The car industry is in trouble around the world as demand slumps in the downturn. An opportunity to encourage people to think again about buying cars which they'd be better off not owning? A chance for governments to seize the moment with new programmes to improve public transport? Or the prospect of even more of our money being thrown at a sector characterised by over-supply and the need for a reality check (sounds familiar?).

Here's a view from Andrew Simms of the New Economics Foundation:

http://neftriplecrunch.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/let-the-car-makers-stall/#more-826 

And here's George Monbiot's view on the 'scrappage' scam:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/10/car-scrappage-payments