13.01%	Yes
85.71%	No

Comment: I dont know what to think about this. from Maine by sophie

Comment: No one is bailing me out!! from Wales by Kim

Comment: Oh, you mean the same CEO who showed up for the Congressional hearings last week in his private jet? THAT CEO? Look, there's not a lot of nobility in reducing your own salary to a dollar a year when you have millions in the bank and are set for life. If it weren't for all the jobs that are either directly and indirectly affected by the potential failure of the auto industry, I'd say let 'em fail. Unfortunately the pain and cost of letting them shut down may be worse than bailing them out. from Portland by Mark

Comment: kinda cause we will ned new cars eventually from portland, maine by chris

Comment: They bailout the markets they should bailout the car companies which offers new jobs. I don't think the government could be any worse off then what they are now! They need to help companies that help make jobs! from Gorham, ME by Riley

Comment: Seems to be a day late and a dollar short. from lewiston by c

Comment: NO...GM wants 12 billion and Wagoner is willing to give up his salary of what....let's say one million? Where is the trade off? It really stinks for auto workers and their families. The industry should have seen it coming, there is no excuse. The leadership was lagging. from Waterville by Gerard

Comment: heck no, what about the rest of his staff? what about overhead cost cutting, wage cuts, beenies being cut? way too much fat ....... from woolwich, maine by dennis

Comment: These bailouts are garbage and a poor investment for taxpayers and only reward poor business decisions. I'll be glad when Hummers go the way of the dinosaur. from OXFORD COUNTY, MAINE by Wendell

Comment: what other PERKS do you think he gets,any,Ha Ha Ha,you can bet your government BAILOUT monny on that,..!!! by Randall

Comment: No, it doesn't change my opinion! He makes billions a year and probably has a nest egg of over 10 billion and is about to retire. How many more giants will we have to bailout after this? We shouldn't have even had to bail out CitiBank! Do you think they are giving their customers grace on late fees or sending accounts to collections for folks that are in financial trouble due to the major price increases of everyday neccessities? The US government is responsible for alot of this mess! Which we'll most likely have t pay for one way or another, directly or indirectly! The cash i my wallet is gone already unfortunately! from Portland by Waldo

Comment: This is a BS ploy. Tired of hearing about whining CEOs and "what happens to the employees??" Poor employees, they make on average $74/hour!! Roughly $150K a year! Where do you think that cost is passed...to US! The price of cars has gone up dramatically for years with little improvement. The shame is that small companies across the country, including mine, have been cutting good people to stay in business and the richest among us get bailed out. Oh, and if anything since the "financial bailouts 1 and 2" I have only seen my credit rates go up. This is an outrage! from Portland, ME by CJ

Comment: They are just going to delay the inevitable. Bankruptcy needs to happen so they can get out from under the oppressive union contracts that are smothering them. from Lewiston by Ron

Comment: I'm for the bailout of the auto industry with out the "big 3" the economy of the states and cities that have there plants are going to be devastated, they'll be thousands of people unemployed either way tax payers will be paying for it in either there unemployment or bailing them out. I say bail them out save thousands of jobs and the economies of the several states. So we can keep driving cars made in the USA not china like everything else we use. from South China ME by Peter

Comment: I wish every person saying no to the bailout had a loved one who worked for one of the big 3, and might lose their job. Would they still have the same feelings? It's easy to say no to something when it doesn't effect you, a loved one, or your job. If you worked at LLBean here in Maine, and they were about to go bankrupt, and LLBean asked for a government bailout, Would you support the bailout? No further questions your honor. from Portland by Frod

Comment: The auto makers got themselves into this mess; go chapter 11, and get out of it.Those CEOs strike me as a pretty arrogant bunch, $1. a year or not. That wasn't their tune when they flew in private jets, and were "comfortable" with their salaries. from naples by wilma

Comment: no they'll just take a 100 million dollar bonus later from Gorham by Shonn

Comment: Yeah, he offers because he already has millions in the bank! from Gorham by Amanda

Comment: N No NO No This is Privet Besness let it fall!! from Lewiston by Brian

Comment: No, They're just saying this because they are desperate. A bail out is necessary. Think of how many people in total will lose their jobs if they do not bail them out. Not only the manufactures, but those who work for auto parts companies, mechanics for those specific models and brands and those who sell the cars at a dealership. Not only is it a baillout an option it is a must... from Standish by Stacy

Comment: Only 1 CEO! Gimme a break. I wonder what his benefit package is worth? Do you suppose they will be paying for his travel expenses on that big jet? His health insurance, other perks...(all nontaxable, of course) Somehow, I don't think this CEO will be losing out. We should not reward bad business practices. When will the handouts end? from Mount Vernon by Patricia

Comment: No,Give the money back to the citizens so we can afford to by the vehicles and the problems will be solved. Same for the rest of the nations bail out. Bail us out!!! from Dayton by Dorie

Comment: I believe they should be able to have a loan that will need to be paid back. All top CEOs will not receive pay increases. They each have to have put into production an easily affordable vehicle that uses an alternative fuel. from Raymond, ME by Roxane

Comment: if hes willing to take that kind of pay cut then he means there will be change from gorham, maine by sarah

Comment: The top execs should give back all the salaries and bonuses and perks they made during the years the companies declined. Then the unions should take big cuts. Only then should a bailout be considered. Everyone's tax money should not go to support high living execs nor unresponsive unions whose members have had wages and benefits higher than most Americans will ever make. from Lyman Maine by Delle

Comment: that ain't right. from auburn by brandi

Comment: These CEO's have never said, clearly, why the unfortunate consequences of the economy and the responsibility to thwart its doom on the auto companies should justly fall on the shoulders of working Americans who pay taxes. There are other ways to stop the job losses, but it's not for you or me to figure out, just like it's not for them to figure out how a small business in Maine is going to keep its workers in these tough times. Millions of Americans are feeling the effects of this economy; they were laid off over the summer because of rising energy prices, they couldn't say "no" to that too-good-to-be-true loan for the home they needed and now they can't pay it back...and are shocked to realize they're actually considering what homelessness will be like. Oil investors saw profit from speculation...lenders saw millions of suckers who would owe them money. Greed. Everyone knows this economy is horrible, but not everyone knows it's the cycle of overlooked greed that put us where we are in the first place. One of these greedy people might have had the mindset that they were alone, not that 5, 50, 500, 5,000, 50,000, 500,000 of the same type of person thought the same exact thing at the same exact time they all made the non-charitable and selfish decisions they made. The average U.S. citizen doesn't get the privilege to make their case to lawmakers in Washington in front of microphones and cameras patched to the world why they need a few thousand bucks to get on their feet. Some of us Americans are small business owners with employees we need to pay. We all have to figure it out for ourselves, and we all know it. So why are these guys on CNN instead of the owner of a Maine apple orchard who saw dwindling sales because people can't afford anything and now an employee or two might get laid off. I say to lawmakers...find a way to make the CEO's save their own companies with what they have like the rest of hard-working Americans. Make them put their backs and their earnings into the companies they control like the rest of us, and make it the law. If we can travel to outer space just to tidy up the space station and spend $200 million a day to stay in Iraq for a reason that doesn't seem worth it, I think we can find a way to enforce a law that holds these CEO's accountable, because - regardless of scale - we're all in the same hole. from Portland / Maine by Ted

Comment: They mite all work for a dollar a year, but they will still get Bonuses in the millions.they are just makeing it sound good. from Standish Me. by JR

Comment: Hold on, not so fast! The auto exec's perc's are only part of the problem. It's time that workers getting $75.00 an hour gave a little as well. from Auburn, Maine by Roland

Comment: $1.00 a year may be what they are giving up but what about the bonuses and other kickers that earn them millions? from Biddeford, Maine by Mike

Comment: It's just a scam, to get the money, plus they get perks, plus the tax breaks they will get,if they work for a buck! from Industry, Maine by Mark

Comment: we need to stop paying industry, we are not a socialist society, although that is changing. I am against any buyout. Welcome to the USSA. from Biddeford by Jesse

Comment: we shoud ball out the loster &fish men & women in ME from new harber ME by Walter

Comment: No if we put ourself in that position no one bails us out not only that we cant afford to bail out every company or person that does not spend wisly. On the other hand we need to bail them out or our country could be in bigger trouble than ever before. the ceo makes more in one year than most americans make in a lifetime so $1 a year does not change my mind from Maine by Jeremy

Comment: Absolutly not!!!! Budget better like the rest of us. from Shapleigh by J

Comment: The CEO of GM had a salary of approx. 1.5 mil in 2007 but with bonus and long term compensation his total came close to 15mil. So its not like working for $1, is it? Source Wall Street Journal. from Wells,Maine by Kevin

Comment: No. Buy Ford! from Westbrook by Roy

Comment: how much are they getting in bonuses and perks etc. from Buxton by mari

Comment: These guys have been sucking millions for years, they should work for nothing! No bailout, let them restructure. from Augusta, Me by Leslie

Comment: Why not let them go through the restructuring process like you or I would have to? Or better yet, why don't the CEO's finance the bailout with the money they've been paid over the past few years! from Cumberland Maine by Kelley

Comment: What about his bonuses, stock options and expense accounts, as usual, they say things that are misleading - I say let them declare bankruptcy and then we don't have to worry about a loan we made to an insolvent group of companies from OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINE by JOHN

Comment: I dont like it anymore than anyone else does,....but. Who is going to build our military vehicles ten years down the road when we end up going against a country whom imports a huge amount of autos here? Lots of folks need to read our history books. from Jay by Corey

Comment: It's a scandal that the "big three" have allowed their companies' financial dilemnas to reach this crisis before suggesting any positive changes in their products and manufacturing policies. Are we supposed to believe that the auto industry couldn't see this coming for the last 20 years or so? A fair question would be, "Why would I think any of these three CEOs are worth 1 dollar a year?" from KPT by Larry

Comment: To little to late. This is a free market economy. If you run your business into the ground it is your own fault. restructuring should start at the top and work its way down. Let them file chapter 11 and restructure completely. They have not kept up with the times from Gorham, maine by Deven

Comment: give every working tax paying person a million dollars and we the comsumer can pay off our mortage and credit cards and buy new cars and have money in our bank account. prime rates cuts have not reach the comsumer and that would help the working comsumers if our intrest rates would be cut too. from Saco, Me. by Roger

Comment: NO ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, BAIL US OUT INSTEAD from WINTHROP, MAINE by CINDY

Comment: if they can work for 1.00 a year they must have enough money to bail them selves out. by Amy

Comment: I think education for our children is more important then giving all this money to the car industry, maybe we should do a bail out for schools...instead of budget cuts. by Gail

Comment: SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE,THIS IS A LOAN.I THINK THE GOV.SHOULD HAVE SOME CONTROL,SO WE DON'T LOOSE THIS MONEY.THE GOV.IS REALLY LOOKING AT THIS ALL WRONG,THE PEOPLE ARE NOT BUYING NEW CARS,BECAUSE THEY ARE STRAPED WITH CREDIT CARDS.THE GOV & STATES MUST CONTROL CREDIT CARD CO'S.IF SOMEONE IS LATE BY ONE DAY,OR THE CC CO.WILL MAKE A DUE DATE ON A WK END,AND THEY WON'T POST IT TILL MONDAY,THE PERSON IS LATE AND INT. RATE GO'S UP & UP NO CONTROL.I HAVE A GOOD CREDIT SCORE,BUT I REALLY WATCH IT.THE CREDIT CARD CO'S ARE KILLING PEOPLE AND THIS ALL COMES BACK TO NOW I CAN'T BUY A CAR. from NAPLES by DAVID

Comment: They should have made these changes along time ago instead of now. I don't want to have to pay $1 to help bail THEM out!!!!! from Hebron ME by Karen

Comment: They can drop their salary to zero and it will look great. However they can still get a multi-million dollar bonus, and say they made no salary. from Oak Creek, WI by Michael

Comment: We can't be bailing out anyone regardless of their tactics. This bailout would only delay what needs to happen through natural competion. The Big 3 unions have backed them selves into this corner and they need to get themselves out... from Turner by Ernie

Comment: NO, none of us want to see the people who work at these plants lose their jobs, but that is what is hanging over the heads of all of us listening to the big 3. i'm certain their financial reports over the last 10 years outlining bonusus and perks while things were good would make us all rather angry. we are reminded constantly of the importance of saving for retirement or making sure to have money put away in case of an emergency. while we are healthy and making money for heaven sakes don't spend it because ultimately it will be used during tougher times and we can be certain that the government will NOT bail us out. if we don't spend right and save.....thats our problem!! so these big CEO's and exec's can live high off the hog, unions drive wages for a line operator to 75 bucks an hour? my goodness...what a mess. gasoline and oil prices go through the roof and we start conserving and using our vehicles in a more sensible fashon and that results in driving prices down. with that said now the economy is in worse shape and a big reason is because of low gasoline prices. that is confusing and scary. i guess there is alot i don't understand. from bowdoin by harvey

Comment: No. Bail me out first. Not falling for sympathy acts like this garbage. Some people can't even MAKE $1 a year. The people who can't make this much money dont have 50 million in personal savings either. Screw them. Bail out the US workers. by Cole

Comment: There is something fishy about this new proposal...to say the least... from Buxton, Maine by Laurie

Comment: How about those same CEO's sell there jets and use some of their own personal money to bail their companies out like all the rest of us are so diligently trying to do from Casco by Eva

Comment: Again, CEO greed ruining the hope for America. from lisbon falls by Amanda

Comment: I am having to sut back my spending, why should I pay for their greed. by John

Comment: THIS HELPED TO CHANGE MY MIND. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THESE COMPANYS TO GO UNDER AT THE EXPENSE OF THOUSANDS. from BALDWIN, ME by BILL

Comment: What do they care, they have made more money then most of us only dream about, and they still have sitting in their bank accounts to last a lifetime!!!

Comment: The biggest problem with the "Big Three" is not that they make "bad cars" its that they made promises they can't keep. When you figure that 87 cents of every dollar goes to Pension/Healthcare there is only so much left for R&D and manufacturing. So the real problem isn't just the car manufactures but also the UNIONs. from Topsham by M.

Comment: There are too many auto companies as it is. We can't support them all. from Saco by Terri

Comment: If the government bails out the auto industry, who next and why not all poorly run businesses with overpaid union employees from Westbrook by Cindy

Comment: it's just a smoke screen their salary may be $1 but their bonus will be millions from Biddeford, ME by Roger

Comment: NO!!!! If they weren't paying themselves the 100's of thousands of dollars annually up until now, and had been paid a REASONABLE salary (such as us taxpayers whom will be taxed to death to pay for their bailout) then maybe they wouldn't be in this position now. We have to fend for ourselves, likewise they need to also. A little less wining and a lot of pork cutting might work. from Woolwich by Lynn

Comment: hell no -- should have done things like this years ago when they started to go tits up -- everybody from the top co's to the lonley janators have been over payed for years -- please let them go through bankrupcy & restructure & gey rid of that corrupt union that has been draging them down for so long from gray me by john

Comment: No, I say no bailout for the big 3 auto makers. Let them reorganize under a chapter 11. They will be stronger and leaner for doing this and hopefully get rid of some top execs who make the really big bucks. Also they need to trim off some of the high wages of workers at 50-80 an hour! Make fewer makes and models of cars and most of all start making cars that are more efficient!! from Old Orchard Beach by Barbara

Comment: we still should not bail them bums out from florida by chris

Comment: Bailing out the big 3 would be a mistake. For years they've seen this coming however choose to do nothing about it. We should not make this easy for them. Poor management decisions and ridiculous labor demands help dig the hole their in. Let them find a way out or get buried. Besides, it's not like some other auto manufacturer won't step in to fill the void and increse their manufacturing capacity. from Springvale/ME by Kevin

Comment: The Government should not bail these guys out because of poor management. There are many car manufacturers still doing it on their own not asking for help. Tell them to go to the competators for advise. The government does not bail out the little guy that is struggling. Never mind the $1 per year, tell them to use their own savings to bail themselves out. That is what other small businesses do when needed. from Shapleigh by Carol

Comment: The CEO's are still making money over sea's. They need to file Bankruacy instead. The children growing up today are going to pay the bill from the car makers. from Belgrade by Linda

Comment: These are all concessions that should have been made long ago. The people cannot continue to reward irresponsible behavior when most of us are struggling ourselves. from Brownfield by Joy

Comment: NO bailouts at all. Capitalism can only work if we let it. We are not a socialist country, yet. by Tim

Comment: they had to see this coming and did nothing about it. we should not bail them out. from augusta me by price

Comment: Not a particle. The only answer to this UAW bailout is bankruptsy! from Hallowell/ME by Roger

Comment: They created this mess themselves, maybe they should take their own pay and fix it over the next three years. Why are we responsible to fix everyone elses mistakes. Its getting old. from B runswick by Nick

Comment: The auto industry and the Fat Cat auto unions should all fail. Let's start the auto industry over again, this time without unions and watch how they sucseed! from Alna, ME by Rex

Comment: I think the auto industry should get the bail out. I do not see any of the CEO's in the financial industry offering to work for a dollar and we keep handing them money hand over fist and they thumb their noses at the people who have to pay for this by giving bonuses for a job well done! What a joke!!!! from Westport Island by Robert

Comment: These CEOs are already loaded even though their companies are in the toilet. This is the only way they can keep their jobs and benefits (stock options too). I feel no sympathy for them. They ran ther businesses into the ground and still got rich. I's like to see the companies go into bankrupcy and restructure or get sold off. I shouldn't have to pay extra taxes to keep them in business when they don't even produce autos that I would consider driving! It's like buying a pizza a having it delvered to a stranger's house! from South Portland, ME by Micah

Comment: This just proves how much they have been overpaid in past years. from camden by angii

Comment: They will be compensated in other ways like stock options and bonuses. They should be fired for running their companies into the ground. from Westbrook by ?

Comment: No, I think they need the disciplin of Bankruptcy and a contribution of the union members, ie: lower salary, reduced medical reimbursement etc etc same for retirees. by Larry

Comment: If they had offered this before they had been called out on their spending and salaries, I might possibly feel differently. It seems like this offer only comes up after they were chastized for flying to DC on private jets to the tune of 20k each. from Buckfield, Me by Heather

Comment: A better idea would be for the government to give working legal Americans $1million each. That way WE can put the economy back on track with the new found purchasing power! There'd be new jobs, investments, new homes built or purchased or improved. New cars bought as well as some toys. Research & development on wind, solar & water powered renewable energy. It would create a terrific snowball effect! from Gray, ME by Regina

Comment: I dont think that we should wast money trying to bail them out everytime we turn around. We really need to think about us little people for a change. we need to stop helpping these bigger companys . from bowdoinham me by missy

Comment: No, they need some kind of help because if they go out of business, i loose my job as does a good 3 million other people. You want to see the un-employment lines get longer? I would hope not from Wilton by Zach

Comment: Let's get it done! from Raymond by Steve

Comment: cut out the retirees benefits and ditch the union from bridgton by jk

Comment: I think that this should happen because if it doesn't then people are going to be out of jobs worse then what we already are and it is going to worsen the economy! If banks can get it then the auto industry should be able to also!!! from South paris by Rebecca

Comment: Its just a gimmic. If they get that money they will probally only work for one dollar until the loan is paid off, then they will go back to their old ways and work for another 21 million dollars a year. from OOB, ME by Mike

Comment: They need to build a product that is worth what they charge. They have built junk for the last 20 years why do you think there is a honda or import in everyones driveway? from yadda ya by ya

Comment: Bail out the middle man first.Have the middle man bring all there bills to the us government, get them paid off and the big 3 still get there money. from Westbrook Maine by Frank

Comment: I'm not agreeing that we should bail these companies out but we really need to think about what will happen if they crash. We are all already seeing problems, companies closing down,lost jobs and layoffs, and worse, foreclosers. Are we really prepared to see it get worse.Have you seen the Wendy's in North Conway lately? The sign on the door that says ''CLOSED'' Just how much of this can we support? from Gray by Russ

Comment: Why doesn't the industry that constantly boasts about their record breaking profits every quarter...,also the industry that depends on the auto industry...,why don't they, the auto industries brethren, EXXON MOBIL,bail them out?? Where would they be without the big 3?As for a dollar a year...,Ha,Ha....,DO you think he can afford that?? What a joke.We shouldn't give them a thing.They've cowered to the oil industry for ever costing consumers fortunes while stuffing their own coffers.It's time for pay back,not pay out. from Jefferson,ME by Guy

Comment: All top managment should take a cut in pay and live like an employe for a mounth. by Eric

Comment: Let them go belly up from me by A&B

Comment: There is and will be many usinesses that will suffer throughout this recession. We will not be able to bail out all of them. So why would we bail out one? As a business owner myself, I do not expect anyone to bail me out if things get tough. from Portland, Maine by Kim

Comment: No one is bailing us out. I don't want to have to pay for someone elses mistakes and mismangement. from Topsham

Comment: they need to get themselfs out of there downfall.....not us by Patricia

Comment: Do you think for one minute that anyone in there right mind would believe the CEO's would you work for 1 dollar a year! Yeah right!!!! from Danville by Persis

Comment: I see what the effect would be if the were to shut down, their fault for having the millions of dollar salaries. They were not smart like Honda,Toyota,Subaru,Nissan.etc We do not hear about any problems with them. by Bryan

Comment: These companies were barely hanging on when the economy was not this bad. Let their bankruptcy force the necessary changes. from Biddeford, ME by Dale

Comment: not at all,,,, i think they need a reality check like the rest of us!!! i have nothing against the employees but i feel this whole bail out issue has gotten out of control, never felt we should have bailed out the others either,, the all live beyond there means and are so use to it.. i think it's time they join the rest of us brenda saco from saco maine by brenda

Comment: The big three have been making crappy vehicles and paying lucrative union packages for years. They need to file for bankruptcy. Lower the average salary of all its employees (including executives), reduce the number of models they make, shrink the number of dealerships, cut back on corporate sponsorship deals with sporting events etc. as well as endorsement deals with athletes and celebrities. And manufacture a QUALITY product. I could write a book on the crappy american made vehicles that I have owned and vehicles that my friends and family have owned. The last two vehicles I have bought have been Honda's and I have not had any problems with either of them. I will try a new flavored ice cream or try watching a new television show. But I will not try an american made car, especially for what you pay for them. from Lebanon, Maine by Bryan

Comment: NO,maybe the CEO's should sell there assets.like there homes.cars, jet planes. by Michael

Comment: I still feel that we should continue with the bailout. If the Big 3 go under, it will have grave results on the economy. BUT, I do not feel that a $1 a year salary should be a driving factor. They will still make their salaries in other bonuses. There needs to be some kind of oversight to any corporation being bailed to ensure that it hurts! from Brunswick by P

Comment: These CEOs caused the situation. While they were destoying the US auto industry they paid themselves millions. Working for $1 year now does not change the fact that they are incompetent. They need to be removed from their postions to prevent any further damage. from Portland by Andrew

Comment: Two thoughts...If they take pay cuts, then that tells me they became mucho rich on past profits to the point they can sustain themselves for a good period of time. Second thought...This is an act with playing the martyr role, willing to walk through the land of famine for a season to save their jobs, and when the land of plenty re-appears they will reward themselves with a major bonus and pay hike to make up for the season they went without. If they get the money, in my opinion it is a profitable slap on their wrist with being rewarded with taxpayer money to bail out a mess the taxpayer did not create. Who is going to bail out the taxpayer who cannot even LIVE normally from day-to-day???? Tell me, whats wrong with this picture?

Comment: Why give a business money when it's the consumers that cant afford to buy the product they are selling? from West Paris, Me by Lester

Comment: Nobody is bailing us out, why should we bail them out. Let them file bankruptsy and use the same laws we all have to use to rebuild their companies. from Harrison by Kip

Comment: Throwing our money at failing business models will only postpone the failure. from Whitefield