do not deserve any money with no strings attached.

Hi Larry and Michael,

Like all Michiganians I have been closely following this potential bailout. I'm wondering though, how will oversight be ensured when it isn't even happening for the 700 billion dollar banking bailout? (those charged with oversight haven't been 'confirmed' in their positions yet as a GAO audit just discovered).

Do you think we'll hear anything new or encouraging from the CEOs of the Big Three and UAW leaders at the congressional hearings tomorrow and friday? What should Michigan fall back on if the auto industry fails?

Thanks

NO NO NO. I buy GM and will continue to buy american however this turns out. They will survive but maybe there will be only two companies at a reduced size. They must take their medicine now and let the market dictate their fate. Im so irritated with the scare tactics coming out of the mouths of the CEO's threrating depression. This from a executive that almost ran Home Deopt into the ground.

I can't believe it but I agree with Michael Moore. I think we need to bail the automakers out because we can't let our manufacturing base/infrastructure go under. However, whatever deal we make with the automakers we need to make sure that the management changes, they don't layoff or fire anyone, and that they or the top executives work for a dollar a year for the next couple of years. It worked with Lee Ioccoca.

Ken, Havelock, North Carolina

I support the bailout, because too many jobs could be lost if these companies fail or flounder. Bailout money should hinge on each company devising a workable business plan that requires them to limit bonuses, cut pork and make innovative, fuel-efficient, QUALITY cars. If they're successful, they'll pay the money back with interest. It could be a win-win.

NO! Anyone in their right mind knows that if a company has lost this amount of money they would be out of business already. Just because their business practices haven't met their expectations or Wall Street's predictions doesn't mean that they have in fact lost that money. (Just haven't made their investors what they have predicted)
If they can't continue to do business or run with the companies that can, get out. It's not the taxpayers responsibilities to provide the investors their dividends. This is what paying the executives hugh salaries has gotten those investors, now let them live with the consequences.
Buford McBee
Port St Lucie, FL

Hello Larry & Michael ........ Please get this message out via your show ........

Why should American Taxpayers continue to bailout our country's failing enterprises ??

The one's who will profit from the fuel guzzling autos produced in Detroit should be the one's to "LOAN" the auto industry's Big 3, the money to stay afloat.

And we all know who that is: THE OIL INDUSTRY !!!

Get this message out to Congress .......

Randy from Oregon

YES - the loan must happen. Yes - the management should be changed because of all the money they've given to the UAW.

NO BAIL OUT
BIG BUSINESS WALFARE
The middle class used to help provide for the poor. Mostly a volunteer bases with a lot of government support. Now comes the government mandate for the middle class to take care of the Rich. We have truly become a welfare country and need to thank the Chinese for the big bail out loans.

Then there are those who would argue that big business provides for the middle class. That is a bunch of pooy. BIG BUSINESS HAS BECOME TO BIG FOR ITS OWN PANTS. Congress seems to think big business is INTITLED. I would too if Big business dollars are needed for me to keep my job. Bail out the auto industry, Bail out the big financial institutions, bail out the airlines, and Give unions more power. Whose/What is next??? The Government certainly does not bail out the Middle class business (see side note)
The solution is simple although it be painful
(1) Buy American
(2) Provide small business seed money for competition
(3) Pass a national right to work law.
(4) Let fair competition prosper
(5) Prosecute the white collar crooks and freeloaders who file frivolous law suits
(6) Set back and enjoy watching the beautiful USA prosper.

SIDE NOTE: A few years ago, when foreign competition was replacing my business (a small middle class company) from 190 employees to ninety Congress stepped in with a bail out program. No not money, NAFTA, so I could replace all the hard working dedicated employees with good hard working employees in another country. It was great for the American consumers that did not loose their jobs. They got a less expensive product of equal quality and the other country was enjoying a building boom and economic growth.

With all the outsourcing that the Big 3 did, you would think they would have saved a bucketful of money.
Why not give big severance packages and got give the big 3 anything.

No. No. No. The auto companies should go through structured bankruptcy so they can restructure the agreements with the unions to bring benefits more in line with the rest of the industry and then redign their business so as to become profitable by building cars and other forms of transportation that the American people want and the country needs.

No. The goal of the bailouts thus far has been to prevent the failure of banks from causing an catastrophe of unknown proportions. The failure of the big 3, which have been expected to fail for more than a decade poses no such risk.

I agree with Michael Moore. Enough is enough. I can't trust that these companies will use this money wisely, they have moved plants to other countries, causing their workers to suffer, even in times of profit.

No, No and No ! Why should one industry be bailed out over another when the entire country is in dire straits? This makes no sense whatsoever. Do we honestly believe that the $1 salary will be the only compensation received by the CEOs? No doubt, the CFO of each company is already creatively accounting reimbursements that will include share options or similar. The survival of the fittest is the same in nature as in free enterprise, it is the only way to succeed!

I agree with Mike and so many others. If the Bail Out is granted we must demand that car manufacturers begin producing electric cars. Americans will not tolerate this madness much longer.

I do indeed urge the US government's support of our automotive industry's survival. I am a (nearly) life-long resident of Michigan and the daughter of a GM family–both on the organizational and retail sides of the business. For over fifty years, I've lived inside the economics constructed by this industry. It's not perfect, and I am sympathetic to the naysayers, but when I consider the fact that the Bush administration–one of the most immoral and self-interested in the history of our country–has seen fit to float the boat of Wall Street, AIG etc., I am horriified. Millions of every-day folks will lose their jobs in the mid-west, and particularly in MIchigan. I wonder about the prejudices that might underlie this possiblity–these are everyday people, of multiple races and ethnicities who will suffer. What does this mean to our nation? It means the heart and sout!

I say NO bailout! Why would we give more millions to miserably failing companies without asking the CEO's to step down and replace them
with a new outlook, new technology and a futurist direction?

Yes, we support a "bailout" to prevent the ultimate demise of the big three. It needs to be guided and governed. If we fail to do this, I believe we will be helping to create "the big depression". I like Michael Moore's ideas of stipulations.My husband and I are newly retired and fully appreciate the importance of keeping people working. The auto workers are a big part of the American middle class.

As a retired UAW member it always shocks me that people complain about the "legacy costs". I worked for 30 years at GM and my pension was always the carrot that was held out to me.

If this is taken away for me it would be the same as any employee that has had their companies match or even contribute to there 401 K's coming back 30 years later and taking that money back! GM NEVER matched or added to my 401 K because I had a pension.

Why is it ok for citicorp and not the big 3. Michael Moore should be ashamed the way he is attacking the the auto industry. The Wall street guys get trillions and they have to villify the car companies and american workersagain. The governments of Japan China and South Korea own and subdize their auto industry. If this keeps up no one will be able to afford Michaels film festival in Traverse City

We need the auto industry here in the USA, the LOANS would be ok provided certain stipulations are attached.
1. No job losses in the USA
2. Min. 50% pay cut of all execs earning in excess of $250,000.00
3. Immediate change over to fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles.
4. Production of Buses and other mass transit equipment.
5. Begin immediate return of all US vehicle production that has been moved out of the USA over the past 15 years.

We should not give the big three auto industries the money they ask for unless of course, the government instills very rigid terms and qualified managers to handle the businesses. The way things are now, bailing them out will only enable them to do it again and again. We have bailed them out previously. They are looking at the government as a safety net; and expect to get the money they need. Their leverage is the loss of 60,000 employees and the government not wanting that to happen will have to fork over the money.

Barbara
Federal Way, Washington

No Way , Gve them nothing , they will blow it , If congress is looking to give even more money away, give this money to all the homeowners losing there houses, God knows they need it and no ones helping them ,,, why help those 3 companies ,congress has better things to waste time on.

Absolutely NOT! Not for any of them including A.I.G.
We've seen how that works. Further G.M. at one point asked it's union workers to take a cut so they could stay afloat. Union did and the big shots voted themselves a pay raise. ...fool me once ect.
There is a provision for this problem that the big three are in. It's called Chapter 11. This will alow restructiing and redo the union contracts. Next – Common guys they wont go under someone will buy them out. THEY WILL SURVIVE!. Lets not be B.S"d

THE OIL COMPANIES SHOULD BE THE ONES BAILING OUT THE BIG 3 CAR COMPANIES. AFTER ALL, THEY WERE THE ONES THAT FORCED GM TO KILL THE EV1 ELECTRIC CAR THAT GM HAD ON THE ROADS IN THE EARLY 90'S.
THE EV1 CAR WAS ON THE ROAD, WORKED-WELL, AND WAS EVENTUALLY DESTROYED AND ERASED FROM HISTORY.

Only if get rid of the management. No pay raises for the management or xmas bonus. That only if the money goes to creating jobs to make better cars that use another fuel source or less gas. The cars cost less to the tax payers. That they have to account for every dime of the tax payer money. ONLY IF MIKE MOORE MANAGE IT

If the Big Three want to rebuild their customer base, they might benefit from developing high-efficiency diesel engines for cars and light trucks. Their foreign competitors already offer 45 m.p.g. models with astounding power characteristics and minimal emissions.

I just lost my career of 23 years with the Automotive Industry, My question is since most of us are not just losing jobs but careers who will be re-skilling the American worker's once the dust blows over all of us? At the age of 53 how can expect to find a career...

U.S. automakers manufacture way too may models. Look at Honda, they sell one mid-size, one compact, one sub-compact, etc. GM needs to built Chevy's as an entry level auto and Cadillac's as the upscale brand. Through in one pickup model, a mid-size SUV and a compact SUV. Invest in making these fewer autos "world class" and perhaps a come back is in order.

Bring in Toyota and replace the entire management team at GM, let Chrysler file chapter 11, let Ford bring in Honda and replace the management team.

Bob Nardelli walked away from Home Depot with over $200 million in his golden parachute. If he feels so strong about Crysler, why doesnt he put up some of his cash to help save his company.

Hi larry, my problem with giving money to car companies is that they are bunch of rich thieves trying to steal tax payers money. They are going to lay off workers and guess who gets the money, rich executives who ruined it at the first place.

Michael Moore is right – the money should not go under the current auto management – they failed, and the solution was always to cut the lesser paid in order to keep their high wage. I was in auto, laid off twice and am still without work. I would have liked to received the failure pay I saw given to CEO's in the last 10 years – but I wasn't. Don't bail them out – they had the ability to get ahead of the energy game back in the early eighties and did not do right – why think they can do it right this time.

I live close to the gm lordstown Ohio plant and what I don't understand is why someone who works on a assembly line at a plant needs to make 6 figures and get 10 hour shifts 7 days a week? In my opinion these plant employees need to be let go and rehired and lower wages like Delphi nearby had to do overall I favor it

Absolutely not!! I recently lost my job in the auto industry. The basic premise for seeking this bailout is wrong. Keeping us working is the main case that Big3 automakers are making but what they are actually doing is protecting their buddy's and booting the hardworking people out of jobs. This is years and years of bad business that needs to be fixed. I guarantee that even after the bailout there will be more hard working people losing jobs to $200 a month fresh graduate from India and these executives are getting rich.

As usual, Michael Moore is RIGHT ON!

Michael Moore is absolutely right, and I hope the Congress watched Larry King tonight; and better, I wish Michael Moore could tell the auto industry execs face to face what he said tonight.

We can't afford to let another one of the U.S.'s manufacturing industries to go belly up. Too many jobs have been lost already and there's a potential for millions to be effected by this. However, unlike the $700 billion there needs to be a specific oversight committee on the spending abiding by a stringent plan. Just to be clear: as things stand right now I wouldn't support this bailout.

What message does a bail out to the big 3 send to other car makers in the .U.S. that are not failing?

I do not support the bailout of the US Auto big 3. We need electric cars, no bull about hydrogen fuel cell powered cars, maybe fuel efficient clean diesel...with lower priced clean diesel fuel, and better
hybrids from american manufacturers.

Why isn't there a discussion about all employees sharing in the cost of the bailout?
Rather than laying people off, determine the needed cost reductions and apply it across the board to all employees.
Laying off people puts more on the public dole and less able to become consumers.
Keeping all people on the payroll, abeit at reduced wages, keeps them employed, able to be consumers, and motivated to work for success.
I would also consider stock incentives to the employees and the public as a way to earn back what has been lost and/or invested
by the public.

I support a bailout because the alternative would be more costly to the government when you consider unemployment benefits and lost income tax revenue. Not to mention the human impact of the laid off workers. However, the bailout must come with contingencies including MPG requirements, executive compensation caps, and an agreement to not file lawsuits to resist additional future govt regulation of their industry.

Not a chance. A huge part of the problem is the legacy costs. How can anyone ask the average taxpayer – who is lucky to have any health plan and MAYBE a 401K with a 3-5% match while their working and almost certainly nothing while retired – to pay for the gold plated health plans and perks that have nearly bankrupt these companies?

Why doesn't michael work for Pres. obama?

NO! I absolutley oppose the continued support of capitalist corporations who lobby against more socialized approaches in government. They're opposed to socialism until they need it! They can no longer have it both ways! CEO's who loot companies when the money is rolling in, then ask for help as they continue to loot losing companies. Guess what??? We all survived after Studebaker went under and I'd like to see what would happen if any or all of the Big 3 followed suit. Like the great documentary asked, Who Killed The Electric Car??? GM and they don't deserve help– they deserve to sink or swim like anyone else in this country who can get up in the morning and go to work. It's too late, baby– it's just too late!

Michael Moore is basically correct, as usual.

Only I don't agree that the government should not be more involved in or businesses. Our banking and business leaders have failed us completely.

We need to appoint governmnent industry "Czars" such as Ross Perot who as a free public service would fire most top management at the auto companies and rebuild the businesses correctly.

I worked for GM in Wilmington , DE for 16 years and I can tell you from first hand experience that management was never concerned with a quality made automobile.You were told you could stop the line to fix a problem in station but as soon as you did stop the line management was in your station in seconds restarting it and trying to make a repair as the line moved..we had a saying at Wilmington...Quanity not quality..GET IT OUT THE DOOR

How many ways can I say it; No No No No!

no bail out . I would like a deposit of $4000 in my bank for use to purchase a car.

Yes, I think we have to keep the Automakers in business for the sake of their employees, suppliers, and retirees. I wish we could afford to let them fail.

Please ask the car companys to allow new companys to start up, also ask them to give up the patents they have bought that will allow a car to get a hundred miles a gallon of gas?

Not unless the government gets common stock and control of the board of directors. It stinks that they're asking for low interest loans, so they get a bail out at taxpayers' expense, but we don't get to share in the up side if things turn out wonderful – I don't think so. The US government is swimming in debt, when we put money into the banks we did it in such a way that we'll make out like bandits if things go well. The same should apply to the auto industry. Let the Commerce Secretary make appointments to the boards of these turkeys.

The government gives companies contracts to build airplanes or space rockets. The auto companies could get contracts similar to defense contracts or NASA contracts. The contracts should have deliverables, such as fuel-efficient cars and public transporations vehicles, as well as the vehicles the military needs. There should also be milestones and reviews, just as in any defense contract or NASA contract.

Do you remember in the movie Pretty Woman where Richard Gere, who has made a fortune buying companies and slashing their payrolls or shutting them down, has a change of heart and decides that he "wants to build something?" Our whole country needs to start having that change of heart!

I believe that the "bail-out" should be given to the Big 3 as long as certain requirements are given. It should be made clear that the funds should not be given just so these companies can lay-off thousands of workers; that is the antithesis of what the bail-out is for. The point is to preserve the middle-class or what is the point of giving the Big 3 money? If 30-times that amount can be given to WallStreet, then how can a fraction of that be refused to people who actually create products.

Three auto companies(so called 3 leachers) do not deserve a dime from the tax payers. Let them declare the bankcrupcy, then only we should help them for an innovative transportation saystem for our needs.

Good idea Janie! Have the oil companies bailout the big 3. Lord knows they need the big 3 as much if not more than the rest of us! Go hybrids.

Of Bellmawr, NJ
Couldn't we do some time a voucher program, like the stimlas checks, 1 per household. The voucher being worth x amout of dollars to go to a American car. If you want something worth more, the voucher would go as a desposit. The will give us some better running vechial. Would help people out of a car payment or maintance. (some cars should even be on the road) As the voucher are cashed in for the car, it goes the mauf.. This would move vechials off the lots, keep people working making more and make us feel like we our getting something for our tax dollars. These big companies can get help but how about us. Some us make to much to be on goverment asst. but to little to surive.

Yes, we must save the U.S. auto industry to save the middle class. Give them conditions,, of course, but save the jobs. Good God, I'm already unemployed thanks to this recession – save the few remaining middle class jobs!

I agree with Michael Moore that no money should go to the current management of the auto makers. Has anyone looked at the possibility of replacing the top 2 or 3 levels of management, replacing them with new management from both internal people and new blood? How much would that save the companies? Would they really need the bail out then? I don't think so. Skim the HIGH COST of the high salaries and golden parachutes of the company and bring in new thinkers that didn't kill the electric car in 1990's.

The media failed to report the risks of going into Iraq and now they are doing the same by not reporting the risks of letting the Big 3 fail. Since you won't, I will. To start with the tax payer will need to kick in over $100 billion to fund the pensions. The job losses from the big 3, suppliers and local shops will be in the millions, resulting in more missed mortgage payments and fewer tax collections by Municipalities. The federal government will have to decide whether to let local governments bleed or bail them out with billions more. Then there is the trillion dollars in defaulted debt, which will wipe out investors, corporations and writers of credit default swaps. You better throw another trillion on the TARP. The only worse thing than bailing out the Big, is to not bail out the big 3. Funny, $35 billion seems like a small number all of a sudder, doesn't it Larry?

Don't bail out the Big Three.

Congress legislated bankruptcy laws to be disposed through the judiciary. For Pete's sake, the Big Three should be required to step up to the bar like everyone else. Don't allow Congress to shortcut its own system. To do otherwise will set up a system of special dispensation for all. If Congress doesn't believe the laws work, then change them for all.

In reorganization, cars will still be built, and the Tier 1 and 2 suppliers will fill what the market demands. Suppliers also go through regorganizations in bankruptcy......it's more the rule than the exception. Ask BBK and the rest of the Workout folks.

The banking industry is different. It is a regulated one, where regulators and legislators have failed and systemic risk is too big to ignore..........so it's the taxpayer's responsibility to right it. However, the current equity holders should be wiped out.

No to the automaker bailout. If these companies cannot run themselves successfully, they should go the way of any other failed businesses. The Government/taxpayers should not try to interfer in free markets.

I look at this as an investment in jobs not a bailout....but as Mr.Moore says it has to be an investment with conditions..that being they don't gut Union contracts,and they don't send jobs to cheap labor markets,which means layoffs.

BW,

Canada

I'm sick of bailing out corporate America who have taken advantage of people for their own economic gain. /A.I.G. has ruined the bail out for any other company.
Bottom line, we have to pay our bills & work with a budget, companies should too!!

Every American vehicle I ever bought always broke down. And I believe they make them to break down so they can sell more. I am in favor of assisting the Automakers but not without conditions.
i., Energy effecient cars that are built well. Like the german cars.
ii., New management.
iii., I agree with Michael, build more mass transit, trains, buses, etc.

India is producing a car that costs $2,500. Brazil now exports oil because they have flex fuel cars. They have a choice of four different fuels at the pump station. Michael is right. Why should those CEOs who have mismanaged or perhaps took their cue from oilmongers be allowed to continue to mess up the works. Keep the employees and FIRE THE CEOs!!!

Like Michael says in his blog (email that I subscribed to) the BIG 3 Build poor autos and always have. Even when the foreign carmakers debued in North America... neither GM, Chrysler or Ford changed for the people. They relied on loyalty based on being a citizen... not what the country needed... just as long as they made their money.

The assembly lines and work ethic on North american car makers do not compare with those of the culturally advanced off shore technology.

Many residents are learning a perfect vehicle exists... and it is FOREIGN MADE>

I believe Mr. Moore is right when it comes to to the Bailout, it should be given but with restrictions and instead of cutting off those employees, cut the pay check of all those high ranking people in the company. No bonus at all (for doing nothing more than getting their pockets fat). Force than to build more fuel efficient vehicles as GM do in GM Brazil.

Hamilton Argueta
Atlanta, GA

NO..we should not bail out the auto manufacturers. My father-in-law is a GM retiree. His daughter was on his health insurance until she was 25 – no job & not in school. In addition, she had a child, who was allowed to be added to my father-in-laws insurance – no questions asked. GM really needs to look at their current health care for existing & retirees and they can find places to cut; that would ultimately save this company alot of money...but do they – NO...this is mis-management...but they want a bailout...NO WAY! Take care of your business and start running it the way substantially sound companies do.

MICHEAL JUST SAID WHAT I WANTED TO COMMENT.
BIG THREE HAVE ALWAYS FOUGHT ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE ASKED THEM TO DO. NOW THEY ASK US TO DO THIS SMALL THING FOR THEM. I TELL THEM .... YOU.

Good evening Mr. King and Mr. Moore.

Why is all these big car companies only talking of reducing their work forces, etc. and the worker's themselves even willing to take reductions in their wages and benefits but I haven't heard Chrysler, Ford or any of them bringing to the table THEIR wages and bonus packages, their private jets etc. No bail out!!!

No way. Taxpayers who in many cases have been laid off from the car companies will be paying car company exec's huge salaries/bonuses to build cars we don't want, built in plants outsourced to foreign countries. Insane!

No. I say let them go out of business. Ford and Chrysler can take over for them.

Keep the American Auto workers WORKING, just skim off the old LARD off the top. Time to downsize the clueless CEO's. How about luring over the brightest top management team from the Japanese auto industry?

We didn't bail out Enron so why should we reward this type of failure now?
We have helped the automakers by buying until we couldn't afford to anymore and this is what they have to show for years of record profits?
Give them a 401K like bail out....we match a certain percentage and in 10 years of fiscal responsibility they will be rewarded.

Why not support the Big Three automakers? They employ thousands of workers,. We gave 700 billlion to Wall Street and did not ask them how they were going to spend it. Are they still going to make millions per year and then get year-end bonuses? What the auto makers are asking for is peanuts in comparison. I drive a GMAC Impala and get 32 miles per gallon on a trip. I don't think too many foreign cars get any better.

One of the largest problems with all big business and the auto makers is the fact that the CEO's have raped the companies to this point with their need for greed!! It has always been about upper management and the big boys who have never cared about the person doing the work and making things happen. They took care of themselves at the expense of the middle class.

They all need to be replaced with individuals that have a conscience and concern for doing what is right.

Like a worthy bank considering a loan to an entrepreneur for a start-up company after analyzing in detail its business plan, the Congress should do likewise with the carmakers in Detroit. "Whining" and crying out that the "sky is falling, the sky is falling" like we have seen Wall Street-types do to get 750 billion cannot cut it any longer with taxpayer dollars going to the Big Three in Detroit.

Miles Zaremski
Highland Park, Illinois
12-3-08

I don't agree with the bailout for the auto industry or any industry. I am from Bethlehem, PA and why is it different from what the Bethlehem Steel and our country's steel industry?

Suppose the CEO of a corporation owns one million shares of stock in the company. The stock is worth seventy dollars a share but the CEO knows the stock is not worth that and will drop precipitously at any time. He decides to sell his shares of ownership in the company and does so grossing a cool seventy million dollars. The stock falls precipitously to seven dollars a share. The CEO buys a million shares of the stock at that price and nets sixty three million dollars. The board of directors of the corporation turns a blind eye as they too own stock in the company and have used the same strategy. Multiply this by a hundred times and this is what has happened in our current economy.
Unfortunately, now it appears that the corporation cannot survive in its current financial situation. The company needs a current infusion of cash to maintain solvency and asks for a bailout from the government. The CEO has already taken his booty while the pensioners and retirement account holders too numerous to count have had to eat their losses through buy and hold and dollar cost averaging strategies. He attempts a half hearted attempt to rescue his company from bankruptcy.
The argument he uses is that failure of the company will not only affect the union workers at his company but millions of other workers who are suppliers for the company. He has forgotten that for the past twenty-five years the corporation has outsourced these jobs to foreign countries such as Mexico, China, India and Malaysia where labor costs are much cheaper. In fact, the union brothers who assemble the product turned their backs as more and more of their brothers lost their livelihood to foreign workers. It has always been more cost effective to assemble the product on site rather than ship the completed product long distances.
The CEOs less than enthusiastic attempt for a bailout is tempered by the possibility that a patriotic appeal (hot dogs, baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet) might work to resurrect the fortunes of his company. The lackeys in Congress might be willing to do anything to preserve this relic of Americana. He knows full well that his company has been a multinational and its global approach actually will result in the closing of American plants, the firing of workers, and a transfer of equipment to plants now being built in foreign countries. The stock options available to him are now far out of reach but if he reverses the fortune of the company things might change and he has the chance to double his money.
The patriotic argument to preserve an American product falls upon deaf ears as everyone realizes that the corporation is a global one and should not be bailed out by the taxpayers of the United States. United States taxpayers should not be bailing out foreign workers. The CEO loses his investment of seven million dollars but still nets sixty three million dollars.

I do so support some kind of bail-out but that the one the one they are talking about now.

Absolutely not with a Capital NO from the tax payers. Michael Moore has a great idea!

Yes, with accountablity. The Big 3 have been making cars that the average consumer buys, it's what we wanted. If the consumer did not but them the Big 3 would be forced to build something different.

Of course we have to loan the money to U.S. Carmakers. We are talking jobs, jobs and more jobs here. They aren’t asking for a bailout, they’re asking for a loan for God’s sake.

After all, we stupidly gave a bailout to Finanicial Institutions and an Insurance giant (AIG) with blank checks and no questions asked. And, we still don’t know what’s going on with that money we already gave out. I would rather invest my tax dollars into U.S. jobs & U.S. made cars than banks who rob and scam us anyway.

Further, our government is at fault for this mess we're in as well since they all get a piece of all the pies being made and I wish Bill Gates would take his company and go ahead and move. It's easy for him to say that he may have to move after he has made his billions off the backs and minds of us U.S. workers, (that he no longer wants to use, e.g., India is who he's using) but then even tells us to donate money to the needy. What planet is he on? "We" are the needy!
There are no manufacturing jobs left in this country except the auto industry. Everything is now imported mostly from China and Mexico. This country is a disgrace and our government running it should be ashamed and also needs an overhaul.

The Republicans in the South don't have union shops and they are using this selfishly

Re inventig the wheel every seven years is something we Americans do well and timely.

Let them apply for chapter 11 as all the one before did.

Who is going to bail me out?

Years ago there was a Documentary on Why GM killed the Electric Car. Shouldnt we be also looking at the Oil companies as well? It appears the oil companies wanted their take aswell, What do you think about that

Mr. Moore states that he doesn't want to give the money to the current management of the Big 3. Who better to turn these companies around than people that have already done it at previous companies...ie:
Alan Mullany turned around Boeing, Bob Nardelli at Home Depot, Jim Press at Toyota. Mr. Moore, who would you rather have running these companies, government bureacrats? Be careful what you ask for Mr. Moore.

Michael-I live in Michigan too. It's not a recession, its a depression! You're complaing about a $34 million bailout...what about the $150 billion bailout for AIG with no strings attached.

The Big three should be allowed to die their reckless suicidal death. By bailing them out, the government is basically subsidizing and rewarding a completely misguided and mismanaged industry which obviously needed a complete overhaul at least 30 years ago. Any aid should go to the workers in the interim between when the Big 3 croak and their infrastructures are bought out by wise investors who can begin building cars which reflect the needs of the people and the health of the planet. The grossly overpaid execs at the Big 3 have abused their critically important roles for far too long, and now they should lie in the beds they built.

I agree completely with Michale Moore that we should'nt bail out any corporation unless there are very strict restrictions and conditions. Also, I don't believe we should give any money to anyone until the new President and his staff have been installed and given ample time to review all the requests.

The tax payer was put in a position where they have no choice but to pay for the bail out. The tax payer has two options. 1) Send the money directly to the companies and subsidize the incompetence of their CEOs with financial stimulus. Or option 2) Send the money to the employees who lose their jobs via unemployment benefits. Either way, the tax payer will pay the bill. I rather keep these people employed during these rough times and go back to the drawing board.

$1/year for an automaker CEO is too much money to pay. They MUST GOOOOOOOO. Even if they pay to stay, they still must go!

Michael Moore is right on everything he's saying!

We do need to bail out the automakers but only if they comply to new regulations that are going to be beneficial to everyone; i.e. better fuel efficiency, electric cars, etc. They need to get rid of the current management and not pay the out of the park salaries. Who deserves to earn 15 million a year when the companies are going bankrupt.

Micheal Moore speaks the truth!
My question is this: So why would Congress give this money to the Big 3 and let them do whatever they want with it? If I gave someone that much of my money (which it is) then I not only want to know about every dime spent, but how it will benefit me.

Yes, the three auto companies deserve a loan to help them through this crisis, with the qualification that the CEO's salaries must be a certain percentage higher than the workers' salaries, but no more exploiting the companies to make the CEO's billionaires.

Instead of giving money to the big three executives, how about the government giving each American a $25,000 credit towards a new car – and let us choose.

these car manufacturers have always had the capacity to make a fuel efficient car. i find it hard to believe that they cannot do so. who is going to bail out all of those who work hard and cannot make ends meet on a day to day basis.

Larry, here's the deal. This country used to be the manufacturing base of the world. So we out soursed it. Now we are focusing on the servce sectors. So what is going to happen is this. I'm going to pay $xxx.xx to (for sake of the real argument) the right to shake your hand. I'm then going to turn around and sell to 10 people the right to shake my hand, just because I shuck your's for $xx.xx. They will each turn around and do the same, but they will only be able to get $x.xx, who will only get $.xx. At the end of it all, some one is going to offer to sell you a hand shake for $.0x, just to be able to shake a hand that almost touched a hand that you shook...

What does Michael Moore think is the difference between making cars no one wants and making subway and train cars no one wants? There are already successful subway and train car manufacturers. Retooling GM will take decades.

Larry,with the mounting inventories, tight money and credit,how can the car companies expect to remain solvent even with the bailout money in the short and long term? Please read Motor Trend mag this month...Ford is still planning on producing a 400 HP F-150 rapture!!!!!

The taxpayer's money should only support the auto industry for better auto technology that relies less on foreign oil and less emissions to our environment. Any bail-out should be conditional and overseen by the government to make sure they do it right.

I fully support the LOAN to the auto industries. Michael Moore's point isn't valid, he is going for mass transit... the factories couldn't sustain the number of employees that they presently have because a mass transit system isn't going to be in everyone's driveway. Secondly, I don't feel that he's a reputable person to be on this show... and for you to provide him with this forum to spout his tainted view, is worrisome. I strongly support this LOAN, and feel that the long-term impact to our country is far worse than people realize.

We low and middle income taxpayers who live by the rules have had it up to here rescuing individuals and corporations who fail to live their lives or conduct their businesses responsibly. Bring in some single mothers to advise these idiots on how to follow a budget, save a few bucks here and there, cut out waste and plan for unexpected emergencies.

We have to stop fearing the unknown. No one has talked about letting the companies go and trusting that someone will buy them and make them competitive in the world.

Someone said earlier that perhaps the oil industry should be bailing the big three out. After all, it was because of the oil industry and their buying up of patents for more fuel efficient vehicles that the automobile industry never began making more fuel efficient cars. Only Ford has come up with the right words–saying they might not need the money and no mention of cutting workers. GM and Chrysler need to rethink their plans.

In Europe the cars get anywhere from 50-55mpg on highway driving...the technology is there and has been for years...so why is it not adopted here??? The big 3 have been holding back to the benefit of the oil companies?

No one saved the American television industry and 30 years later, we have flat screen/HD tv’s to watch Larry King at affordable prices.

What will happen if we ’save’ the american automative industry?
Think about it…

Michael Moore has a good head on him, and he's right. Fire all the CEOs in the auto industry, revamp the industry from the ground up, and hire some fresh talent to design smaller cars that use alternative (green) energy, as well as public transportation (buses, subways, trains). [Also, rebuild our train networks out to towns and villages, and get the huge trucks off our roads to make it safer for smaller cars!] Make loans to the auto industry, lots of strings attached, and assign some heavy-duty oversight.

I do not undestand why this is even going before Congress. The automakers are not a state... they should not be able to get federal assistance. I am sorry to see these companies go down, however, that is the natural cycle of business...only the strongest survive.

Larry: Michael Moore's idea for producing high speed trains (like Europe has had for years, and buses and other green forms of transportation is the most practical, smart solution for the re-use of our factories and the continued employment of the workers and all the suppliers and businesses that depend on the auto industry. Has he spoken with Obama about this? How do we get this idea rolling — I believe people across our nation would rally behind this idea, just as they supported Obama and Change. This idea is real CHANGE and has the power to make real change.

Diane, California

Tell Michael Moore to take of his EMU hat because he's disgracing my alma mater with his disparaging remarks about the auto industry. I've lived in this area all my life and we're all effected by the auto industry. This is a valuable manufacturing segment to our entire country and we need to work together to help the big 3. Why because it effects 2-3 million jobs. Sure their plans are to cut 20,000 jobs but thats better than 2-3 million..Isn't Michael? I thought Michael Moore grew up in Michigan, doesn't he care about his neighbors and his friends. And remember, its not a bail out...its a loan. And why aren't you talking about the 150 million giving to AIG...?

Rumor has it that the auto workers make around $75.00 an hour working on the assembly lines. If this is true, shouldn't we be reorganizing the labor contracts as well as the products?

I think the top executives should take their salaries from the last eight years and bail themselves out! Why should the taxpayers who are having trouble putting food on the table now, pay for their mistakes. This is outrageous.

Michael Moore was certainly right about one thing. They want money so they can cut more U.S. jobs? The bailout should be conditioned on retaining jobs in the U.S. If they want to layoff workers, let them lay them off in Mexico. No U.S. tax dollars to fire U.S. workers!

Larry,

How can we even concider giving the big three any money until the knuckle-heads that ran them into the ground are removed and replaced with someone who will look past then next bonus cycle.

Where is my bailout? I lived in a condo, signed a contract to build a house, assumed that I could sell my condo and then the market went to hell. In the meantime, I had a legal obligation to buy this house that was being built. Where is my bailout?? I wasn't making millions of dollars off the average American. i say, NO, bailouts are nothing more than a band aid to save the fat cats. Rescue the auto industry is bull-hockey...rescue the banks is bull-hockey. AND I am being polite !!

Michael, ASK FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THEY SPENT ON "AFTER WARRANTY ASSISTANCE" ESPECIALLY ON THE 2001 FORD FOCUS.

Michael says management needs to change. Who would MIchael Moore suggest to be the CEO of any of the big three car companies?

NO. Mr.Moore has a big point. This Country at the moment needs change. Also Obama is bound to become involved.The decision is going to be oviouse. No one can have a piece of mind to approve same cars as we've had destroying our enviornment to be once again manufactured..

Yes the oil companies should bail them out.
I still will only buy Toyota or Subaru.

I support the loan, however, Chgange the upper management and put new leaders in.

They must build the acceptable cars and become competitive as all other businesses.

Lower the wages of the assembly line workers.

When assembly line workers earn more than teachers, the system lacks credibility.

Your teachers are very poorly paid.

Renegotiate all union contracts.

LARRY: I FEEL LIKE IF GM NEEDED THE MONEY BAD ENOUGH THEY WOULD STAY IN USA TO BUILD THE CAR AND TRUCK HERE NOT IN OLD MEXICO.

I agree that we cannot allow the car companies to go under for all the reasons we all know. I LIKE MM's green perspective on the situation. This a unique and in fact fortunate opportunity for the nation to force a redirection of the productive power of the auto companies for the benefit of the nation, the people, the economy and the environment.

I 100% oppose a bailout. The auto makers do not deserve a bailout, and we should demand that they should be held accountable to the results of their poor decisions of the past (like all other companies). I feel that they should be expected to deliver value in the products they produce and that includes helping to reduce our dependency on oil. They should step up and take leadership on producing electric/hydro efficient vehicles etc. NO MORE fossal fuels. period.

hey larry I am totaly agreeing with michael on the issue of no bailout for detroit let them go chapter11 and restruct their companies. Mis management and too many freebee's kill the idea of no more free money from us the taxpayers. Let the top executives pay for the bailout.

No, I do not believe that the car industry should be bailed out. For too many years they have built substandard products, it is time to pay the piper! Let them fall and see what if anything can be recovered. I for one am not proud of the fact, but I have never bought anything car made in America.

We absolutely should NOT give money to these CEOs and COOs who have clearly demonstrated that they cannot manage a company for profit – except for their own millions of dollars in compensation. It is obscene for these people to take home millions of dollars while jeopardizing the workers' pensions and paychecks. Our government should demand resignations from all of them and surely we can find people who are smart enough to use the bailout money wisely and put the automakers back on track, Michael Moore could probably perform the interviews and do the hiring.

They should be allowed to go bankrupt. Spend the money on education, infrastructure and everything else that can create jobs to employ the people who lose their jobs and want to work!!

The question should not be about the support of a bailout, it must be whether or not the congress has the right to decide such a measure. It isn't there money to give away... There shoud be a vote. Hence no bailout!!!! Recording all congessional participants voting for this bailout in order to vot them out

Larry–Michael Moore doesn't acknowledge that we are in this bind because of the freezing of the credit markets. People can't buy cars because they can't get loans/leasing. This problem also is not
just confined to North America–it is global in scope. GM didn't
create this mess–we are victims of it.
Secondly, GM has more cars that get 30 mpg than any other
manufacturer. GM is also investing in alternative technologies–from
electric vehicles to fuel cells. We are basically, reinventing the
automobile–it is not something that can be done on a dime.
Michael
Toronto, Ontario, (GM employee)

There is only one thing I can say as a watch CNN is to review history. One who reviews history can figure out the solution to a crisis base history is deemed to repeat itself no matter what. Why do you think we are required to review history in school?

It's easy to sit on a comfortable chair and design a car that gives 100 miles/gallon and is the safest car that would prevent harm at any condition. We should throw out all Physical science book and create these products in the virtual world.... Good luck Michael...

It seems to me that nationalizing the auto industry would allow the government to fundamentally insure job security for auto workers. If the resources of the Big 3 were put towards public works, millions could be put to work towards bettering the American infrastructure. We could demand a shortened workweek that would spread the work around, and take control of innovation and development in the auto industry by putting it under the care of the transportation department.

Hi Larry,
I do not feel that the American people should bail out the auto industry. Exxon-Mobil, on the other hand, has been raking in billions now for years. They should step up to the plate and "loan" the money to the very industry that has helped them make all their money.

I HAVE GROWN UP IN FORDS/CHEVS AND CHRYSLERS HAVE AT ONE POINT IN MY LIVE OWNED ANY ONE OF THESE MAKES CURRENTLY I DRIVE A F150 LOVE THE TRUCK BUT WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FROM A TO B AND BACK IT DOSN'T MATTER WHAT I DRIVE AS LONG AS I OR WE CAN GET AROUND.

I don't think that they should be able to be bailed out. They have already taken so much from the consumers. I recently purchased a Jeep and the seat belt became twisted and they refuse to fix it unless I pay more money. How much more money can they take from me!

The big3 have no credible plan for success with the current business model. Without providing evidence of any kind, they dismiss Chapt 11 as an alternative. In fact, it is the only viable alternative. Chapter 11's very purpose is to allow for reemergence of a solvent business.

Let the govt support the industry through bankruptcy. This is the only way to save jobs.

And please, let's stop focussing on execs' salaries, perks, etc. These are just red herrings.

I agree with Michael on this, no bailout for them........Let them
file reorganization ch 11......... With govt as debtor in possesion.
Teri and Jon in Calif

Yes. More jobs are tied to the automobile industry and it has the biggest effect on the economy than any other industry in the United States.

Jerry Williams
Harland, Wisconsin

Belleville Michigan

I am absolutely against bailing out the car companies. While it is more than likely that Congress will assist with some giving them some money, it should be a loan.

Why don't the Big 3 car companies cancel their contract with the Teamsters? I honestly believe that is a huge problem. Nissan, Toyota and BMW don't have the Union in their factories and their employess are hard workers, happy and make a decent living.

The Teamsters are bleeding the Big 3.

Michael Moore has the right idea. Use what infrastructure and talent we have to build what we need for the 21st Century. Americans have a history of being creative and practical. No money to the auto industry unless we change direction.

I love you Michael Moore! Will you marry me?

i just sold a 2000 Buick that got 31 mpg
My new 2008 only get 23 mpg. What with that Detroit

Chastising the big 3 CEOs over the use of corporate jets was political theatre and misses the point. The US is famous for its manufacture of cars for people all over the world. Its true that they have been slow to bring the best cars for the times, but they are in the works, and will appear on the roads soon – given a chance.

While Moore's ideas of putting the public in buses and trains is a noble thought it can only happen with a major culture change by the American public – not whether the car makers can make the appropriate cars for the times, never mind trains and buses.

Compared with the bail out of the Wall Street crooks this bail out should be a no-brainer

No, I do not support the loan for the car companies, because I needed ten grand to keep my farm and I could not get it. I was threw out of my farm two weeks befor cristmas, lost my focus withj college and alcahol almost got the best of me. Im getting over it after six years. thank you george bush.

I am Canadian, but we still have similar problems here. Part of my business is restructuring of companies and I have a suggestion for the Big 3 automotive bailout. Why doesn’t the government consider finding out from the BIG 3 what they expect the warranty costs will be for the next 3-5 years and if the number is manageable, instead of giving them the $25 billion, guarantee the warranties for all three companies providing that each one must go into Chapter 11 to qualify for the warranty consideration. That way, people will not be nervous about buying a car from a near bankrupt company. The financial institutions like GE, Citi and others that do DIP financing should form a syndicate to finance all three as DIP lenders under a Chapter 11 scenario. If the government needs to help them finance, it can be considered, but as DIP lenders, it may not be required. Have some of the best bankruptcy trustees in the USA be involved in the “healing” process and proposal to creditors and any of the creditors of the BIG 3 that get hurt should be given shares in the companies. Over time, the creditors could get their money back including any employees. It may also make sense that the hurt creditors/employees receive shares of all three companies (as a consideration from the government to guarantee their warranty program) even if they are only owed money from one of the three companies. That way, the creditors/employees have a better chance at getting their money back if in the event, any of them do not make it through. The Creditors debt payment consideration would be based on the stock trading price after the Chapter 11 is in place. The split of shares to the creditors/employees could be based on a pro-rata share of what each of the three companies needed in financing or some other equitable formula.

Now, to me that is Capitalism at work.

What about the unions and contracts of the auto workers? As a business owner, I have to make appropriate business decisions-Payroll is a significant overhead for businesses- These workers get an incredible amount of money in pay and benefits-If they go bankrupt, can't these contracts be renegotiated?

When the heads of the big 3 arrived in Washington last week in their private jets, it was so obvious that they just didn't get it. They said that they needed $25 Billion to make it right. Now a week later they are saying they need $34 Billion. Which is it? I am not at all convinced that they know what they are doing. They are out of touch with the problem. The problem is not the workers or the factoies, it is the heads of the companies. It is time to change these men and their antiquated out of touch ideas. They all look old and tired and rather smug about the whole thing.

How about the CEOs of these bailed out companies work for $1/yr. until they turn a profit?

No loans to any of the the "big three". Bankruptcy and re-organisation with new and competent management is the best course. Make them compete with the other auto firms. Make models to compete with the likes of Camry,Accord and Passat.

Larry, Definitely not–no bailout! This problem is not something new... The employees, if they really want their jobs should cut their pay to $10 an hour and cut benefits to health insurance only! They can choose that or choose unemployment... They have good pay and better benefits than most people. I like the idea of the CEOs getting $1 a year, but it could be a little late for that. When a company creates a loss, the cuts should have started in that first year...they can always to made up for when the profits happen. If the profits don't happen, there is more of a problem that hadn't been dealt with... Are they people in favor of a SMALL BUSINESS bailout? There are small business bankruptcies daily that big business really doesn't care about...I would think they should count for something! Ann

I DO NOT AGREE WITH A BAILOUT.

WE SHOULD IN SOME WAY INVEST TAXPAYER MONEY IN OUR AUTOMAKERS IF THEY ARE 100% GEARED TO CONSERVATION OF ENERGY.

PAUL, MELBOURNE FLORIDA

No, not with the current Management
They keep comparing with Asian manufacturer why don't they also start comparing big 3 top executives pay as compare to Honda and Toyota and their Technical(repeat technical) product knowledge

They need to stop blackmailing Government Job loss

Would it be possible to invest that money into creating and improving public transportation systems in more of our major cities? And employing those from the auto industry in the "public transportation" boom?

how about making those ceo give up the salary for one dollar as
they discussed and not cut 20,000.00 employee but fire the ceo they are the ones that run the companys in the ground and not the workers that make a salary that they can survive on everytime there is a problem they look to cut the small guy not the big jokes that sit at there desk and make stupid decision they should not give them any
money

I would rather see every dime go to alternative energy research.

no! I have a Japanese car that gets 50 mpg, has 13, 500 miles and has never had a problem. If the US had made it I'd have an American car but they didn't so I don't. Lost my job last year, now drive 140 miles a day to my new job. I could only stay at my new job when gas was high because I had a car that worked for me. It has to work so I can work. Can't support problems!

No. Provide the line of credit to Ford; close Chrysler, and liquidate GM for the amount of money they want. The useful assets that GM has for building hybrid vehicles would likely be bought by Ford to actually create a working product. No money should be provided to a losing proposition, just like any other business.
Toyota and the other automakers came into the US with a working model that makes money, so why bail out companies that don't.

Mr. King,

Absolutely no bail-out. I have been a tax payer all my life and have never been able to afford a new car. When my business failed no one bailed me out. I usto have GM workers come into my business and brag about how much they made. What about the rest of us who work for small wages? I put in 17 hr days and cleared 18 thousand a year. I had people that were young come in on disibility and brag how much they were getting and would never have to work again. They had a bad back ect. Why should we take our hard earned taxes and bail them out? They should not have been so wasteful and greedy.

Thank You
Karen

Unfortunately, no. The bailout plan, as presented, addresses the supply side of the auto industry when the problem truly resides on the demand side. As Mr. Moore stated, if you put more auto workers out of work the demand for cars will just fall further. To get the supply/demand dynamics in equilibrium it would seem that at least one of the Big Three may have to go away. It is a sad situation but simply fixing the auto makers problems is not going to change years of mismanagement. If Congress elects to provide funding to these companies they had best demand that new management be installed or this may just end up having the taxpayers throw good money after bad.

I don't ithink we should give a penny to these companies that clearly abdicated their ethical responsibility to produce high mileage, alternative fuel automobiles instead of the gas-guzzling monsters that they would surely be continuing to make if it weren't for the high price of gasoline this summer. Tie any bailout to a complete overhaul of the big 3 management to responsible corporate management that is committed to reform this vital industry. Throw these bums out!!

It is simple.
1) Have the goverment take over their retiree plans and give them the same benefits as federal employees
2) Break them up so that we can have innovation
3) Fire their board of directors and top management
4) Increase the MPG requirements immediately and aggressively
5) BRAK UP the unions - they still have job banks and now they need our money!

Michael Moore seems to think the jet setting bigwigs are the only problem at the big three. Will he admit that the UAW shares the blame, by forcing the auto makers' cost of labor, pension, and employee health care so high as to be uncompetitive?

Michael Mahoney
Guelph, Ontario, Canada

yes, bail them out, all of us that own a Chevrolet and have purchased extended warrantees will lose our money if they go down – think about more than just the CEO's -- think about all of us that are dedicated Chevrolet owners. I just bought a new Chevrolet with the extended warranty – I don't want to lose all that money
Plus the workers need their jobs – we can send money to others all over the world – that is OK – but let's also help right here.
Mass Transit does not work in rural areas.

The Big 3 car dealers have had their chance to make fuel-efficient automobiles for many years. We still have those automakers who are making automobiles affordable and fuel-efficient. No to the bailout or government-owned automakers.

No, not until they come up with a product that people can afford and is sustainable. I suspect we have enough vehicles to get us by until they retool.

We should not bail out the car industry which is fueled by supply and demand. If no consumer wants your product, then you should change your product to fit demand. Clinton warned the car industry about making an outdated product and the Japanese and Koreans listened, but the Americans refused to listen. An American Capitalistic Business who refuses to listen to demand and makes an outdated, unwanted product deserves to disappear. American was founded on innovation and this is not innovation. Why not spend the money to bail out the Middle Class which is burden with Student Loans which prevents them from having access to disposable income with which to consume products, even if the products are the ones in demand, like the Toyota Prius.

let's scrap the whole damn concept let's start over with fresh ideas!michael moore is right on!

Hi Larry,

I agree with Michael Moore, why should the auto industry be bailed out? I'm sure this is not the first time they have been bailout. But, why do hard working Americans have to loose their jobs so that the greedy executives can go on these expensive vacations. The money they use to fly around in jets. They could make sacrafices just like the rest of tax paying Americans. I say the buck should stop here and now!!!

THANKS Michael for speaking the TRUTH!!!

It is important to remember that by denying the Big 3, we aren't "punishing" the millionaires and billionaires who are at the head of the companies...we're punishing the thousands of middle-class workers, the ones who deserve to keep their jobs.

Yes I do believe we have to loan the big 3 auto companies. Key word here is loan, why do we give bankers trillions of dollars with no questions asked. What these companies failure would do to further destruct our economy. Sarah Indiana

The idiots who run the Big Three auto companies into the ground are more interested in their bonuses by selling mediocre kitchen appliances on wheels than passionate, exciting and thrilling cars to fuel the imagination of generations to come. Lets make the American automobile once again the inspiration of millions of people who love the idea of the automobile.

I oppose this because they have not made enough effort to try to make energy cons. cars. They have over spent too much on these big cars. It just doesnt make sense.I really like Michael Moore because he says what he thinks and I respect that. Thanks, Michael
Susanne

No. Many Americans-with college degrees-are working for far less than the auto workers. People cannot afford new cars....no matter what they promise to build! Look around, people can't afford food, utilities, etc. Listen to Michael Moore....HE makes sense!

One of the thing that hurts all industry is the fact that managers and engineers had to work in the factories for about a year before they got placed as a manager or engineer in a plant!!! Today there are no training programs...........A college grad with an MBA may never have any work experience and yet be hired to make management decisions with no idea of what they are doing or if they are making a profit!!!!!! These companies didnt go broke over night!!!!

Bob in WI

Obaman should stop all production on non green cars and make the companies make mass transit components and economy cars.

I do not think the bale out is a good thing. Why not give every taxpayer $250,000 and I bet the money goes back into the economy and everyone would buy a new car. Fire the ones that got the auto company in that shape.

there should be a structured bailout and close scrutiny of the big 3 but i disagree not bailing them out when 600 billion was given to the banks who destroyed the economy and no one is mentioning that

Michael is too idealistic; let's be real here. What he wants is not going to happen. So instead of giving impossible goals, why not search for a realistic solution. Otherwise, what will happen is the collapse of these companies, which may not be a bad thing. No bail-out, followed by the death of the Big Three, will result in a longer depression but out of the ashes will rise new companies that provide the alternatives to gas-guzzlers like Michael suggests. So, Michael: why don't you work on a plan that can work somewhere in the middle, something realistic, instead of going for pie in the sky ideas and mostly just complaints?

I totally agree with Michael Moore, the big three are way behind in meeting environmental, emission and energy requirements. No, we should not bail them out as they are asking.

We need Mr. Moore in Washington.

I'm against bailing out the auto makers. We've bailed them out before, and they haven't learned anything. If we have to spend money, why not use the money to give the laid off employees unemployment until new businesses can take the place of the failed auto companies. $25B should last a long time giving unemployment.

I have heard the bailout could reach $8 Trillion, That is $26000 to every American or $53000 to evryone who received 2008 stimulus. If that were given directly to the american people that would equal in sale tax alone, 240 billion State, 240 billion City/County, 80 billion school, 80 billion Fed. That is tax rate in my town. That would fix mortgage,student loan, car purchase, pay behind bills. Directly helping the economy. Let the US citizens chose who survives and who fails.

Yes, but only if the heads of these companies can only make $40,000 as my husband did when he retired. Let them see what it's like to live like the rest of us. Millions of dollars they make? Phooey! that's crap!

The support of The Big Three is important. As always, consumer demand has led these companies and other industry automakers to produce a product that fits their needs. As globalization continues, the competitiveness of the auto industry increase, leading companies to cater more to the consumer.
The people who run the Big Three on varies levels are not "idiots." They will create products that are more fuel efficient, affordable, and reliable. Toyota became the number one automaker in the world by creating a product that consumers trusted and fitted their needs. American automakers have the capability to do just the same, given the chance...

I agree with Mr Moore. We can't just hand over billions of dollars to an industry that hasn't listened or worked with the American people. My question is where was the "bailout" for the steel industry in PA, or the mining industry in Montana?? Is it up to taxpayers to bailout every industry???
Dave
Weirton, WV

Here's the deal...Don't give the money to any company. They have proven that they don't know how to spend it properly. My thought is to give the money directly to the tax payers! If the people like you and I had 100k each, in this market I have to believe that most of us would spend it correctly for our families. We would buy cars and pay off credit card debt, pay the mortage etc. Give the people the money! Don't tax us anymore to support compaies who would go under without the handouts they are requsting.

I support the LOAN! Our government made money last time they loaned money to Chrysler and last time I checked the government needs a good investiment. It's time to start investing in our country like other countrys do. Rochester Hills, MI. Senior Electrical Engineer at the New Chrysler

this siuation must be dealt with by car companies themselves. We should not be financing them at this point since they have not made the changes necessary that would give us confidence that they have a true path forward. They have made some promises but no actiion has been taken yet.

Larry,
ONE MORE THING..
IF EVERY WILLING AND CAPABLE AMERICAN FAMILY GETS 30-40,000K ONE TIME TAX CREDIT TO SOLARIZE THEIR HOMES,IMAGINE THE BOOST TO OUR ECONOMY-JOB CREATION...NO MORE STIMULUS PACKAGES NEEDED LARRY....I WISH OUR NEW PRESIDENT OBAMA DOES THIS!!!
KRIS

I do believe we should try to salvage these automakers but only if adequate oversight in in place to monitor the progress/success of the bailout. We should also ensure that bonuses, expensive trips for meetings and all unnecessary expenses are prohibited until the bailout has been repaid in full.

Mike is right we need to relook soeity and think big like he said expaned the world creating more jobs and life. think huge

No simple bailout for the auto makers. If the Govt. steps in, it makes the rules. Michael Moore is exactly right.

Larry,

I agree with many of Michael Moore's points regarding the big three automakers. I liked the fact that Congress didn't automatically vote for a Wall Street Bailout and was disappointed ultimately when the bailout was voted in a day or two later. My biggest concern is that our children will have to pay for Iraq, bailing out Wall Street and bailing out the big three automakers. Shackling my child's future with such a heavy tax burden is not fair! I think that if the big three need money, they need new leadership and any money given to them needs to be given with major league strings attached. Also agree with Moore on the need for alternative vehicles and mass transportation. We can't blame China or other developing countries when we ourselves, are busy polluting the planet...

The assembly lines can’t run if the cars cannot be bought at the other end of the line. People can’t trade in their SUVs, etc, in order to buy more efficient cars, because no one wants to buy them, including dealers who won’t be able to get rid of the junk. Bail out the sales end of the system and the lines will be able to run.
Bob

We need to help them in order to save jobs One of the things that needs to be studied is the fact that other car manufactures such as Toyota's cost per employee is so much lower than GM. I agree with Michael Moore saying that energy efficient is a must and so is expanding mass transit. I live in Arlington Tx which is one of the largest cities in the U.S. without any type of mass transit system.

Bounce the executives at the car companies and rescue the companies to make plug in electric cars that give 100 miles to a charge, like Teslar does!!

No, no, absolutely not one penny!