NPR's Talk of the Nation - Was the auto bailout worth it?

[xD_Brklyn]

Had the federal loans not been given, more workers would have probably been hired by Ford and by other auto makers with plants in the US thus offsetting Chrysler job losses assuming other auto manufacturers wouldn't have bought some of Chrysler's plants or taken over Chrysler which Fiat is doing in conjunction with the federal loans.

That's a very big "probably". I would stick with the GM plants in Brazil & Mexico and an occupied Ren Cen & Tech Center.

[ghettopalmetto]

That's a very big "probably". I would stick with the GM plants in Brazil & Mexico and an occupied Ren Cen & Tech Center.

I always say that "probably" translates to "I'm just making shit up".

[oladub]

I always say that "probably" translates to "I'm just making shit up".

Perhaps. Are you suggesting that if Chrysler completely shut down and GM had to further trim its production, that prospective car buyers who had wanted to buy Chrysler or GM products would have dropped completely out of the car market rather than buying Ford or other auto makes or just trying to be obnoxious?

What we do know is that GM built three overseas plants in 2008 including the $1B Brazil plant.
http://www.democraticunderground.com...ss=389x4510648

GM just announced the construction of another auto and engine plant in Mexico that will cost $500M. http://www.industryweek.com/articles...ico_22462.aspx

and GM has just begun rolling out Saabs at another plant in Mexico.
http://www.just-auto.com/news/gm-pla..._id109179.aspx

How's that for a great use of taxpayer money to put Americans back to work? The best part is that maybe our government paid for part of these new foreign plants with loans from China.