Not a day goes by that I don't read something on the internet or hear someone talking about the economy. I thought I'd put in my 2 cents.

One of the latest headlines that economists are having a field day with is the fate of the American automotive industry. Which of the big three will survive?

One night a few weeks ago I was flipping channels and came across CNN where Michael Moore was commenting on the auto industry. He said that the reason why these companies are in trouble because they didn't listen to the consumer. When gas prices were way up and people were looking to buy more gas-efficient cars, the American car companies were still building SUV's.

Besides the fact that American car companies have refused to build eco-friendly cars (Ok, they've built a few hybrids), they have been building cars that don't last very long and/or have to be fixed every other year - and the companies are fully aware of this. Why build a car that lasts 10-15 years? People wouldn't buy the new and shiny latest models, right?

You know how most parents offer advice before they send their kid off to college? My father's advice was, "Don't buy American cars. Stick with Japanese-made cars. They last longer." How's that for word-of-mouth marketing?

Well, as we get news today that the House has approved a $14 billion bailout, I wonder if it really is a good idea for automakers to receive a "bailout". For the sake of those employees who are still working for the companies, I say it's ok, however, the CEOs of these companies need some major consulting. I think Chrysler should start by reading this: Tips to Chrysler: Customer Retention and Recovery.

My three tips for the car companies would be 1) Listen to your customer 2) Listen to your customer and 3) Listen to your customer

Photo Credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com