[thecavemaster]

Shouldn't the magnitude either to bailout or not, been considered before proceeding with the bailout? To date the government has bailed out banks, and auto industries. Since then many others have ask for bail outs, example, Ford wanted money until they realized that they would also become government motors II. Several other industries ask for bail outs, and it has now become the norm for everyone to expect help from the government for their bad decisions or management failures.

How can GM or anyother auto maker calculate fuel cost when we have no idea what the cost per gallon will be next month let alone 3 years from now.

I don't necessarily disagree with your point, Old School, in your first paragraph. As to the "fuel cost" point, that was the point I was making: business decisions at the level GM is/was making them often require projections and assumptions that aren't viewed as risky within the business model.... thus, culpability might be assessed as a bit lower than the Krumps. However, Obama's motive was NOT to move the country toward socialism, that argument is scare tactics politics plain and simple.