General Motors, the "Heartbeat of America" for Better or Worst

"The Heartbeat of America" the ads for Chevrolet, General Motors' flagship brand of cars, used to boast. For better or worst, as the U.S. auto giant celebrates its 100th anniversary this month, the company's health has never seemed more tied to the country's economic health.
At a time when the U.S. economy is spluttering, the country's most venerable car brand seems to be running out of gas. Certainly if it's Americas Heartbeat, then it looks like we need to have the paramedics on speed dial, because there's signs of cardiac arrest.  But let's wait to see how America takes care of it's heart.