Ivan

Tesla won't get grants until they can show they already a workable plan for creating a 20k electric car. - Stupid Blogger (aka Tina)

It'd be a great strategy to let tons of his constituents lose their jobs, right? - J T. Ramsay

If they fail, it would almost destroy the automotive industry in the U.S. The economy would be in much worse shape than it is now. - pcnerd37

I tend to agree, but I'm worried about the short and mid term economic damage it could cause. Is there such a thing as letting them fail gracefully? - Matt Pfefferle

Unfortunately I think that a collapse of the big three would be too sudden a shock to the system at a time when we can ill afford it - a million jobs lost would have a ripple effect that makes an already bad situation that much worse. The government shouldn't let that happen, but at the same time these companies need to be punished - I'd like to see a revival of anti-trust enforcement. Break the big three up into the medium thirty. Then the failure of any one won't matter nearly as much in the future. - Eric P

It's a tough call. The reprocussions of an allowed failure are much deeper than you may realize. When they collapse, they take entire associated industries with them—thousands upon thousands of jobs on a global scale. I'm not fore rewarding bad business practices like the auto industry big wigs any more than I wanted to see Wall St. scumbags and EvilCo Banks get billions to go on more retreats, while banks that played by the rules get penalized. If we're going to bail GM et al out, though, there had better be strings everywhere, unlike the banker's pot o' gold. - Bob M. Montgomery via twhirl

This is a national security issue as much about the economy — check out Gen. Wes Clark's essay in the NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11... - Michael Pinto

Free market principles have failed. The bailout will happen. - Victor Ganata

When did the "free market" guarantee success, or eternal success? - Charles LePage

And when did it become the job of the federal government to bailout industries or companies? It's all absolute nonsense. - Charles LePage

Interesting statements, yet the Fed. Gov't gave the auto makers a bailout about 3 or 4 years ago and no one batted an eye then. - Anika Malone

Obama will give them money for four reasons. 1. He doesn't want to be the president who lost the auto industry. 2. He owes the unions 3. He believes "smart" people like him can centrally plan the economy. 4. He truly believes govt. bailouts can save the economy - Steve Olson

I agree. However, I think he needs to do it to save the workers. Afterwards, he needs to bust some Corp and union ass. Force them to join the next century. - Charlie Wilson

Part of the problem is Tesla doesn't provide vehicles to the military as GM does. It would take years to replace them. - Steve Gillette via twhirl

Unions kinda did join the 21st C. by being beaten to a pulp in the 20th. Maybe it's time for unions to, um, fight back already? - J T. Ramsay

We should see it as opportunity. The money should have strings to force a greener industry and less dependency on carbon-based fuels. - Phil Boiarski

One of the prerequisites being floated in order to get a bailout from taxpayers is a major shakeup in management at GM. Perhaps reorganizing the top would create a much better company worthy of the bailout dollars? - Ryan Twomey

I would rather see our bankruptcy laws be adjusted for the current financial environment than have the federal government (politicians!) try to fix what may not be fixable with a bailout, strings attached or not. - scott anderson

I agree Jason, But PLEASE keep the Corvette alive! Maybe Tesla could buy the Corvette division and put an electric drivetrain in it. I'm too fat to fit in a Tesla if it is based on a Lotus Elise. - Tokyo Dan via twhirl

just wrote about that: http://blog. Stealthmode.com - Francine Hardaway

agreed. let them flop. - Jeff Douglass

They cant keep up with Toyota http://www.npr.org/news/specia... look at the side by side comparison. We need the Tuckers of America to rise up. I want to see 25 new car companies that run Lean and innovate like crazy! - Christian Burns

If they do end up getting the aid, why not make it on condition that they use it to ramp up hybrid and electronic product lines... - Juho Tunkelo

I actually that idea of splitting the company up into its natural divisions. That strategy could be beneficial all around, boosting competition and innovation, reducing the effect of a failure by a small producer on the economy as a whole and ultimately providing better vehicles. Wonder if this sort of idea is anywhere near the table. - Bob M. Montgomery

letting 'em fail is not a solution at the moment. due to the lack of any kind of regulation in US industry and economy, you people of US created this very crisis cooperatively. now you have to cure that cancer without an amputation and make sure to get appropriate precautions to ensure it's not happening again soon... letting your ridiculously poor managed companies fail means giving them away to Chinese, Russian and Arabian dollar billionaires for free. do you really want this? - Berk D. Demir

that and you'll be able to sell your corvette for a pretty penny if you garage it for the next 50 years - Paul Stamatiou

i want my change to happen in 4 years: if they bail out auto-industry - i expect in 4 years auto-industry too: 90% of there fleet be non-gas, 90% of overseas work force back into USA = if not pay gov back money! - shayne catrett

Although... the general population can buy Chevy, Buick, Pontiac and Olds - not many can spring for a Tesla or many other 100K+ autos. Not that I care, personally - I don't like GM... I'm a Dodge fan. LoL - Ian Maffett

@ Shayne Well said. History shows (British Leyland) that mere subsidies are harmful. We should demand goals and targets, dates and benchmarks. - Phil Boiarski

@Phil: the govt. has done this with many things. most of those goals, targets, dates, and benchmarks are worthless for the most part. - Aaron Eaton

If they fail millions could loose their jobs. In places like Michigan there is no other industry for those workers to go to. - Matt Farina