My wish is the Internet's command

Jon Cohn makes the argument for a bailout of GM. He makes a stronger case than I would have expected. In particular, there's this part suggesting that Detroit is on the right track, contrary to my opinions:

But what's missing in the tsk-tsk editorials is any recognition that the culture of Detroit has been changing, however belatedly, starting with its labor relations. Ford led the way years ago by reaching site-specific "competitive operating agreements" with locals at different plants, rather than sticking to one national agreement, thereby enabling it loosen work rules and engage in the sort of collaborative quality management on which industry leader Toyota made its reputation. Then, last year, the UAW reached a breakthrough agreement in which it granted the companies similar flexibility, agreed to a two-tier wage structure for new hires, and set up a separate trust fund to finance future retiree health benefits. The companies would provide the initial money for this trust, but, henceforth, the unions would manage it--thereby taking off the companies' books a tremendous burden that had, on its own, accounted for about half the gap in compensation between unionized workers for the Big Three and non-unionized workers for foreign-owned automakers. "I think they've shown unprecedented ability to change and transform the union," says Kristin Dziczek, who directs CAR's Automotive Labor and Education program. "They understand what is at stake."

But make no mistake: any bailout of the Detroit 3 should be conditioned on a collective agreement with the government: public support by the 3 companies for a 50 mpg minimum by 2018, say, and 100 mpg minimum by 2030. Scrap the broken CAFE system, put these minimums in law, and then give Detroit the cash they need to keep breathing.

We'll never have a better opportunity to put these companies on 21st century track.