Cars

A lot has been said over the last few days about the idea of bailing out the American automotive industry. I’m still having a really hard time getting around the idea of “why should we bail out a business that has been killed by bad management?” On the other hand, some of the problem is health care costs.  But then again, why haven’t the CEOs and stockholders of the Big Three advocated a true universal healthcare system that couldhave fixed the problem a decade or more ago?  But the gripping hand is: maybe they could try building quality cars in attractive, safe designs with good fuel efficiency and enough “giddyap” to be satisfying on the onramp (somehow, Honda and Volkswagen have that down, among others).  Then there are the arguments “for” a bailout:  if we don’t it could cause not just a recession but a full-on depression; nobody likes it but they’re “too big to fail” (which I still treat as “too big to be allowed to exist”); and my personal favorite, the automakers themselves think things will magically get better by 2010.  I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!

The auto industry desperately needs several things. First, a break-up of big companies into a bunch of smaller players.  Second, true universal health care.  Third, to stop believing in magic and change their ways, including rejecting all the “we can’t do that!” thinking.  Maybe they can study the Asian and European automakers and figure some things that work better than what they’ve been doing.

They could start by learning a few things from the 50 worst cars ever made.

In closing: Advice from Mr. Bush to Mr. Obama; a cheery Christmas thought, real (bad) retail sales; thanks to Ding for pointing out some people who really are pro-life, even the kind after birth; almost half of all primary care doctors would leave medicine if they thought they could; if you are stumped for Thanksgiving, here’s some side dish ideas; or perhaps you’d prefer cake in a mug.