[Michael Beard]

>> Lyons writes: Its not ALL the car companys fault. The $4 a gallon gas kinda exposed a flaw in the plan.

That's true, I agree. There was no reason for fuel to go that high in the first place, and it was one of the many cards that got kicked at the bottom of the house of cards that had been built for us.

>> Williams writes: If you think for a minute that GM going under won't effect your life then you have not looked at all the facts.

I understand that. It would. You've generated an argument that I didn't make in the first place. GM *not* going under would affect my life, too.

>> Does anybody realize the impact that the Mortgage, loan and banking industry has on the economy? 700 billion and 150 billion for a total of 850 billion and it was given to these people without question.

Yes! And many people fought tooth and nail against that mockery as well!

>> But where is the complaining about the mortgage, loan and banking people? I am not hearing how our lives are better because of their failure.

We've BEEN complaining! (the discussion has been taking place far longer and is much larger than this single discussion thread) There's no way to address your second part because the banking industry wasn't *allowed* to fail. It is being propped up. (with money that we don't have) Actually, these banking practices that were set into motion in the '70s never should have been allowed in the first place. Just another part of the house of cards.

>> the money for the Big Three is not a bailout like the banking industry. It is a bridge loan.

Yes, I know that. Sorry for using the popular semantics. It wasn't used to mislead anyone. I think most people understand that it's a loan. (made with money that we don't have) Bad businesses practices are still bad business practices, and we're going to give them more money before it's all over with. Unlike the loan to Chrysler years ago, I'm not optimistic about getting this money back. The interest on our national debt alone is going to bury us, and rampant inflation is coming around the corner.

Don't assume that because I didn't write an 1,100 pg dissertation (don't worry, Congress doesn't read anything that long either) and quantify every statement and mention every single angle on every economic-related topic that I'm ignorant of them.

It *is* okay if we disagree, but understand that I do have a rational basis for thinking the way I do, just as you do.