President Obama told the US auto industry to shape up, because we can’t keep a permanent flow of cash into their hands. Essentially, he said the bailout funds are going to run dry for the auto industries, if they don’t show that they have a plan to save themselves.
In the same speech, however, President Obama also said that we won’t let the US auto industry simply vanish. To me this seems contradictory.
The short deadlines given to Chrysler and GM, are forcing moves such as a potential merger with Italian automaker Fiat. This may not be the best move for Chrysler, but given the accelerated deadline, it may be their only option. It seems to me as if the Obama administration is forcing the US auto industry to make hasty decisions, for possibly no other reason than to gain popular support from the public.
Granted these companies, in my opinion, wrongfully took taxpayer bailout funds, and should have to be held accountable for what they do with the money. I just don’t think that it makes sense to force them to make moves for the sake of “getting something done”.
Sometimes good things come to those who wait.
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