Cash for Clunkers is a Cluster****

[Sava]

Not exactly. The Democrats were just able to use the AIG et. al. bailouts as political cover to throw money at the UAW. So it's true that without the credit crunch the Democrats would have had a harder time doing that.

Why not go to the next logical step? The Democrats orchestrated the economic mess in order to throw money at the UAW.

[Kuciwalker]

Because that would imply an actual conspiracy rather than opportunistic politics as usual

[Sava]

Because that would imply an actual conspiracy rather than opportunistic politics as usual

So you only believe in opportunistic conspiracies. I suppose that's an interesting method of rationalizing your insanity.

I approve.

[Kuciwalker]

I said it wasn't a conspiracy. A conspiracy would have to be secret. The Democrats openly planned to bail out the auto companies (and, by extension, the UAW)

[Kuciwalker]

It's good to know you are so young and naive that you don't believe a political party would act to provide financial relief for one of its major constituencies

[DanS]

I think GM would have been allowed to fail quicker and with a lot less dollars out of the government's pockets had it not been for the sub-prime and credit crunch concerns adding to/escalating the issue. The issue isn't just with car manufacturers, but with the suppliers and world of industries that stem from the auto companies, foreign ones included.

The banks were dragging everyone down with them.

I just want to be clear. The car manufacturers were bailed out from the same pot of money that the banks were. And the rationale for doing so was the same.

Why you are OK with favoring one set of asshats over another is beyond me. Both industries are helping themselves to the money in your pockets.

[Drake Tungsten]

There's a decent chance the banks will pay us back, though. The collapse of the U.S. financial sector is also a hell of a lot more dangerous than the collapse of two American car companies.

[Ben Kenobi]

Well I agree, Drake.

I don't see why Citibank should be propped up by Americans any more then Government Motors. They both deserve to fail.

[KrazyHorse]

There's a decent chance the banks will pay us back, though. The collapse of the U.S. financial sector is also a hell of a lot more dangerous than the collapse of two American car companies.

QFT

[Guynemer]

Agreed.

This born and bred Detroiter says that GM can go suck a **** if it can't turn a profit any other way.

[notyoueither]

Agreed.

This born and bred Detroiter says that GM can go suck a **** if it can't turn a profit any other way.

Well, dealerships would be busy.