The big three American automakers are circling the drain.

Now executives from the automakers are pushing hard to acquire loans from the previously approved bailout of the financial markets. It’s an overture that was all but doomed even before the executives soared into Washington in their solo corporate jets — a well-executed demonstration of stupidity and being out-of touch.

The simple fact is this: the CEOs of these American auto manufacturers should be fired. They’ve lost touch with the times, with their customers and with reality.

They’re so out of touch that when gas prices were soaring to nearly $4 a gallon during a time when our country was scrambling to become greener and more eco-friendly, American manufactures were advertising super trucks pulling jets. Because you just never know when you’ll want to drop over $100 to fill up your tank and go pull a jet through America’s Heartland . . . .it’s utterly absurd.

This is why there should not be ANY government assistance for these automotive companies until the management has been turned over. They are SOLELY responsible for Detroit’s failure –- get rid of them and you may have some of my consideration. But trusting these sophomoric leaders to reinvent Detroit is akin to trusting Martha Stewart to revitalize Hamburger Helper.

These guys have blown opportunities. They have hemmed and hawed instead of innovating. They’ve reluctantly been last to market with the electric, hybrid, bio-diesel and hydrogen cars of the future. What’s worse, they’ve failed to establish a manufacturing presence for the technologies that will make tomorrow’s cars possible. In fact, the lithium battery -– the key to the electric car -– is only available from manufacturers overseas.

Recently, the auto leaders said they would take $1 in compensation -– that sounds about right to me –- perhaps a little high. I further think the $1 should be severance. End employment for those who have driven America’s auto industry into the ground. Then, appoint American consumers to the board of directors to compel a citizen consumer direction.

By appointing consumers to the board, we ensure that the leadership of some of these critical American companies stay in touch with what the customer wants and our nation needs.

Some would argue that the auto industry is too complicated for citizens. . .I disagree. Complexity got us into this mess. Let customers have a voice, and let’s get back to basics. Design products that are what the consumer wants NOW — build the cars and parts in this country, give jobs to Americans, improve our economy, and bring the common sense back to the auto industry.