It is amazing to see the amount of unwarranted support for the American auto industry.
Outside of the millions of jobs that would be lost, is there any other viable reason to salvage these companies?
The answer is, simply, no.
The big three — Ford, GM and Chrysler — have failed to be relevant and competitive in an evolving automobile market. It is not the taxpayers’ responsibility to redeem the failures of bad business or to reward incompetency. How would you feel as a student if you heard the University rewarded the college’s worst students with scholarships, ignoring the hard work and merits of others? I could imagine the feeling would be infuriating. The metaphor is easily applied to any bailout given to the American auto industry.
Lastly, it seems today Americans only want to accept certain parts of capitalism. We only want the high profits and the booming economy. But for capitalism to thrive, the system necessitates inevitable failure. Failure ignites self-examination and encourages you to get back up again.
Admitting failure would be greatest thing the American auto industry could do.
Justin Mckay is a junior majoring in communications studies.
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