I'm for helping the auto-industry as long as they restructure and head full steam to plugin hybrids.

[Bread and Circus]

However, all the money for the banks and auto industry won't help one wit if we don't restore well paying jobs and solve our health care crisis in this country. If people can't pay their mortgage and buy new cars, all the supply side gov't handouts won't help in the long run.

1.) we have to reclaim manufacturing in this country.
2.) we have to correct a massive trade deficit that has worsened over 30+ years.
3.) we need cost control on health care, expecially drugs, insurance overhead, and exhorbitant costs of certain procedures.
4.) we need to have single payer national health care (medicare for all or better) in order to make our manufacturing industry more competitive with foreign industries.
5.) increased efficiency in terms of fuel and electricity from top to bottom, and especially in transportation.
6.) increased energy production from all available sources in the short run, then wean out fossil fuels in the long run.

Borrowing money at the governmental level without fixing fundamental national problems is just delaying the inevitable. To think we've been sold down this river for so long and to think it's just been kicked down the road by both parties, blaming each other.

I think Barack has the right skills and attitude to fix it. He better.

[Lasher]

1. Auto industy bailout money should be used to benefit domestic facilities only.

Let other countries throw their taxpayers' cash at factories on their own soil.

But then how would we know? The Bush administration is short on enthusiasm when it comes to disclosure.

[markevil]

2. If you get into manufacturing bailouts

then shouldn't all outsourced jobs be brought home? This would include the auto industry.

[Kolesar]

3. "Active fuel management" is a cost effective technology for motor vehicles

Half of the cylinders of an engine can be "shut down" when not needed.