The recession we have to have Forget dodging bullets, soft landings and spending our way to economic safety. The time has come for recession. Yep, the only way we and the rest of the world are going to get through this financial mess intact is by biting the bullet, rather than dodging it. A thorough cleanout of the useless, the unsalvageable businesses that have been sucking on our teats all their lives (is that a car manufacturers I just saw?) is the true way to salvation. Why governments, and by extension you and me, are contiuing to bail out hopeless, failed businesses is beyond me. At least the US Congress is playing hardball with the Dopes of Detroit (though how much longer that will last, I don't know. I have a sneaky suspicion that vested interests will once again prevail). Our government decided to give them $6 billion. This most unprofitable of industries (well, maybe airlines excepted) has had a direct line to taxpayer funds for decades, all in the name of "protecting jobs". All the while destroying wealth. They're happy to destroy those jobs too if their bottom lines are affected in the occasional good time they experience. But they don't give their subsidies back. Teetering financial institutions should go the same way and be allowed to fall over the cliff. Allowing them to survive will mean only their management prosper in the long run. The ludicrous call by politicians for recipients of the $10.4 billion "economic stimulus" package