I respectfully disagree.

As reportetd by CNBC (http://consumerist.com/5051220/the-1...-in-us-history) companies as complex as Ford, GM and Chrysler have gone this route and the "system" has prevailed.

10. United Airlines - Assets: $25.2 billion - Date Filed: Dec. 9, 2002

9. Pacific Gas and Electric - Assets: $29.8 billion Date Filed: April 6, 2001

8. Global Crossing - Assets: $30.2 billion - Date Filed: Jan. 28, 2002

7. Refco - Assets: $33.3 billion - Date Filed: Oct. 17, 2005

6. Financial Corp. of America - Assets: $33.9 billion - Date Filed: Sept. 9, 1988

5. Texaco - Assets: $35.9 billion - Date Filed: April 12, 1987

4. Conseco - Assets: $61.4 billion - Date Filed: Dec. 18, 2002

3. Enron - Assets: $63.4 billion - Date Filed: Dec. 2, 2001

2. Worldcom - Assets: $103.9 billion - Date Filed: July 21, 2002

1. Lehman Brothers - Pre-Bankruptcy Assets: $639 billion - Date Filed: Sept. 15, 2008

What gripes me is that there is such a rush to avoid the law and seek an alternative that has no proof of ever working and gives all the impression of being money down the drain, with Chapter 11 only staved off until the bailout money (this installment and any future installments) runs out.

I can appreciate the complexity of the auto company, but having worked in that environment with a firm that made: aircraft, missiles and other high tech weaponry, OEM parts for Mercedes and others; precision optics, leather goods, various electronic systems and subsystems, and a host of other things with plants in six countries and subcontractors/suppliers in over two dozen other countries, we somehow kept track of all of it. We would tell you where every franc, shilling, pence, dollar and lira was in-and-out, who owed us and who we owed (and the terms), and were aware of all of the vendors in the subcontractors/suppliers chain as well. At any given time we had subcontractors/suppliers in their country's bankruptcy proceedings and had to deal with it, and had customers who also reneged, terminated or busted. We too had labor issues, and the number of unions in various countries could drive a temperence guru to drink, with at least one on any given day on strike for something. For any major manufacturer or systems integrator, THAT"S BUSINESS in the big time!

If the auto companies can go to Congress with a "plan" that will result in them receiving BILLIONS, I find it strange they cannot put together a "reorganization" plan which addresses those very issues TK has cataloged above. Surely, with their army of lawyers, accountants and other such folk, that's an effort they could have done already (and may already have, just in case...).

Why do they need to be "above the law" that's applied to every other business owner?