GM and Chrysler are essentially bankrupt. They now have almost zero say in how they get to run their business. This is how it normally works. The only difference is usually a bankruptcy judge makes all the decisions. That probably should have happened here, so the law and precedent could be followed, but the two companies agreed to try it this way, giving the power to the federal government, in exchange for an infusion of cash.

The alternative would likely have been that both companies would have been entirely liquidated and would not even exist. I'm not an expert in bankruptcy, but I think both companies are so far gone that restructuring in bankruptcy without any government assistance may not have been possible. The creditors probably would have demanded liquidation and we'd have no companies left and less jobs than we do now. Most importantly, any reasonable person could see that future revenue was going to be in the toilet for decades, so there was no way things were going to work out without a major cash infusion, major downsize and total revamping of the companies and their products.

This is really a no win situation, but I don't see the government as necessarily overstepping its bounds. The companies voluntarily submitted to the government in exchange for cash and the opportunity to survive somewhat intact. Remember it was the companies begging for this money, not the other way around. The government didnÆt even want to get involved originally. Ford chose not accept the cash and remains an independent company. It could still fail, but its problems were not as imminent as it was with Chrysler and GM.

I don't agree with ObamaÆs strategy of essentially killing off thousands of dealers, selling off the brands to Fiat and the Chinese and changing the types of cars sold to smaller, cheaper eco-boxes. I don't agree with the 35-42 mpg cafa standards that are coming either, but it all ties in with Obama's political agenda and unfortunately, that's what this country voted for. And because the vast majority of voters still believe in the two party duopoly that rules this nation almost in totalitarian fashion, this is the kind of garbage we will continue to live with.

Until the Republicans and conservatives pull their collective heads out of their asses and mount a reasonable opposition, or better yet, finally decide to form a powerful third party that actually represents the values of our constitution and founders, this is the political direction we are stuck with for the foreseeable future. And since the Republican party is all but completely collapsed in on itself and too many Republicans and Conservatives have forgotten what they used to really stand for, having been corrupted by the neo-con/Bush ideology of the last 8 years, I doubt things are going to change for quite some time.

The FAR bigger picture here and what worries me even more is what all of this represents. We should be taking heed, because GM and Chrysler are a microcosm of our government and country as a whole.

Anyone who's been paying attention to the news should know that the U.S. dollar's days are numbered. Stories of a new global currency in the works and being called for, are now so abundant, there are now dozens of articles written on the subject a day. Everyone now admits that interest rates are headed for the moon, now that no one is willing to buy our dollars to finance our trillions and trillions and trillions of over spending, bailouts and liabilities.

This means, the U.S.A. is now absolutely bankrupt. It's only a matter of making it official and admitting it. And when current supply of money runs out or printed to the point that all of our savings and earnings becomes worthless then that day will be here.

And we'll be in the exact same boat as GM and Chrysler. At the mercy of some higher power...our creditors. powerless to make decisions for ourselves, at the whim of some foreign power or international banking cartel.

What seemed to most to be nothing more than chicken little pessimism or tin foil hat talk is actually taking place right now and our final days as an independent nation, much less a super power are just around the corner.

The only thing that surprise me is that it's all happening a lot faster than I thought it would.