Big Three Bailout

CNN was on in the library this morning as I walked in.

The story?

Apparently the "Big Three" of the auto industry--GM, Ford, and Chrysler--are reporting third-quarter earnings in the negative billions and want a share of that federal bailout plan.

Now I don't profess to be an economic genius, and never will, but if you can get yourself that far into debt, don't you kinda deserve to go out of business? To have your assets auctioned off to someone with a brain?

I mean, isn't that the point of capitalism and economic Darwinism? When you get fat, lazy, and irresponsible the market pushes you out?

I thought so.

And I realize that I'm beginning to sound like one of the heartless capitalist dogs I typically despise, but really.

I was raised to know valuable economic principles like, you know, "don't spend more than you earn," "live on a budget," and "don't get greedy."

Why is it these values are so important on a personal level but not on a larger, corporate scale?

I realize these companies are the center of an industry with more than 2 million workers.

I realize they are one of the cornerstones of our economy.

But in a world of higher quality, more affordable foreign imports, does it really matter?

Maybe they should have been more competitive in the market before now instead of relying on that sizable tariff and their lobbyists to save their behinds.

I also find it amusing that we are so concerned with protecting our own national industries while we are busy destroying those of other nations.

A taste of our own medicine?

Maybe that's in order.

I have had the incredible providence to live in a world where America has been on top for my entire life.

But that can't last forever.

And, while letting companies pay for their mistakes--and, you know, greed--might hurt us now, I'm sure it will help in the long run.

We need a reminder that we aren't invincible.

This--the most obese nation in the world--needs to learn the difference between want and need.

Sorry, Detroit, you got too fat.

Time to hit the treadmill.