General Motors (GM 0.48%) maintains a huge cash reserve, over $20 billion worth. That has led many observers to ask: Why doesn't GM return that cash to shareholders with a big dividend, or invest it in something, or pay back the federal government for its bailout?

It turns out there are very good reasons for GM to be holding a huge cash position. In this video, Fool.com contributor John Rosevear takes a closer look at what GM is thinking -- and at why the company's fans and shareholders should cheer GM's newfound financial discipline.