Loans with rules

Oakland Tribune, Nov 23, 2008 by Sunday Forum

Loans with rules

Unless we want to be driving Toyotas and Hondas we must save our own automakers.

Yes, they have made huge mistakes by not looking to the future, but two wrongs don't make a right.

Why should we give Wall Street $700 billion and nothing to the big three automakers as Bush wants to do?

If these companies go bankrupt it would cause a ripple effect on unemployment.

Any loan made must have some restrictions. The money could be used only to retool the assembly lines for fuel-efficient, affordable cars and trucks.

We don't need several different styles of the Silverado pickups. One style will do. Wages have to be another condition for a loan.

The CEOs right down to the plant janitors have to understand that they have to take cuts in pay. Before Congress gives them the loan, the above concessions must be agreed to by the company and the union. If not, then Hondas are not bad cars.

J. W. Strawther

Antioch