Well I can speak from my little corner of the world, in the Heart of the Automotive world.
Michigan is so fucked that it will NEVER recover. It won't recover because it relies heavily on automotive for its backbone. Within that backbone, you have companines that are resisting change, and doing things the old way - no matter what.
I do NOT agree with the bailout. I didn't agree with any form of Bailout for AIG or anyone else, because it is unconstitutional, and the government is not a Bank for giving out money, on the backs of taxpayers.
If they are going to do this, I feel that the following should take place.
1. Fire all the top brass at Ford, GM, Chrysler. Do not give them a golden parachute. They are resistant to change, and that's whats needed for them to compete in a GLOBAL economy. Hire new business leaders that don't require 1 million a month sallary. (Likewise with AIG)
2. Make STRICT STRINGENT rules of repayment, at a high interest rate to the government. This needs to be a "Last Resort" option. Not a "I want my share too". Require external accountants to trace every dollars allocation to the temporary fix. The money cannot be used for anything other than legacy costs, or industry costs. Off limits to executives and current staff.
3. Shake up the UAW and fire existing upper union leaders. Reduce union dues - they don't contribute to anything, other than making a few people very rich.
4. Make Union workers understand that they are there to produce a good product. If you fail to produce a good product, you can find a new job elsewhere. Sleeping on the job is not allowed.
You can have a union, but not to the corrupt extent that it is today.
We all want to make good money, but if we can't be smart about it, and compete globally, we will ALL be out of jobs.
The problem is that the common worker cannot afford a new vehicle. Yet the big 3 produce thousands of new vehicles per day.
I can't comment on which supplier has a 365 day inventory of a specific model....but it's the same thing. WHY BUILD MORE WHEN NO ONE IS BUYING??
Besides...as a born GM die hard... I would never buy a new GM vehicle anyway, especially when the quality took a dump.