The Big Three

The UG and I disagree on whether or not the auto companies SHOULD be bailed out – him yay, moi nay – but ironically our respective REASONS are the same: because of what a symbol the American car is to the collective psyche of the country. Let’s be honest - all this talk of bailouts of financial institutions is scary sounding and all, but the whole national banking idea is a rather nebulous thing to 99% of people throughout the country. Some of us can bullshit you at the bar, but who the fuck knows what the hell they’re even talking about?

But cars, cars people remember. People know cars. Cars we all see and feel every day. Our first car, our first kiss in a car, 2nd base, our first new car, all of them. We have an attachment that can’t even really be explained. Banks you go to cause they’re close/on the way to work. But cars are different, and THAT’S why it’s time to let them live or die by themselves. Not bailing them out sends a message that your being an American icon doesn’t mean you can run your company like an idiot just cause you know Uncle Sam will open up his pockets when you need it…if the Big 3 are gonna revive themselves, it can only be on the backs of great men and innovation, not simply stewing in their own juices cause they’re “American.”

Haven’t we finally started learning this lesson again as a country? Eight years ago we elected George Bush. We thought we’d be fine with a buffoon caretaker, we arrogantly thought it didn’t matter who was in charge - America is a great country so things will be fine. What we forgot was great MEN make great countries, not the other way around. Landing on the moon, winning a coupla world wars, the Phoebe Cates pool scene – none of these were handed to us just cause we’re America.

If the Big 3 wanna succeed, handing out more money to the same ones who got them into this mess is not the answer. Get someone in there who’s gonna figure the shit out – smaller cars, bigger cars, electric cars, whatever. I don’t know and I don’t care - but the path they're going on now will only lead to more failure. If not bailing them out (again) is what it's going to take to get them to change direction, along with the public knowing they're in the shit and INSISTING they change things, then that's just how it is. Change or go away, give someone else a chance to get things right. This is THE industry wherein passing or failing will be felt both by the industry and the American people in a visceral/cultural way.

People 100 years ago p-shawing the thought of getting rid of horses for cars is not a correct analogy, but still seems worth saying.

Let's make some lemonade from these lemons; surely I'm not the only one who senses that this is an opportunity for greatness. The Big 3 potentially going under is the perfect amalgamation of the idea that from calamity comes greatness, our domestic policy of TITS UP, and my old friend from Mission Control: