Bailouts- Just My Two Cents

I don't have all the answers, but I am personally tired of all the talk about bailouts. First the banks, then auto dealers, now newspapers.

The bottom line is when people do not run their businesses properly, they fail. Why are these companies treated differently?

Part of me understood the banking industry. I sympathized with the factory workers during the auto industry's bailout. But, when newspapers got in line with their hand out, that was the last straw for me.

I am a media buyer, so I can tell you from experience about the dwindling circulation numbers, but yet undeserved higher rates. The fact that clients in all industries are cutting their print budgets for more affective forms of advertising- often for options that are online.

And yet, even though this has been slowly happening over the last several years, the newspapers have been slow to change. In some cases, refusing to change altogether. I heard a story from a newspaper lately where they told me of a board meeting that was held recently. The 60 year-old executives flat out said they didn't believe these trends would continue, and that they were staunchly against changing one aspect of their business plan. Enough said.

So no newspapers, you do not deserve a bailout. The fact that it has even come up in conversation floors me.

Let the companies who make poor decisions and refuse to change fail Then, give their bailout money to the vendors who are left holding the bag for their mistakes. We will still have news outlets and car manufacturers but, in the end, I would wager those left standing will be strong, adaptable, and able to sustain themselves.