From The Providence (R.I.) Journal — Originally published Saturday, Dec. 6

The idea of bailing out the Big Three automakers angers many taxpayers, including us. It would seem to reward years of short-sighted, self-dealing management and sweetheart union deals while indirectly penalizing those automakers in the United States — Asian- and European-based — that have focused on making energy-efficient cars and that have made reasonable, not gold-plated, labor arrangements.

For that matter, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler themselves have done well making such cars — but they have mostly done it abroad. And note that all these companies are to a greater or lesser degree multinationally owned. Don’t weep tears of patriotism for the Big Three.

… The car companies are an important part of America’s economy and industrial infrastructure — including for defense matters. It would be better to keep them going than to let them collapse, with all the damage to the American economy. Still, any more aid — and they’re now asking for at least a $25 billion additional bailout — must be predicated on very specific conditions.

First, of course, the aid should be loans, not grants. …

There should also be provisions to encourage the companies to move far further than they have toward making energy-efficient cars. …