But the water is over the dam and we’re all beneath the surface. Many folks feel that instead of having to swim, someone should have to drag them to the surface. I guess that’s supposed to be us, and we’re being pushed to do it without thought of whether once dragged to the surface those folks will help those who rescued them. I doubt it, they are vampires. That doesn’t make me hopeful or confident about the future of this country.

Dr. Fowler, I acknowledge the truth of what you say, but unfortunately it’s hard to make an argument for ‘rescuing’ a company that has not, over many decades, rescued itself.

I’m not an advocate for the Soviet system of dictating what should be manufactured, because buyers want what they want, and the last time I looked none of us could be forced by government or other institutions to spend our money any way but the way we want to.

“Green” cars are going to be part of the package. There will be buyers for ‘green’ automobiles, but their price is very high relative to their value and relative to the value of other cars, so I doubt that over time the initial rush-to-purchase trend will continue, especially since price is high relative to value, and because once the folks who can afford a higher price for a lesser car have purchased, the remaining folks will be the ones who are in position where they have to get best value of their purchasing dollar. These are folks who don’t have high-paying jobs and endless discretionary income that you and your colleages may have – though that’s shrinking, I know, and may shrink more if the US is forced onto the medical quota system. So there goes more ‘green’ car sales.

It might be 5-10 years or so, but as those who purchase ‘green’ cars mature and their lives change they’ll want larger more powerful cars. I’ve seen it before.

Government intervention will work against a ‘green’ Detroit over time, not for it.

Detroit should be very skeptical of getting government any more involved than it already is, and should, in fact, try to claw themselves out of the grip of Washington. And Washington should, before they throw money at Detroit, pry the grip of the labor unions off the car companies and demand that robotic car factories be built in the US. Yes, that will hurt many folks who work in auto manufacturing, but better a few than the whole nation.

Detroit’s story is the same as all bailout recipients. If they don’t find their own way, they have to do things that are against the interests of their businesses AND against the interests of taxpayers who’ll foot the bills or decide later whether or not they can afford the products those companies offer. This FACT is, I believe, the reason no one has confidence in the American system anymore, and may not regain confidence for a long long time. I won’t, I assure you. I’m purchasing little and am out of the financial markets, probably permanently. Unless I can be convinced that government will not do things, or allow things to be done that are against investor-and taxpayer interests, I have NO confidence in our system. Lost 50% of my investments and my home value (on a 25 year-old home on which I’ve been paying govenment-inflated property taxes) has deflated over 25%. Congress caused Fannie/Freddie troubles that brought on this domino effect. Why should anyone trust their plans or decisions, ever?