16.13%	Yes
83.06%	No

Comment: I do not believe it is right to use tax dollars to bail out the auto industry. The auto makers are a private secter of business and tax dollars not collected for that purpose. If we are able to come up with all this money at the drop of hat, why are so many seniors having trouble getting medications? Why are families having to struggle for oil and health care costs. Why is it we cant spend more than we all make, but the government can just print a batch of 750 billion dollars and hand it out. Something is drastically wrong here. from Biddeford by Robert

Comment: No they have become money hungry and the prices are outragious for an auto.They should cut back.I am loyal to GM but I can't afford them. from Poland,Maine by Regina

Comment: No way! There is not a shortage of automobiles, just poorly run companies from Brunswick by Jeff

Comment: So where in the constitution does it allow any kind of bailout to anyone. First it was the banks,and the government now has control of those banks,now the auto makers want our money and the government will get control in the auto industry.This socialism,plain and simple. by Jay

Comment: No, No, No, If it were me or you going broke they wouldn't help! Waite we are why not bail out lower or middle income people instead!! from Lewiston by Brian

Comment: Bailout is not an option unless they fire all top management in all 3 companies from Farmington Maine by Lillian

Comment: Let the Bankruptcy Laws work as they were established to do. Re-structure under Capter 11 and if they don't succeed,GOODBY. from Waterville,Me by Louis

Comment: Why should everyone have to pay for all this stupidity that is going on with the big corporations? Doesn't our Government realize that most of us cannot handle anymore costs? It's because of them that we're all in this situation. Makes me want to move to another country, seriously. from ME by Cathy

Comment: We have an over abundance of motor vehicles as is, and its the auto industry's fault that they are in the mess that they are in not ours so why should we have to bail them out with our hard earned dollars? from Sanford,Maine by Sarah

Comment: i do not think that the auto makers should get a bailout from the government, they did not have the insight to see the gas problem when it first happened unlike the big japanese auto-makers who did and began to offer hybrids or the new fuel cell engines from brunswick, maine by gary

Comment: I feel we are so far in debt, we are so far into debt now we don't need further. We need to get out of debt. from Oxford,Maine by Rita

Comment: if the" big 3" are that bad off maybe the CEO's should give back or reduse there pay checks most of them make more then i do in a life time .Im not getting bailed out from harpswell by tim

Comment: Normally, I would say no, but I think because of the current economy and what it would do to put all these people out of work, I will say yes....with the stipulation that they cut the pay of all the top brass and no bonuses. from Falmouth, ME by Eric

Comment: If they made changes years ago they wouldn't in this position.They were just greedy.They should't have overseas plants and expect our help from Sanford Me. by John

Comment: The big three US automakers can't even make a decent automobile. from Gray, ME by Diane

Comment: No. The auto industry needs to fix their own problem. from Turner, Maine by Laurie

Comment: back in the mid. 1970s the auto makers made a hybred carbrator that got 400+ miles per. gallion of gas. they should start porduction of this carb. and people would buy the cars. 8 weeks ago there was a news report that a person made a carbrator that got 103 m.p.g. and said that within the next year he would get about 400 m.p.g. If he can do this then WHY not the auto ind.????? from Staddish,Me. by B

Comment: No, Why should we keep bailing everyone out? These large corporations made bad decisions. Does the government bail the average tax payer out when they don't pay their credit card? NO! If they do get bailed out to save the average guy his job, get rid of ALL the high executives that put them in trouble in thef irst place. Why should they keep their jobs. from Saco by June

Comment: i'll be a huge waste of of our money. Let'em go bankrupt, and reorganize without the unions holding the upperhand! from raymond by jim

Comment: No, they will just be the first ones in a long line of handouts if they are bailed out. Why should the taxpayers pay for the mismanagment of the big auto unions? They need to figure out how to solve the problems they have created. I have already done my part by buying American! by cathy

Comment: been there done that. how about bailing out the american people. where does this bailout money come from anyway? from bowdoin by harvey

Comment: The Government should bail out the people not the big corporations . . . from Bowdoin by Sherrie and Bill

Comment: No if the goverment bails out the auto industry, it will no longer be a free market by Amanda

Comment: I think they should. If we can bail out Wall Street, Then we should be able to help bail out the auto industry, If we are going to get out this economic slump, I think this is the next step to help do that. from Washington/ME by Aaron

Comment: Why should we reward the stupid management and greedy UAW? from Farmingdale./ME by Roger

Comment: Who bails out the "Little Guy"The auto industry isn't the only one hurting! from Standish by Will

Comment: they bailed out the others why discriminate?? by flo

Comment: They are bailing out wallstreet to "help rebuild" the economy. People do not realize what the failure of a major automaker would do the already struggling economy, or how far reaching it would be. There are businesses right here in Maine that manufacture parts for the auto industry, not to mention the devastation to the dealers. It just might be your job that is lost! from Gorham, ME by Jon

Comment: They need to bail us out first!!!!!! by Debby

Comment: Ford, GM, etc. should of thought of fuel efficiently instead of power/profit. Toyota,BMW, etc. were thinking that before the American auto industry started losing money. They should be helped on the condition that everything they make gets better gas mileage. from Greene, ME by Wilhelm Scream

Comment: Only if the money is used to retool the factories to make 30MPG Trucks and SUV along with 50MPG Passenger Cars. from Alfred, ME by David

Comment: Restructure....get rid of the current management regime, cut out ridiculous hight bonuses and put people in their with limitations on spending. I am tired of having to pay out my tax dollars for corporate greed. That is what got us in this mess. As with Enron....these high executives should be made accountable for their greed and missmanagement. from Arundel by P

Comment: they have bailed out enough stuff already! from Portland /Maine by Bill

Comment: Does it really matter what we think? The government is going to do whatever they feel like doing. We the people... WHAT A JOKE. NO, NO MORE BAILOUTS!!! by s

Comment: No way. The US automakers are bloated, outdated and mismanaged companies. Between the braindead CEOs and the union payoffs the whole thing is corupted to the core. Let them file for bankrupcy and restructure. Maybe if that happens we can finally start producing some energy/fuel efficient vehicles, instead of 4X4 pickups and SUVs. I mean come on... Have you seen the truck ads on tv lately?! Do you really need a truck that can climb a mountain or drive over 30 yards of downed trees?! The US automakers need to get a clue and bankrupcy may be the best and fastest way to do it. Start making smaller vehicles that get 40-80mpg, not SUVs that get 15mpg! There is a reason why they are in trouble. They are not making what the public wants. from South Portland, ME by Micah

Comment: I dont think they should be because people need cars to get where they need to go they should not clsoe any car store at all. from Maine by sophie

Comment: No and they should not have done anything for AIG or the banks. Capitalism would have prevailed and the ailing ones would have been bought out. Yes, there will be jobs lost, but those are the jobs that were created because of the excess. Retool and look to create blue collar jobs in manufacturing. from SP by S

Comment: The auto industry got themselves where they are now because of their greediness. Who helps out the single American when he/she screws up. No one does, nor should the government help out the auto industry that put themselves there through bad decisions they have made. Why reward them for making selfish and ignorant greedy decisions. NO, the government shall NOT bail them out! from Sanford by Bill

Comment: no the money should go to people that havent got insurance and to people that have no place to live mainly veterns whom have fought for this country by sue

Comment: no,the government should not.there is no reason for this.all they do is make vehicles cheap and the consumer pays more,for cheaply made vehicles.this is just another form of price gauging. from augusta,maine by sandy

Comment: I'm tired of hearing about the CEO's of a company going on vacation with the American peoples tax money. from new vineyard, maine by jackie

Comment: No. The government takes our money and use it the way they want but they should use it for more important things that need to be done. from Auburn by Coleen

Comment: If we can bail out the financial industry with all the waste and corporate greed happening there, certainly American auto makers are worthy of some type of assistance to save auto worker jobs. from Scarborough by Penny

Comment: no the government should not bail out the auto industries that would be stupid we are all ready in enough money troubles from Wells by Christopher

Comment: No, WE (not the government) should not bail out the auto industry. They should tighten their belts and reorganize like the rest of us have to. from Wales by Gary

Comment: We can't even get a loan for the vehicles that are on the dealers lots now. Why make new vehicles. We have plenty. from Sabattus,Maine by Karen

Comment: The government has wasted enough of our money paying corporate businesses. If there was no deregulation in the first place, we wouldn't be in this mess. And anyway, the best thing for our economy would be for us to go into a recession, because it would teach the companies not to waste money and would help make our country stronger. from Scarborough by Chris

Comment: The should file chapter 11 and reoganize. If we bail them out they will be back later for more. from Biddeford, Maine by Pat

Comment: Last night during the Nascar ford 400 in miami homestead raceway, ford introduced its 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid as the pacecar, if they can show this prototype now, why are they asking for money to help bail them out. from Kennebunk by Merlin

Comment: The "governments" money is actually my tax money. I have done nothing wrong and shouldn't have to pay for anyones wrong-doings. from China, ME by Beth

Comment: If the government bails them out then I'm submitting all my bills for a bail out and recommend everyone do the same! from Jay, ME by Mary

Comment: How many more companies are going to cry wolf, hoping for the gov't to bail them out of there own mistakes? from Farmington, Me by Michael

Comment: They should be bailed out by their own international holdings. from Belgrade, Maine by Linda

Comment: I work at a plant that makes parts GM, i drive nearly a hour to work one way for the pay i get there and look forward to it every day. If GM goes down, that means me and everyone at the plant are jobless as well as all the other plants that supply parts to them. The un-employment rate is high enough as it is. from Wilton by Zach

Comment: No bailout they made their with bed with the UAW let them pay the consequences from Leeds, Maine 04263 by Patrick

Comment: Yes but they have to get rid of the top executives along with the unions...I dont want to bail out the unions...I dont think its right we bail them out just so they can keep there $40 ans hour jobs and thier pensions... I dont have a pension by Bill

Comment: Big-3 Failure to Take on Unions Leads to Democrat Bailout ~ See www.MaineFirst.us for outstanding developments from Harrison, ME by Paul

Comment: As long as the big wigs keep getting large bonuses they should not receive help. It's to bad that it is going to cause the middle class to lose jobs but at some point we have to stop rewarding the greedy. I would rather use the money to pay unemployment to the laid off workers from E. Poland ME by David

Comment: First we bail out the mortage companies and now the motor compaies who will it be next? We need to focus on other things. from Brunswick/ ME by Kathy

Comment: They sold out the american citizens when they took the money from the oil companies and stopped making the Volt why should we help them now. from Yarmouth, Maine by Kathy

Comment: The pay they get and the retirement package is far to great.The unions are forcing jobs overseas with their greed. Let the auto companies go into bankruptcy , reorganize and renegotiate with the unions.The UAW is far too powerful and the new administration owes them big time, so I see a bailout coming in February. from So. China,Me. by Jim

Comment: Absolutley not. GM, Ford and Chrysler have all paid thier CEO's, managers and regular employees way too much. It's time they started getting paid what they are worth and see how regular america lives. from Naples, Maine by Dan

Comment: I think the goverment should look at the ceo's bonuses before they do anything.. from lewiston by pat

Comment: they got themselves into the mess, they should get themselves out of it. No one is helping me pay my bills !!! from Yarmouth, Me. by Milton

Comment: I thinks all of the corp heads should take a salary cut alongm with all the employees. from Scarborough, me by Fran

Comment: It makes no sense to borrow money to keep on bailing out one group after another. Let the chips fall and let them pick themselves up and correct the problem themselves. Nobody bails us out, we have to make our own good or bad decisions,and stand by them, and then pay the consequence. from Windham by Patricia

Comment: we should stop having other nations make our cars. Start having the factories make all American cars. Stop buying foreign cars. by day

Comment: Why should United States taxpayer dollars be used to bail out American car companies that have the technology to produce substantially more fuel efficient vehicles (as introduced in China and Japan) yet chose not to do so because they are so intrinsically linked to the fuel companies that benefit from the average working class American citizen’s dyer economic situation. Their complete disregard for the average consumers need for fuel efficiency and disregard for the effects their actions have on global warming make me take an adamant stance against the bail out of American car companies. from Portland, Me by Amber

Comment: They need to go through chapter 11 then restructure their system with the union. from South Portland by Thomas

Comment: I make $16.00 an hr. why should I pay for someone who makes more than $50.00 an hr. Also, a bail out will not sell more cars so what does it do to help? from Cape Elizabeth by Thomas

Comment: The last bailout didn't work, what makes you think that this one will? The auto industry needs to regroup and the unions needs to concede. from Bowdoinham,Me. by Joe

Comment: Yes, but not without stringent requirements that they change their ways and make sacrifices. That includes shareholders, autoworkers and management. Under no circumstances should the government - meaning us - just give them money with no strings attached. from Windham by Jim

Comment: I am in the housing industry and they have done nothing for us. I am running on 40% of my normal income shouldn't they take a 25% pay cut and lose some benifits and some retirement? no obama will give it all to them just because he is in with the crooked unions. must be nice to put 4 screws in a car evry 15 minutes for $50 per hour!!! from portland by don

Comment: Why start a precedence? No one bails me out of my debt. Maybe companies need to start looking at the unions for concessions. Or even the big payoffs the CEOs are receiving. from Freeport, ME by J

Comment: After all the money that AIG is receiving,the auto industry in this country should receive some. Many jobs hinge on the industry's viability and many people would be out of work if it fails. from Springvale, ME by Anne

Comment: Absolutely not! If Ford and General Motors fail, it will create a market for other car manufacturers. I am tired of bailing out failing instituitions due to poor mis-management and bad contracts. I'm not sitting here asking for a bail out. God knows the american taxpayers could use a bailout! from Lebanon by Bryan

Comment: Since the high price of gas is the reason. Get the Oil Industry who made record profits to do it. from Lewiston Maine by Randall

Comment: NO. The beginning of the unions were to protect children and unfair labor practices. Now the unions dictate to the manaufacturers. If the big three car companies want to reap the rewards of the buying market, they will need to tackle the unions. This will not happen. My own advice to the automobile manufacturers is to LOWER THE PRICES OF YOUR VEHICLES. Unfortunatly, they cannot do that as long as the labor unions have the stronghold on the companies. We, the public, have paid through the nose for vehicles that cost far less to manufacture (apart from union benefits) than we have been paying. My father would kill me for syaing this - he was a strong union man who belonged to a union that did nothing for him except demand that he go on strike while the union leaders raked in the money. I guarantee that we make far less than the automobile union members. A bailout, in my opinion, is unconscionable. We would be better off pouring the money into the social security system to assure that those who deserve care will always receive it. from Cumberland, ME by Christine

Comment: I have just one question -- Who is going to bail out me??? from Bridgton by Mary

Comment: why should we give the ceo's of these companies millions in commisions.It's unfair for us and future generations to pay for this.If the goverment wants to bail people out why don't they give each american ten thousand dollars.Most would pay off credit cards and past bills and would add a stimulas to the markets and economy. from Harpswell by Mark

Comment: no the government should not bail out the auto industry. this is not a very good thing to do from portland, maine by kim

Comment: using public moneys to fix issues with a corporation is wrong. The CEO's are ultimately responsible and should bare the fault of fixing their company as it is their job. With salaries in the millions they should sacrifice their pay/jobs for their mistakes not my tax dollars. from Windham, ME by John

Comment: No way! If i had a failing business would they just give me money to help me stay afloat. and if they do help it will just prolong the date on which they do fail. from farmingdale, me by Douglas

Comment: I lost a job of 22 years due to an industry that failed due to changing trends. Nobody bailed my company out. If we bail out the auto industries, where does it go from there? They auto companies got fat making gas guzzling SUVs while the greed of union workers fed of the fat of that greed. from Portland by Rick

Comment: Why should we bailout a business that has been mismanaged for years. They should file for chapter 13 like so many other businesses have had to do. from Auburn by Donna

Comment: no way in hell from lyman

Comment: Government bailouts of corporations are a major concern for me. If our economy has been based on consumer use of credit for the past 15 year, it seem to me that our economy needs to contract. I believe we should let the economy contract, and then have the government invest in our infrastructure later. Saving businesses from bad business decisions is not the answer. from Lyman, Maine by Tom

Comment: Not unless they renegotiate the union contracts. Why should we use our tax money to pay them 70.00 plus an hour when we don't make a fraction of that per hour?? from Jay by Ellen

Comment: It would be a waist of tax payer money.WILL WE BAIL OUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY? SOUNDS LIKE SACIALISM TO ME. from BIDD,ME by R.

Comment: I don't think they should. What happened to the billions and billions of dollars they made just a few years ago? Why can't the Government bail out us Americans from all the taxes and gas and oil prices? We have to work 2 jobs to get to one. from Buxton by Donna

Comment: Because of the AWU, $2600.00 of the price of GMC cars goes to pay the health insurance of RETIRED as well as working auto workers. Let the union give back some of its perks to keep the automakers solvent. Its not the job of the US taxpayer. The japanese auto makers add only $200. to their cars. How can we be expected to compete? Throwing more and more money at the problem is not the answer. from East Boothbay, Maine by Carole

Comment: Only if there is a law passed on CEO's get none of the monies given from the goverment loan. And, there is a committment to alterative Fuel in their cars. from Dixfield by James

Comment: enough with the bailouts. the working class needs help and no one is doing anything to help them from biddeford,maine by cindy

Comment: It would not be right to lose ford and Chevy, Dodge and Jeep. from West Bath, ME by Terry

Comment: I would rather see the auto makes bailed out than the banks and wall street. from Union, ME by Carleton

Comment: The auto industry is responsible for it's own demise for making huge gas guzzling vehicles and unreliable vehicles. Meanwhile the foreign competition is blowing them away. If we start bailing them out then where does it end? by Rob

Comment: If I were in business and ran into financial trouble do you thinl the gov. would "bail me out" ? I don't think so! from Richmond/Maine by Russ

Comment: Not unless there are stipulations. The auto industry should not be bailed out only to resume their previous greedy productions. They need to be forced to bring jobs back to this country in order to start production on affordable environmentally responsible autos. from Hollis by Michele

Comment: enough is enough......... who's going to bail out the working class americans? from saco, maine by brenda

Comment: There is already to much "big" spending in the industry... we have have to make cuts to live within our mean, they should too. from Hollis, Me by D

Comment: Why should we? No one bails us out if your behind on your mtg/loans/credit cards. from Lewiston Maine by Venise

Comment: When do we put a stop to the bailing out??? If you look at the history of GM this isn't the first time they have been in trouble...maybe they need to learn how to run their company. Why should we pay for their lack of management!!! There has to be consequences to their actions. What kind a a message are we sending to our youth?? from poland by Gina

Comment: the workers should help themselves out by taken a pay cut then the auto maker can lower there prices and more people can afford to buy a new car . maybe 8, 9 dollars an hour should do them. alot more people do with less and make it why should we pay there wages and not beable to pay for a new car ourselves. from florida by chris

Comment: Sure, as long as they bail out the rest of us Americans first! from Bath by T

Comment: no way no how!!!!! from buxton by alice

Comment: government cant take care of the people y should they help the rich take care of poor people from augusta by randy

Comment: NO! Where are we going to draw the line on bailing out PRIVATE businesses? How much is the average American going to go into debt to bail out PRIVATE companies? Locally, we have are seeing Steve and Barry's and Linen & Things filing bankruptcy and going out of business. Jobs will be lost here in Maine and no one is going to bail out these "small" companies. from Lewiston, ME by Rick

Comment: My small business is down. Can the government help me out so my employees and I can eat? from Raymond by Steve

Comment: I don't think we should give the auto makers a blank check but something has to be done.If the big 3 shut down the economy will never recover. from Brunswick by Rick

Comment: The big 3 have failed to build more fuel efficient vehicles. They built large SUV'S for so many years and profited during that time , and now have nothing to show for it. from Rumford Maine by Jay

Comment: Not A Bailout, It would be a "BAIL IN". Second time around for Chrysler. Merge or restucture or whatever makes good sense to keep people working. from Peru by Harold

Comment: No, because GM should bail themselves out by lowering prices on the cars they are selling. from Waterboro Me by Austin

Comment: If these business would just cut some of those top positions they would not have any issue with staying open. Everyone else has to make cuts in their lifestyles why shouldn't those big wigs do the same thing??? from Lewiston by Stacey

Comment: government needs to butt out of private business from Carrabassett Valley, ME by John

Comment: We are bailing out banks - many of which are at fault because of their predatory lending practices. They lent money to people who simply were not qualified for they loans they received and could not repay the debt. The auto industry is suffering because the decline in the nation's financial condition is making it tough for people to buy cars - and because the banks (who's own practices got them in trouble) dont have the money to lend us to buy the cars. from Brunswick by Nicky

Comment: NO! This is rediculous, who else are we gonna bail out next, people can't use the US goverment is money tree. Let the auto industry collapse! from Kennebunk, Maine by Steven

Comment: why when they continue to make and sell vehicals no one wants or cant afford. from New Gloucester by Reficul

Comment: Let them go chapter 11 as other business people have to. The poor tax payer has already shouldered a burden we shouldn't have by bailing out the banks and insurance cos. Enough is enough already !! from Naples by Wilma

Comment: Rick Wagoner is the most incompetent CEO in the history of business. Under his direction GM has suffered record losses. This year as his company lost 40 billion he gave himself a %64 pay raise boosting his personal salary to 2.2 million. His board of bystanders and shareholders can choose to allow mistakes on a biblical scale. Under no circumstances should taxpayers money be use to fund or bail out people who have no place working in business. Harvard should demand that Wagoner return his MBA. He is an embarrassemnt to a fine institution and this country. from Portland by Andrew

Comment: They don't learn from their mistakes. Other car makers(foreign), are making cars here in the USA without a handout. from Chelsea Me by Larry

Comment: not unless they pay every dime back with interest .. from portland by rita

Comment: We are not in an economic crisis it is just that billionaires are not making billions anymore and want to take all the money from us. Part of business is failure. Do we help every business that fails? No. Why should we pick and choose. from Auburn, ME by Adam

Comment: when will bailing out private industry/corps end and what will the taxpayers of the nation get in return?? NOTHING that is what we will get! from lisbon falls, maine by ellen

Comment: NO!!! I have my own business and my income is down are they going to bail me out! If my business fails in these economic times then no one is going to bail me out. First Wall Street now the auto industry, where does it end? from Scarborough, Maine by Linda

Comment: How many tax payers that are the going paying this tax, and have the option to maybe someday in their "American Dream" have the option to even sit in one let alone own one....... by Bridgette

Comment: Hell no it is the Goverments fault. We are in this mess because of the bad economy and the Goverment we trusted. I think the Government needs to pay NOT US the tax payers. from Lewiston Maine by Terry

Comment: The auto industry needs to pay for the past mistakes in judgement that were caused by their own ongoing complacency and hubris; a bailout would just contribute to more of that same compacency and poor judgement. If they go belly up, then so be it, even if it wreaks havoc with the economy. This entire country needs a heavy dose of sobering reality, which was what the Great Depression gave us. Most older people such as myself remember the lessons taught to us by those "hard times." "Only those who have stumbled and fallen truly know the vicissitudes of the way." from auburn by roland

Comment: i do not agree with the auto ball out because , most cannot even get a car right now unless your credit score is over 700 and i do believe that if they bailout the auto then more bussiness will follow but we tax payers will still be paying that bill also. WE CANNOT AFFORD ANY MORE. from south paris by janet

Comment: Why should they, does the government bail us out when we need help... by cheryl

Comment: They should bail me out---I'd be way cheaper. from jay by k

Comment: they own the banks, now they want the auto industry, welcome to the U.S.S.A. With Barack it will only get worse. from Biddeford by Jesse

Comment: General Motors shipped U.S. jobs overseas. They also deliberately shut down their electric vehicle program over a decade ago so they could maximize profits on their SUVs & trucks. They harmed our environment & our country's energy independence. Now we're supposed to reward these business decisions with taxpayer bailouts?? Let them head to bankruptcy court!! from Auburn by Irina

Comment: Whos next to pretend they are going belly up. from New Sharon ME by Jerry

Comment: Auto Bailout: "Things are slow, but not as desperate as they appear in the news," said Adam Lee, president of Lee Auto Malls. It looks to me that GM is trying to take advantage of the big bailout. It seems that GM is just making things look more acutely critical than it is. why should taxpayers pay the huge executive salaries for their failed management? from Auburn by MICHAEL

Comment: Absolutely not. Maybe Chapter 11 reorganization will get the big 3 out from under the unions that are bleeding them dry so that they cam be more competitive. It's not the top brass bonuses that is the problem it's the ridiculous wages and legacy costs of union employees that is the problem. Shame on all Unions. from Damariscotta by Gina

Comment: the southern can manufactors are NONunion and they are doing ok,not rich but not broke either, the top three need to go bankrurp and then restuctor and get ridd of the unions, its the unions thats caused manufators to go over seas to have made what we can do her at home but at half the cost. The unions should be made to drop wages and if yuo take the top brass bonuses and give that back to the company they MITE be able to stay in bussness.. from Standish, Me. by JR

Comment: This is nothing more than a union bailout. Do Mainers make $100 a year to put a nut on a bolt with gold plated healthcare? The auto industry if allowed to fail will reorganize into stronger more competitive industry that will produce cheaper more efficient transportation. from Portland, ME by Ron

Comment: The Big three have had years to provide more efficient products. The money would be better spent on the infrastructure in the United States. This would provide more jobs then bailing out companies that are dinosaurs. Did we not learn anything from bailing out AIG. Perhaps Rick Wagner needs to take his top executives to a spa. from Yarmouth by Jane

Comment: Because of the number of people nationwide affected by their closing, yes. But, it's time that the unions pay their share by taking wage cuts to save their own jobs. Unionized U.S automakers can no longer support the unrealistic wages and benefits currently being doled out, and it's time for it to stop. If Toyota in this country can pay an employee $40.00 plus per hour, then the others will have to shed some of their $70.00 plus per hour wages to save their own jobs, and that includes the executives as well. from Auburn, Maine by Roland

Comment: We already pay high prices for automobiles, why now should we bail them out with our tax money. It's not like they will lower the cost of vehicles. I'm a former small business owner and when I had financial trouble the government was not there for me. Every business should be held to the same standards regaurdless to size of employment. from hollis,maine by joe

Comment: It's pretty bad when you have to bail out the auto industry when we the average people can't afford a new car anyway! I think they should wipe out everyone's debt except their house payment then everyone would start spending again. from Farmingdale, Me by Janet

Comment: we have bailed out enough buissnesses, i dont think we should bail out anymore enough is enough from winthrop,maine by cindy

Comment: Of course not. First off, fire all the CEO's making millions in salaries and bonuses and start over. It's obvious, they don't know what they are doing, otherwise they wouldn't need to be bailed out. Their problems are all self inflicked. While you are at it get rid of Henry Paulson, as he doesn't know what he is doing , either. from Whitefield, Maine by Hal

Comment: I'd feel a lot more comfortable about the government bailing out all these businesses if I knew that their managers/CEO's and the like weren't still getting their big fat bonuses. When that happens, perhaps we'd start seeing the economy itself improve. from Gorham ME by Nancy

Comment: why should big business get government help? Help the small business and individuals then they can buy more at stores, which in turn help keep things going. from Winthrop by Unknown

Comment: My husband and I want to know where our bailout is..they can't just keep bailing everyone out. Doesn't that go against all priciples and good values - you were irresponsible and destroyed your company, but don't worry Uncle Sam will fix it and you won't learn anything. What's next, bailing out the oil companies and their billions of dollars in profits?! It has to stop or there won't be anything left for our kids besides MASSive debt! from Georgetown by Angela

Comment: Whenever you give away free money, everyone wants some. Why not instead give the auto industry a loan, including interest, with every penny accounted for and paid back to the taxpayers ? from Scarborough by Karen

Comment: Absolutely not, why keep bailing out the businesses, if we the people cannot afford to buy the vehicles anyhow. what about the people that are struggeling? I do not see us being bailed out, and that is were the real problem is. by Kathryn

Comment: If the car companies go under, 3 million people will be out of work. Where will that leave us? from Windham by Lisa

Comment: No they should not,i like to know with the money we gave to the bailout already why are we still hurting bad still come on.... by tammy

Comment: since we're discussing bailouts. why doesn't each state have a bailout lottery and once a year bailout some of their own residence! why not. if we can pay for everyone else! lets make it fun for us! from lisbon maine by cheryl

Comment: definetly no, How many inductries can we bail out when our own presing needs gets cut back? By the way..who's going to bail me out of my bills? Washington? from Portland Maine by Dan

Comment: Sadly, The effects on the rest of the economy will be too severe if we do not bail the automakers out. (The bailout being discussed may not even be successful) However, we all need to look beyond the over simplified and popular answer of blaming just the automakers if we really want to see what got us here. This is not just the automakers fault for making “dinosaurs” or a mere result of poor management. It also is a result of over reaching union demands that make US makers much less competitive, in addition to the demand by the public for larger vehicles that very quickly became unpopular when gas prices reached certain levels. (Let’s also remember that many people actually need many of these kinds of larger vehicles for their professions.) The bail out will get the automakers through the next several months, but it takes years to re-tool these production lines and Detroit was caught making the kinds of cars we all wanted until gas went over $100 a barrel. In a sense, we are all to blame here and if we don’t want our economy to totally collapse, we all need to help fix this. Sad facts, painful facts, but they are the facts. from Boothbay Harbor by Eric

Comment: If we bail out the auto industry, we will have to bail out the other companies too. We shouldn't bail out any companies. The car industries, makes enough money, they just don't know how to manage it. Cars are expensive, they should learn to manage money like everyone else has too. from Windham by C

Comment: Rather then call it a BAIL OUT why not call it an investment in the auto companies and mandate that they acheive higher MPG ratings or swing over to Hydrogen fuels. The investment would have to be paid back with intrest. I find this whole thing very disturbing, I had a business failure in the late 80's due to bad economic times and I had to pay the government, oh my how things have changed. from Raymond, Me by Ken

Comment: Rather then call it a BAIL OUT why not call it an investment in the auto companies and mandate that they acheive higher MPG ratings or swing over to Hydrogen fuels. The investment would have to be paid back with intrest. I find this whole thing very disturbing, I had a business failure in the late 80's due to bad economic times and I had to pay the government, oh my how things have changed. from Raymond, Me by Ken

Comment: It is not worth our money. We have borrowed too much from us the taxpayers. DON'T BAILOUT!!! from Brunswick Maine by James

Comment: They are private companies. I don't see anyone wanting to bail out Circut City or any small business that is in trouble from Dayton by CH

Comment: not when the c.e.o's are getting million dollar bonuses same thing with the banks.when the gas prices went up so did everything else .well the gas prices are down but nothing else is . from topsham by doug

Comment: Unfortunately yes, and we are going to bail them out. As a country we should support this so people will not lose their jobs. But - there should be a stipulation that we all get a free car! from maine by r

Comment: Who will bail out the everday people who mis-manage their finances? People/companies who have mis-managed monies should be held accountable for their actions. There aren't and never will be a program designed to bail out everyday folk who mis-manage their funds. Why should we bail out corporate America? from Augusta by Amy

Comment: I believe that the oil industry should bail them out! from Sidney, Maine by Roxy

Comment: Yes. I dont think there is much of a choice. from Maine by Eric

Comment: Give the money to the consumers...They will intern purchase goods or pay off bills...then the auto industry and the rest of the nation will come back to full force...it is called-Pay me, so I can pay him, so he can pay you...it is a circle...!!! from Chelsea by Cindy

Comment: no it is about time "Company's" who have made millions put away in reserve instead of paying so much out to everyone in bonus. None of the big companies who have made millions ever gave more then they needed to into the fund for reserves shame on them. I dont' think we should be bailing out the banks either. All this money could be paid out to the american's as a one time deal to pay their morgage. Sounds like us people handle our money better then the ones who are taking it. I know if I over spend in my check book I get a fee and my check bounces. Why is this not the same for companies. from gorham by Cindy

Comment: I think no because we will not have enough gas from gray,me by ashley

Comment: everyone is having hard times.why is it our problem that the auto makers cant run a business correctly the union has priced their cars out of reach for most of us they should take apay cut and upper management does not deserve any bonuses from westbrook by bob

Comment: It makes no since to have all these folks out of work I feel they should take a cut in pay however if the goverment bails them out. from Lyman/Maine by Dennis

Comment: YES - this is more than simply letting the Auto Industry suffer, it's about the thousands of jobs at stake. There does need to be regulation however as a company like GM should not be promoting trucks and SUV’s while continuing to avoid their fuel economy issues. from Portland by Josh

Comment: No, if they used the money to bail out the home morages like they said, then people would have money to buy itmes like cars... by Tammy

Comment: Let the auto industry scale back their operations and let the unions take concessions like the airline industry did. by Pat

Comment: Because the public will end up paying the bill for this one too. from Augusta, ME by Leslie

Comment: There must be stipulations on any bailouts...same for the banks...why are they still having such lavious parties and getting big bonuses....NOOO give bailouts with alot of restrictions....and bring back jobs here in the us not overseas from lewiston by pam

Comment: The gov't should not bail out the auto industry, nor should they allow them to use the money earmarked to help them develop fuel efficient cars. They have repeatedly refused to do so and now must suffer the consequences of their arrogance. from Kennebunkport by Deb

Comment: the average salery for the G M workers is 76.00 per hour including insuranse and retirement compared with 23.00 for U S toyota workers from whitefield maine by philip

Comment: The Auto Workers Union and Auto Workers Executives need to first get together and prepare a proposal of what cuts they are going to make as a good faith effort before the government offers any type of assistance. This corporate greed has to stop somewhere! from Otisfield, ME by Genise

Comment: ABSOLUTLY NOT...we have enough issues with financial difficulties..take the bus from westbrook by lori

Comment: If the government is willing to bail out the little guys first then I would agree whole heartedly but until then I can't agree with it. from Norway, ME by Ruth

Comment: I'm 100% against the Big 3 Bailout. If they need capital, let those interested in the bailout put up their own money in a new class of stock GM and Ford could issue for this purpose. Privately owned Chrysler is done. from Biddeford by Craig

Comment: They should file bankruptcy and realign and reassess. Be held responsible for what has happened just as we would have to. We should not have to pay for their wrong doings. from Dresden by C.

Comment: Absolutely not... from Portland Me by D.

Comment: Sure! Why not, they're bailing everyone else out! from China by Shawn

Comment: All these huge corporations should not receive any bail out. Let them sink like the small business owners have to. from Limington by Cat

Comment: I don't think the government should bail out anyone. Each and everyone of us are already paying for this economy in our own ways, how can they expect us to pay for the big guys too? from Woolwich/Maine by Lynn

Comment: In America you are free to succeed or fail, all on your own! Unions once had a place and were needed. Today, they do little more than run good businesses out of business. Let the auto industry fail in Detroit and it will start up in another state, where good, hard-working, non-union people are ready to get to work making cars. The government shouldn't bail out failed liberal attempts to buy votes! by Rex

Comment: If they are working to keep jobs in the USA and working aggressively toward energy efficient alternative vehicles. from Auburn, ME by Jean

Comment: Efforts NEED to be made to help out the auto industry in America. But until the big three come up with a plan that shows the government how they will change and adapt in this environment and return to profitability, there should be NOTHING given. The current economic crisis just sped up the inevitable collapse of the auto industry in America. This would have happened years down the road if the banking industry had not failed. This IS NOT the same thing as bailing out the banks. Main street, wall street, and the world NEED functioning credit markets to operate. We DO NOT need the auto industry though. So instead, lets use this situation to finally reform the auto industry in America. Bail the big three out, but force them evolve. Force them to join the rest of the world with fuel efficiency. We do not need more American Horsepower. We need cheaper, more reliable, and more efficient vehicles that do less to harm the environment. The government needs to seize this rare moment in financial history to finally make the change that has been needed in our auto industry. If they don't agree, and won't reform, then let them fail. The rest of the world makes better cars, that are cheaper, more reliable, and pollute less. We outsource everything else in America, why are cars on hallowed ground? Times have changed, GET WITH IT OR FAIL! from Portland, ME by Matt

Comment: The auto industry should not receive a bail out. They should be forced into bankruptcy protection. In this manner, they could then restructure themselves and eliminate union contracts which have destroyed the US auto industry. If Toyota and Honda can be profitable, then so should the big three be able to achieve profitability. from Buxton, Maine by Ralph

Comment: LOAN THEM MONEY AT A LOW INTEREST RATE ONLY. NO FREE MONEY from Hollis, Me by Don

Comment: How about bailing me out? from Gorham by S

Comment: Only with the stipulation that the C.O's that got the auto industry here in the first place need to be fired and replaced. They need new idea's of what they need to do to get the people interested in USA cars and get away from the gas guzzlers that they concentrated on. from Bridgton by Nancy

Comment: No, they should refigure their expenses: the noncompetitive wages paid to the union workers and the exorbitant bonuses paid to management. by Marion

Comment: They got into this mess, let them get out themselves. When are they going to bail out the common working people? from Rumford by Sally

Comment: they have continued making a product that isn't selling, if they had changed to fuel-efficient cars/vans/trucks they would have been smarter. They were catering to oil companies, let the oil companies bail them out from Auburn by Bonnie

Comment: Although I'm usually not in favor of bailing out huge corporations (such as the auto industry), I think that if we fail to do so, the ramifications would be severe to the commonwealth of America as a whole. United we stand, divided we fall. from Mechanic Falls by Roger

Comment: The management of the big three automakers are responsible for their financial woes. They have been manufacturing autos that are not in keeping with what the consumers want to buy. Honda isn't in trouble. Toyota isn't in trouble. They went south and hired non union labor and are making autmobiles that are fuel efficient. Thery should declare bankruptcy, and the courts would require that they restructure their company and the unions would have to make compromises. If we bail them out every corporations will be seeking our tax dollars. from Wayne, Maine by Joan

Comment: No no no no no no no. They should make energy efficient cars that people want. I am sick of our goverment bailing out all the foolish companies, from Biddeford by Bob

Comment: I don't think they need a bailout, maybe if American auto companies produced good, and fuel efficient cars than this might not have happened. The recession doesn't help either. from Damariscotta, ME by Will

Comment: they have pocketed billions over the years. let them chock on that by tommy

Comment: Put me down for a NO, NO, NO vote!!! This is getting too crazy. I agree with so many others, in regard to the automotive unions, and the CBS news tonight showed how GM and Toyota both have 20% of the sales, yet GM has 7000 dealerships, compared to 1500 for Toyota. We are in the middle of an energy crisis, and you mean to tell me the US auto makers DIDN'T know this was coming??? Come on!!! They sell a HUGE number of SUV's and trucks for billions of dollars....knowing they'll need to use more gas to operate. Big business is all in this together, and anyone who thinks differently should watch George Carlins Youtube video about government and big business...interesting stuff...and sadly, probably true. from Waterville by Gerard

Comment: I own a small business and I have to watch how my business spends its money knowing I won't get a bailout package. So we will bail the auto companies out and what will they do? They will raise the cost of the vehicles in the coming years to pay the government back. So we will be paying for this twice, through tax dollars and through an increase in the retail product they produce. from Waterboro / ME by Chris

Comment: It has to stop somewhere and I think now is the time. Taxpayers can not bail out every failing company in the US while we lose our homes and can't afford to eat or stay warm. from Harrison by Kip

Comment: simple....we pay, and we pay. We pay too much for cars that the unions have forced price increases on for years with their rediculous antics. I feel sorry for the people that may lose their jobs,...but they are the ones who go on strike because they aren't getting paid 65.00/ hr to put a screw in a dashboard. There is no reason to bail them out....let them start over from the beginning and maybe middle class will be able to afford a new vehilcle again someday. from Poland/ Maine by Jeff

Comment: All industries are takig a plunge. Are we prepared to bail everyone out. The autoworkers are making way too much. by CG

Comment: no way thats not a good idea. like everybody else says from maine by heather

Comment: There is no way that they can return to what they were. They have too many models and they are too costly. They need to follow the example of toyota 4 models only. from Saco by Terri

Comment: They created their mess and they should solve it!!! No one is helping us the survive. from South Paris/ ME by Bruce

Comment: way, thay never help the little guy, who use to buy but not any more, now have a Kia Amanti and it's a better car,., from Portland by Roy

Comment: I feel the same way about this bailout as I did about the bank bailout. since you are using my hard earned tax dollars, do I get a free truck out of this? or even the ability to get a new truck at the manufacturer's cost? I understand that this economy sucks right now, but maybe the problem is their MSRP's. there is no reason for a bone stock 1 ton truck to cost 35k. from Eliot by A

Comment: Absolutely NOT from New Hampshire by Debra

Comment: Watching 13 news as I type. The autoworkers union says they will NOT take paycuts. Yesterday a President of one of the makers said: They could have done more for the environment. AND they want a bailout from the public - NO WAY. from Windham, ME by Sandy

Comment: I feel that they should go down.They knew 10 or 15 years ago to come up with better cars.If we bail them out we'll have to do it with every Tom and Harry,I say bite the bullet like we all have to. from Naples,Maine by Roland

Comment: ONE WAY THE GOVERNMENT COULD BAILOUT THE AUTO INDUSTRY WOULD BE TO BUY A NEW CAR FOR EACH OF THE TAXPAYERS WHO ARE FOOTING THE BAILOUT BILL. WE GET A NEW CAR AND THE AUTO WORKERS KEEP THEIR JOBS. INDUSTRY KEEPS JOBS by lYNN

Comment: No way!! The Auto Makers can blame the economy, however deep down we all know that the problem lies within the upper management!! I'm sure that the upper management both in Detroit as well as our local auto dealers, is still getting the 6 figure salaries to look nice in a suit. Thats where the problem is. Time to fix it!! from Gray Maine by Matt

Comment: Absolutely Not! from North Yarmouth by Tricia

Comment: No, the government should not bail out the auto industry, let them cut back on some of the executives perks. Come on now, let them go through bankrupcy like them should and then restructure that will make them stronger in the end or they will fail, so be it!! they can't compete with foreign auto makers anyway, what a shame it is for our country to have to be in second place to...and all caused by greed of the big companies!!! The problem is I feel bad for the workers who have given their whole working lives to these companies and they DON"T get any bail out... shame on you big business executives how about giving back at least one year's salary you can afford it and give it to the companies to help bail themselves out!! How do you like that Detroit? from Old Orchard Beach by Barbara

Comment: The big 3 have too long reaped profits and not invested in new technology to impove gas mileage. They have continued to turn out gas guzzeling vehicles and now that the economy has took a turn for the worse they have their hands out to the taxpayers to bail them out. If they cannot be competitive and build efficient and quaility vehicles they should go by the wayside. It is not the job of the american taxpayers to keep management of these companies rolling in our money. I might add everyone say the government bailout when it should say the taxpayer bailout after all we are the government and it is our money from Farmingdale, Me. by Mark

Comment: The trickle down effect of a slowed down or shut down auto industry would ricochet worldwide and definately should be bailed out. from Chelsea, Maine by Will

Comment: Yes!!!! The Auto Industry is one of the U.S.'s biggest employers. Do we REALLY want the unemployment to skyrocket! BAIL THEM OUT! from Westbrook by Thomas

Comment: Why should our tax dollars bail out irresponsible CEO's whom think it is more important to take vacations than budget their company. I am outraged that we are having to bail these companies out when I and many other families can barely put food on the table! from Lewiston by Melissa

Comment: use some of the 700 billion we already doled out! by kev

Comment: I think yes because WE NEED MORE CARS like for my dad and hes 71 on November 19, 2008. from South Portland by Tyler

Comment: They should be doing the bail out from the bottom up if they really want to fix the problem give each off us about 10,000 dollers and let us spend it and in return we will bail out the auto industry other wise there still we be no demand for new cars and the auto industry will still lay people off and we end up in the very same place we started from from turner by jeff

Comment: 700 billion gone to bail out wall street and noone really knows where it has gone give billions to the auto industry and let them spend it willy-niily short fix maybe but the auto industry in this country cannot compete with overseas autos face it an industry that has been in decline for decades now with not much chance of being salvaged from thomaston maine by william

Comment: ABSOLUTELY NOT! They need to operate under a budget and be fiscally responsible like the rest of us. If we needed money to keep from going under, who would bail US out. from Westbrook by Peter

Comment: I blame the unions. They are the problem. Too bad so sad from Falmouth by Steve

Comment: I believe that the citizens of the U.S should be taken care of first? We have enough cars as it is. Why don't we buy the over abundant used cars that we have in dealership lots.? from Portland, ME by Hope

Comment: I am a Hair Salon Owner. Hair Salons are really suffering right now. I still have to pay my bills, no matter how far they get behind. I can't even get a loan right now, a loan that I would pay back with interest. I am not sure, is there a bailout plan for people in my industry. from Springvale by Lisa

Comment: It is obvious that owners and CEO's are unbelievably wealthy and have been taking advantage of those of us who try to stay "made in the usa". from ME by Terrence

Comment: The CEO's are yelling "the sky is falling". What they mean to say is their "personal net worth is falling". They don't want to file Chapter 11, because that would wipe out their investments - the stock in their own company would be worthless. They all raise the jobs issue to strike fear in congress. These jobs are already in jeopardy. Any taxpayer money thrown at them now will not guarantee the jobs and will simply delay the inevitable. Let the courts decide - they will put them though the Chapter 11 process. The companies will come through it as radically different business models. The Chapter 11 companies will survive, and many of the jobs will survive. The only significant change is the existing CEO's will be gone. from Freeport, ME by Bud

Comment: Here is the way to do this. Decide on a dollar ammount to spend on the auto industry. Since it is my tax money...give it to me only to be used on the purchase of a NEW auto. This way, each dealer ship will receive the money, and people will receive a product for thier hard earned money. More cars, more services needed...tires gas parts washes...and possibly more people could drive to jobs that could not before. DONT JUST GIVE THE MONEY AWAY WITH NO RESULTS. Let the people decide...Go to a dealership...log in your name and personal password..receive your stipen to purchase a car...this is so easy its not even funny. from Yarmouth, ME by Brian

Comment: Absolutely not!! Executives and the UAW are greedy and overpaid. They should not be bailed out. I like to be paid $75.00 per hour for putting on car parts with little or no education. I have two B.S. degrees and I make less than half that per hour. Every American car I have ever owned broke down frequently and have cost me dearly with expensive repairs! I am also against the $700 billion bailout which is already being misused to pay executive bonuses and the bailout package has no oversight and accountability. from Randolph, Maine by Steve

Comment: What is the logic in building excess auto's, if we, the people cann't afford to bye them? The time for hard choices has come to us all,and filling the fat cats pockets will not help correct what is wrong. Use the money to create jobs instead of bankrolls, and balance the books. Dale (Keyword Personal Responsability) from Gorham,Maine by Dale

Comment: The 3 American auto manufacturers have been making irrelevant products for many decades. Their business model is based on gas guzzel and engineered obsolescence. They do not change proactively because it is the right thing to do, they only react to the threat of Asian compitition. The big 3 never showed evidence that they cared about the rest of the industry. It is too late now. I do not believe they will ever change. It makes no sense to throw good money after bad. from Raymond, ME by Edward

Comment: absolutely not....ignorance leads to poverty from raymond by bill