How Do You Define: Bailout

I am no fisherman but I have been on boats a few times, and unfortunately for me one of those few times I ventured out to sea, we nearly sank. Our boat started taking on water and we had to bail the water that was seeping it's way onto our boat. The purpose of our bailout wasn't so we could keep fishing in the same spot. It was so we could rush back to shore to find the hole. If you can't find the hole, the boat needs to be retired.

It may just be me, but it appears from my perspective that congress has grown to enjoy the bailout motion. (From my experiance bailing out a boat, it was loads of fun... then you run out of energy.) In fact congress has grown so fond of bailing out and excercising it's fiscal muscles, that they are content to sit and bailout a sinking ship. I don't care if the boat is a million dollar yacht or a tin speed boat. There reaches a point when you leave the boat and start saving up to build another boat.

Forgive me for the extended boat analogy. But I think it helps put congress's recent actions in perspective. Right now we have the Big Three auto companies, and they are failing. Business is bad and they need money. Should we bail them out? No! Why... let's take a few case studies.

Chevrolet-http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/ a large player in the auto industry. Has released the design for their car unlike any other car of its class! Sound's exciting huh. Try again. This cutting edge car is only cutting a swift path to failure. A car that can only go 40 miles on a charge then requires you to revert back to gasoline... to power your electric motor. After 40 miles this thing is less efficient than your current car after that 40 miles. (Laws of Thermodynamics) Chevrolet may be able to fool the average consumer with its cutting edge gimmicks. But let's look at the next case.

Tesla Motors-http://www.teslamotors.com/ a nobody compared to the Big Three giants. If Chevrolet thinks they are on the forefront of electric technology think again. Tesla motors has put out a pure electric car that accelerates 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and has a range of 244 miles on a single charge. Sure beats Chevy's 40 mile range. This car has more guts than most BMW's. It can charge overnight on your average household outlet and not to mention it has a great sleek look. This car isn't even in the design stage, they are already being produced and shipped. Looks like Chevy is a few years behind. Tesla also has a less expensive and equally impressive Sedan in the works. So, what does Ford have to offer?

Ford-http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/20/autos/ford_electric/index.htm?postversion=2009032005 A Fortune 500 company, giant among automakers. Just released their new electric car. Basically an electric motor slapped into a Ford Focus. The basic idea is good, except their new release is still behind the eight ball. This new electric car set to hit the road in 2011 only has a range of 100 miles. Why aren't they using current technology? Are they going to try and scam us into buying this now and then put out a new car with increased range onces everyone has this inferior model. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but something is going on. While Ford is thinking about building a car with 100 mile range, Tesla Motors is already shipping them out.

So back to the bailout. If the Big Three automakers can't get on the ball and start producing better cars they need to fail. That's right, they need to fail. There are other companies out their who can fill their shoes. Why throw our money into a sinking ship when there are other companies out they who just need stimulus to go mainstream.

The Big Three are a financial black hole. If they can't keep up with modern technology it is time to replace them. The government is only doing what it does so very well, wasting our money, again.