Sorry, But The Dealers Had It Coming

The news that General Motors and Chrysler will closed nearly 2,000 dealerships is terribly sad. Detroit's pain will be felt in communities large and small, and the loss of jobs and tax revenues come at an especially bad time.

But it should be remembered that dealers have been a big part of the problem in that they took whatever crap that the companies sent them with nary a murmur of dissent.

Maybe — just maybe — things would have turned out differently if the guys who had to ask their sales manager if the undercoating was free (wink, wink) had pressed GM and Chrysler to diversify their product lines, rely less on SUVs, lead the charge on hybrid technology and cut back on the suitable-for-rental-car-fleet stylings.