Give the Big 3 a break, Take 1

Even Honda is getting hammered?

Both Toyota and Honda posted sales declines of over 30 percent in November compared to last year. While that wasn’t as bad as GM or Chrysler, those numbers were roughly in line with Ford’s numbers.

And, for those buying cars, would you buy a car from a company that was weeks away from bankruptcy without government help? I wouldn’t.

Does that justify Detroit’s years of SUV madness at the expense of a balanced product portfolio? Of course not, but all of these automakers had started making serious changes before the credit crisis – a crisis that is hurting all automakers, even those making hybrid cars and small cars.

This alone doesn’t justify a bailout, but it adds a little perspective. More coming on Take 2.