I am extremely irritated that the government is probably going to give the American Big 3 auto companies some bailout money.

I have my opinions of why they are failing.

1: They build an inferior product. I tried several American cars, all of which were junk. I bought a used Honda, followed by another used Honda, a Toyota, a new Honda, followed by two Toyotas, one new and one used.

2: Their workers make too much money, from the CEOs down to the assembly line workers.

3: They have been slow in new innovations, especially low mpg vehicles.

4: Our trade agreements need overhauling so that our cars will be more affordable overseas.

That all being said, if they can't survive in a free-market environment, let them go. They have been lobbying against new, more stringent mpg requirements forever. They were foolish for doing this, so now it is time to pay.

I think we should give them two alternatives.

1: Develop a bailout plan with the following restrictions and rewards: A: Loan them the money with interest tied to treasury bills. B: Require them to meet new fuel efficiency deadlines starting in a year and deadlining in four. C: Demand that part of the money be used for research. D: Give everyone a reduction in salaries. E: Delete bonuses while the loan is in effect. F: Give them some rebate for every additional car sold overseas past the 2008 number.

2: Let them file for Chapter 11 if they do not agree to the above plan.

Carl H. James, Springfield