Stalled

I can only think of one reason the US government should bailout the US automakers - jobs. They have spent years making cars consumers don't want and fighting every effort to create more energy efficient cars. There is also the problem of the unions and the defined benefits the companies have been obligated to pay out. They are now stuck with lousy products, high fixed cost structure and a stinky economy - the perfect morass.

I believe that the companies need to be shrunk, maybe by half and the excess workers and manufacturing capability re-purposed for alternative energy and green technology development. The existing shareholders also need to take a significant hit - either wiped out or seriously diluted.