Now that the automakers have been given a lifeline, it seems as though things may be poised to make a shift toward the positive. But many wonder what this bailout means for John Q. Consumer.

Will the automakers throw their employees and customers a lifeline? It would stand to reason that maybe that sentiment should be the obvious choice of action. Perhaps the automobiles could be a little bit more reasonably

priced in order to give consumers lower payments, more options and better incentives to purchase from the Big Three. Or perhaps they will find better ways to interact with employees and unions to make time and energy more cost efficient and less frivolous.

In other words, stop wasting money on private jets and paying executives, who do nothing but sit in pointless business meetings all day, six-figure salaries.

Autoworkers would do well to look at the dynamics of why jobs are outsourced and learn not to take the many benefits they have for granted. Sure, you work on the line but if you are making $21 per hour, compared to the $1 a day they could be paying someone in a Third World country for doing the same job, then you really shouldn't have anything to complain about.

The union was established to protect employee rights, not take advantage of companies. All too often this premise becomes lost in asinine arbitration proceedings for things that individuals know they should be reprimanded for in the first place. Employees should learn to appreciate the jobs they have and do it to the best of their ability. Conversely, employers need to keep in mind that without good employees their companies would not thrive and in knowing that, they should do their best to ensure that they show their appreciation.

Most importantly, companies should never lose sight of the fact they are nothing without their customers. And with that in mind their primary focus should be to provide good quality products that are affordably priced; not marginally efficient products that are mass produced and the average buyer has to go into bankruptcy trying to pay for. In the meantime, it is important for us to remember that we are ultimately the ones who control the economy. If we don't support the companies, manufacturers and small businesses that operate where we live, then we have no right to complain about jobs being outsourced to other countries.

If the automakers get back to focusing more on the quality of their products and the livelihood of their employees, and employees begin to take pride in their jobs again, it will all trickle down and translate into happy customers.

And happy customers spend money.

It's not rocket science, just the dynamics of good housekeeping.