Bad business model

Even though I voted for him, I knew there would eventually be an issue where I would completely disagree with Barack Obama. Luckily, I don't think this is all that divisive of an issue, but it is a vitally important one. I'm talking, of course, about the incessant whining coming from General Motors who now want congress to give them $25 billion dollars to help them stay afloat. Most Democrats (Obama included) support the bailout. Most Republicans (and a surprisingly low number of Democrats) don't support it. I identify with the latter.

GM has been teetering on bankruptcy for years and they've had this coming. They've had this coming and there isn't a person in the whole damn company who didn't know this. GM's financial woes are far from new and that hasn't stopped them (until very, very recently) from sparing no expense from developing gas-guzzling SUVs that nobody wants drive to beyond-extravagant presentations. All of the sudden, GM is realizing that their awful excuse for a major American business might actually be brought down by their shoddy practices. I'm not saying that the economic downturn isn't affecting GM, it is. I'm saying that maybe if GM hadn't hemmorraged money for the last 10 years, they wouldn't be in this position. They wouldn't even be close.

So for once, Democrats, let a business learn their lesson. We have other automobile suppliers, many of them with American ties (i.e. Toyota) to help our economy. Let GM suffer the downfall they've had coming for so long and let it be a lesson to every other corrupt business in America that the taxpayers don't exist to clean up their mess.

much respect,
josh

PS: On an unrelated note, I was informed that an old friend from high school died yesterday from an accidental drug overdose. This comes as particularly shocking, especially since he really had a lot going for him as of last year. I was only acquainted with him, and I can only imagine the pain his family and close friends are going through. I'm not going to go on an anti-drug tirade or anything, but his untimely passing has struck me as a reminder that few things are constant and we should really be thankful for the things that are. RIP, Ryan.