Broad stakes in saving auto industry

The task before automakers this week is clear:

• Show up in Washington displaying some awareness of how monumental your request is;

• Have a plan for how you will use any money provided by Congress;

• Work hand in hand with your unions to find reasonable concessions and create a sustainable pension system; and

• Demonstrate your intent to restructure yourselves to survive in the 21st century as, in the words of an aide to President Bush, "viable companies."

Presumably, the CEOs of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors - having all now agreed to work for $1 a year - will appear before Congress Thursday better prepared than when they arrived last month with a haughty air of excess, expectation and entitlement. They will "duly genuflect," as one consultant advised, and then, it is to be hoped, leave with their money and a firm commitment to reshape their industry for strength and longevity.

It has been more than a little annoying these past two months to watch the same Congress that - necessarily - leapt to action to rescue a financial industry clearly drowning in its own excess now berating automakers for their addiction to short-term profits and hinting they may have to pay the penalty through bankruptcy.

But the case for an auto industry bailout - or more accurately, bridge loan - is not far different from that for a bailout of the banking system, and equally strong. We cannot, to quote the president-elect, let the American auto industry fail. It is not merely the auto industry that would suffer in the event of bankruptcy, but also the literally millions of other Americans working in industries that supply or otherwise depend on the auto industry.

Many experts acknowledge that allowing even one of the Big Three to fail could idle hundreds of thousands of non-auto workers. Such an outcome could only deepen a recession that already seems barely short of catastrophic to thousands of families. It cannot be allowed to happen if it can be prevented.

To be sure, the automakers need to demonstrate that they understand the nature and depth of the problems they face and are committed to the kinds of conservative fiscal management that will help overcome them. That means grounding the corporate jets, eliminating the lavish perks and instilling a top-to-bottom mentality that puts quality, economy and customer service ahead of all other considerations.

Of course, Congress ought also to be demanding these same actions from the financial moguls who quickly began gorging on the public's largesse, but have yet to demonstrate a willingness to use it as it was intended.

But exercising that authority is part of the process of helping these companies return to their former strength and productivity. That they can do that should not be in question. Americans have long been capable of designing, building and servicing automobiles, or any manufactured product, that can stand with any in the world.

The issue now is that they must.

Not just for themselves but for the millions of workers in associated industries whose jobs and livelihoods depend on it. It is those workers that Congress should be thinking about this week.