[Len_A]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clean

Following the recent events, I am growing more convinced that a government bailout of Detroit automakers is not a good idea. The so-called leaders of these groups show up asking for money in corporate jets and no detailed plans for how/what/when/where these funds will be used to turn these companies into profit centers. Their actions showed blatant arrogance and incompetence; not anything that should instill confidence in legislators and taxpayers that these funds would be repayed at all, much less in a timely fashion.

Isn't Chrysler now a privately owned company (Cerberus Capital)? Should the government be considering bailing out a privately held auto manufacturer? One which has already been bailed out once by the taxpayers.

Yea, right. and the rest of us who depend on them can go pound sand, right?

Metro Detroiters anxious, living on edge -Detroit Free Press 11/20/2008
From hairstyles to nachos, wedding photos to auto show parties -- all in doubt

Metro Detroiters endure life on edge | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Elias-Porter, 53, has owned her salon in two locations near Ford Motor Co.'s Dearborn base for 21 years. Many of her clients have been with her from the beginning, she said. But as the Detroit Three have suffered, so, too, has her business.

"We used to get between 10 and 20 walk-in clients for the new hairdressers. We had one last week," she said.

Through the end of September, John Forte thought his Troy-based catering business was headed for a really good year.

Then Wall Street imploded. And now his Forte Balenger business will be lucky to finish just above break-even for the year. Next year looks worse, a lot worse.

...

Already, the automotive worries have dealt Forte a big hit. Normally January brings Forte's firm its busiest time of year as he caters major parties and corporate events during the North American International Auto Show. Last year, Forte Belanger hired 300 on-call workers for auto show-related parties, served 4,000 meals on 27,000 pieces of china, filled 10,000 glasses and checked 2,100 coats.

For the upcoming show in January, Forte Belanger has booked only about 8% of last year's business.

Think a restaurant owner in trendy Royal Oak might be immune to automotive anxiety?

Think again.

Tim Castaneda feels it on two fronts. His business, a hip and fairly inexpensive Mexican eatery called Zumba, is losing customers. At home, Castaneda's wife, an engineer at Chrysler LLC for 18 years, carries constant fear of job loss.

"I talk to 100 people a day," he said this week, as his roster of customers getting laid off from auto jobs seems to grow ever longer. "It has really, really affected me in the last two to three months," he said. "People really close to me have started getting laid off."

If the auto industry collapses, he doesn't know how he'll survive, said Castaneda, 44, of Troy, who has two children, one in college.