The fact that it was bailed out says something about its place in American society. Stable might not be the best description but it does seem to be one thing which is taken for granted.
Yes. It's extremely well connected to the levers of power.
Other examples would include the protectionist legislation offered when they were getting their shit rocked by Asia the last time around, in the 70's, every time we've gone to war overseas for oil, and the CAFE standards which have generous exemptions for all the vehicles they actually make money on because no other manufacturers bother to make 3 ton trucks for suburbanites.
> it’s so stable because it’s a cultural first class
Looks biased from an outsider view but I guess most cultural habits gets biased at some point.