User 297138

Saving the Auto Industry: The Gush-Up Proposal

There is however a fatal flaw with this plan. Some people cannot afford a more expensive car, even when you give them more money than the car is worth. The reason these cars are still on the road is because they are affordable to people who cannot get a loan. They are easy to work on and can be repaired in a garage, unlike anything built after 1989. It is nothing more than arrogant to expect everyone to want to drive a honda accord. Some people in this country rely on their vehicle for their living (refering tot he comment about getting all these old gus guzzling trucks and vans off the road). These people don't drive those trucks and vans because they love spending $50 to fill them up. I'm sure they would all love to buy a new truck or van, but that won't solve the fuel mileage issue. I'm better off to fill up my current truck which is paid off, than to go out and get into debt (debt I cannot afford) just to get better gas mileage or to help bail out the GM's of the world. This is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard of. It feeds the "gimme something for nothing" attitude which is the fundamental flaw in our financial system right now. You want to fix US auto makers...here it is. 1)Shut down all of the existing plants, and move them to place where people would love to work like WV, KY, AL and shut down the UAW. 2) nationalize the existing pension plans and make all retirements going forward a 401 k plan like every other industry. Pensions took down the airlines. they don't work. 3) Incentivize the automakers to make large vehicles like pick-up trucks and vans that have 300 hp, 300 lb-ft of torque, and can get 35 mpg. We don't need anymore prius's. We need more Silverado Hybrids.

Stop asking for yours. Get off your ass and make it for yourself. Quit whining about your debt. You shouldn't have taken on so much. Those who paid their houses off and are watching them depreciate....they never really appreciated....it was all smoke and mirrors. Homes are not investments, they are a cost on your personal balance sheet and shoould be treated as such. Let me keep my taxes and decide what I want to do with it for the next five years....that will create the fastest recovery.