[darkpuppet]

There's one big difference between today and the oil crisis days... we're now in a globalized market, and the distribution of manufacturing and trade means we can't so quickly discount the foreign markets anymore.

Back in the day, the US manufacturers were able to come back and compete against the rather small import invasion. However, today, the US automakers won't be so lucky.

The problem with North America and big corporations, is that they just think they can react to competition, instead of trying to lead competition. Innovators are far and few in between, yet it's the innovators that lead and build new markets.

There's a serious problem with a global market and a domestic product that doesn't measure up. Maybe they'll recover this time, if they're lucky, but I honestly doubt it.... and if they do, it's because those jobs that so much of us rely on are going to end up beig paid for by the taxpayer.

North america has to stop sitting on it's collective asses.. it's a continent that has spent so much time working hard to be at the front, but maybe got burnt out along the way... I only hope it ushers in a reasonable era of european work ethics, of work smarter, not harder.