Now the Auto Industry wantsTax Payer Money...

When will this end? 700 Billion here, 20 Billion there....

But, as my coworker Orion points out in his blog, maybe bad companies should just go belly up?

There is NO GOOD REASON TO SAVE THE US CAR INDUSTRY. They can't figure out how to make a product people want at a profit. Every company I've worked for that hasn't figured that out has gone out of business. Yes, it's painful, but a big, dumb bailout of big, dumb companies leaves crappy products on the market and prevents good products from being made.

He does make a good point - I've been with a few startups that have gone belly up, and it wasn't the end of the world. That said, IF there is to be a bail out, then serious strings need to be attached.

ALL vehicles need to hit a minimum of 30MPG in the city. If you can't do that, don't build it.

By 2012, ALL manufacturers must offer Hybrid versions of ALL of their cars and trucks. (I'll make an exception for tractor trailers and such.) I would also like to see a real commitment to alternative fuels, electric cars and the like.

If they balk at this? Tuff titty - you go belly up. I'll be damned if my $$ is going to prop up business as usual. Good riddance to the gas guzzling SUV.