Unfortunately, I have thought about this one even less than the other. But, what if instead of giving the big three cash to tide them over we treat it as a pre-payment on the design and delivery of massive amounts of mass transit projects?
Theoretically at least, this seems to address the automakers short term economic problem, the putting-people-to-work problem, the general economic stimulus problem and the fuel/global warming problem at the same time. I think that a key part of a fuel/global warming solution would not be hybrid or other cars getting 50 mile per gallon. That only delays the inevitable. Rather, a solution would include mass transit in urban areas that would allow you to go anywhere with the same comfort as, and more convenience than, a car.
Certainly it does not address the fact that the "big 3" need immediate operating capital and the fact that this money will be spent long before any such design could begin.
Dec 4, 2008
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I think any sort of "bailout" needs to have strings attached that will drive the receiving company to a state that will not only preclude the need for any such similar future bailouts, but will also steer the company in the direction they need to go, which evidently they themselves have been unable to ascertain. This country is in dire need of new transportation solutions. New concepts of mass transit that focus on privacy, convenience, and green implementation should top the list. Developing electric or hybrid personal autos only delays the inevitable while creating new problems for the existing electrical distribution infrastructure and fossil based power plants. As an alternative, the big 3 could be given the mandate to develop electric cars in the short term and for the longer term, develop the electrical grid infrastructure technologies and accompanying solar farm sites that would make electric cars sustainable and green. This would still not address traffic issues, but at least would pave the way for smaller vehicles which would take up less road space and thereby ease some congestion.
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