Let me put it starkly: (spending) power to the people. With governments on the verge of a possible $2.8-billion-and-growing handover to the auto sector, it has to be asked: where's the movement to go Main Street with our money?

The suddenness and scale of the huge auto industry crisis is naturally sowing political and economic confusion. But solutions must pass some reality tests - and there's a good possibility that we may be watching one of the biggest con-job corporate giveaways ever.