What can be done about this, or should we all just sit back and let the inevitable economic forces run their course?

PMD. In an idyllic economic theory class on some college campus, that would be just swell. Let the chips fall where they may and move on. But we're now dealing with a global economic world that cares little about "free" trade or doing business the way we as a country think it should be done. Every import auto manufacturer has exploited our way of doing things here. Build plants? Sure, we'll do that - if you guarantee a big enough incentive package that would make it worth our while. But if a Detroit manufacturer were to ask for some relief to do business the answer would be: "We're not bailing your asses out, what have you done for us lately?" It's as if the U.S. government is dismissing the 100+ years that the automobile industry has thrived here, and the role it has played in powering the economic engine that made America's economy the envy of the world. In Toyota's case, there's no question they've done an outstanding job, but there's also no question that they have exploited our government's incessant naivete - and used our Byzantine system that rewards companies who want to come here and do business, while penalizing the industries that have been part of the real fabric of America for over 100 years. This has to stop. Consider this: If each and every vehicle sourced from an offshore-based automobile company (whether they're built here or not) had a $1,500 tariff slapped on it that would be paid for by the manufacturer and would go directly to a fund that would underwrite the pensions and health care costs of our own automobile industry and its workers, then we'd be a lot better off. This isn't my original idea, either. David Stockman was asked this question several years ago - about how to solve the dilemma of the American auto manufacturers dealing with cost issues that imported car makers don't have and what can be done about it, and he said that this would be the only idea that would make sense, that there would be no other idea that he could think of that would solve this untenable situation. For the people who don't agree or believe in that? Well, then, if this "perfect storm" and downward spiral continues in the domestic auto industry, and GM or Ford is forced into bankruptcy, then everyone in this country will be forced to deal with the problem, whether they agree or believe in it or not. Rick Wagoner and Co. are dead right about one thing - it would be monumentally counterproductive - if not catastrophic - to the health and well-being of this country if the outstanding pension obligations that hundreds and thousands of people are depending on suddenly evaporated. It would affect every citizen of this country, from La Jolla to Washington, D.C.