Economist Staff, The Economist
October 23, 2008

Why Throw Taxpayer Money Away

Sending money to any of Big Three bails out poor management and affirms terrible, non-competitive union contracts. How do foreign companies operate at a profit in their US plants? Better management and no UAW Albatross hanging around their necks. If we give the Big 3 $25Bil now they will be back in a few months wanting $25Bil more. It may be painful in the short run, but probably one and possibly two of the Big 3 will emerge from bankruptcy with the bad union contracts busted. Maybe the UAW can get back to economic reality with a little encouragement from the bankruptcy courts.

Posted by Richard Bloomer | Nov 14, 2008 3:53 PM ET

FORD?

The only thing that would make sense of a GM and Chrysler merger, were if Ford were one of the three to be merged. What does Ford bring to the table? Ford has the Management team that is badly missing at GM and Chrysler. Take Ford Management and add Bob Lutz and you have a great team to pull this off. Ford has done the most effective product restructuring of the three, and GM can learn some lesson's by watching Ford. Ford has great product, and GM has great product in the areas where Bob Lutz has had influence. Chrysler has no credibility with the consumer as a viable long term player and their products are tired.

Posted by Jerome Meyer | Oct 23, 2008 10:57 AM ET