Does everyone understand that the Foreign manufacturing facilities that you all praise so highly, including those in this country are; taking all of the profits offshore, and are subsidized by governments that tariff our goods? They also have brand new factories, machinery, and no legacy costs (that's us old retired guys).

I get discouraged when I hear the defeatist comments about the big three and our Union: Let's see how many other companies have survived 100 plus years, (GM as the largest company in the world for decades): The banks? Insurance Companies? Retailers? Airlines? Restaurants: any that you can think of maintaining that type of long term success? I wouldn't classify the big 3 historically as failures, as US business go. Are all of these other failing industries, businesses and companies stupid, overpaid and lazy?

Automotive may be the hardest hit by high gas prices and limited credit, but if they fall and 3 million jobs (to start) are lost, it won't be the last. Ask a small business owner in any of these towns where the auto plants still exist what will become of their; cafe', flower shop, grocery store, retailers, travel agency, lawn service, housing industry....etc.

Support the bridge loans, help the economy get rolling again. Don't be fooled by an anti-union out going group of recently defeated Senators.

http://www.freep.com/article/2008121...ESS01/81210113