Bailout

The automakers need 12 billion dollars. The population of the US is roughly 300 million. So, that's $40 per citizen. There are only about 130 million taxpayers in the US. So the government is tasked with deciding whether or not to use almost $100 of each taxpayer's income to bail out the auto industry.

If every taxpayer was asked on their 2008 tax form (assuming there was still an auto industry in April 2009) whether they would like to donate $100 of their return to the auto industry, how many do you think would say yes?