Artful Dodger: .... The American government has been sticking it's nose into various things around the world and in it's own country for ages under both parties...

Cold war... even though there were alot of wars, and even thinking of using a possibly unsafe element called agent green on it's own soil.

.... And it's the governments job to help the people as best it can, it won't stop all the "chips" falling, but taking the edge off is like a doc given you painkillers for a cracked rib..... You know it's gonna take time to heal, yet at least you don't have to feel the worst of the 'pain'.

"the automobile industry can file bankruptcy and then restructure in such a way that they will truly be competitive on the world market."

And the jobs lost in the process right now in the midst of a depression, when jobs are harder to find... And what if the all American car makers get bought by foreign companies?

.... How would that look and feel to proud Americans?