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Driving to Washington

By: Editorial

Date: Thursday, 04. December 2008

OK, so the big three CEOs decided to drive to Washington this time. That�s about 9 hours including breaks, which is really only about 4 hours longer than going commercial airline if you include getting to the airport, check-in, security, the 90-minute flight, getting your luggage back, and risking the delays.

And they're doing it in Hybrids, which might be seen as good public imaging, unless it's taken as cynical and/or melodramatic. Maybe it's also a bit cynical to point out that on a long trip like that Hybrids don't really do any better fuel-wise.

Maybe the CEOs should have car-pooled and really made their point. But then whose car would they choose? That would be tricky. A mental image pops up of the three in the back of a '70s Volkswagen Camper with Cheech and Chong up front!

Think that's ridiculous? Try conjuring up an image of the chastened CEOs of GM, Ford and Chrysler trying to flog their corporate jets to passersby at Washington�s airport before taking commercial flights back to Detroit. That's what Congressman Brad Sherman seemingly wanted them to do when he asked them for a show of hands "if you are willing to sell your jet, in place, now, and fly back commercial." If you don�t believe this check out the YouTube video below.

Needless to say, no hand rose, but if the question was meant to show up the auto execs it also showed up Congressional political grandstanding.

Having doled out a trillion or so dollars to Wall Street financiers, the politicians figured they could get tough with the automakers (who only wanted a few 10s of billions!). I guess it's convenient to heap blame for the recession/depression on the Detroit executives.

That would let the public, and their executive branch, (in other words,their government), completely off the hook. It's implied that GM, Ford and Chrysler simply decided to manufacture the wrong cars regardless of circumstances.

However, you don�t have to look far for other culprits. Pop into any auto show and watch people ogle the muscle cars and the monster SUV gas guzzlers. Read car reviews and see how auto journalists rave over torque and horsepower. Listen to the woman complain to the car salesman that a 175 hp engine �won�t get me on the freeway.� (No, it wasn�t a truck, it was a Nissan Altima.)

And should it really be auto manufacturers shaping environmental policy and taking moral responsibility for who buys what in the automotive world. There�s really something uncomfortable about leaving environmental and social policy to private corporations.

Here at Drivers.com we don�t have an awful lot of sympathy for the gas-guzzling mentality that has pervaded North American auto making and marketing over the past decades, so the CEO�s of the big three are not sympathetic figures.

Nevertheless, they've been global economic powerhouses. They�re criticized for the cushy blue-collar jobs they�ve created but how can that be all bad? Even film maker Michael Moore � a severe critic of the auto industry � can appreciate the value of corporations that have created comfortable middle class lives for millions of Americans. (see the Video below)

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Brad Sherman video

Michael Moore video

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All Comments (5)

Showing 1 - 5 comments

Brayn,

Do u know of a place that will accept self empoyled with only bank statements to prove income? transunion gave me a 658 score but experian didnt even give one because of no recent activity. there is a small on there thats negative, but from years ago. thanks

gus,

GM Ford and Chrysler can be proud of having created great jobs over the years but its new times now. The unions are just trying to protect elite jobs without regard to the consequences.If the unions won't budge maybe this is a disaster that has to happen

flintboy,

all very well victor. i take it you are not going to be one of those out of a job. As the article above says theres a lot of political grandstanding here but i dont' see how congress can justify shelling out money to the bankers and not to the auto companies. Looks to me like the blame is being shiftd to the car companues and none to the public (who buy the gas guzzlers) or to government (who didnt' set the right policies.
I agree with the guy on TV last night who said keep up the price of gs by taking it but give tax breaks to drivers instead,then they can choose their car based on affordability and how much gas they want to use

Victor,

The car manufacturers advertise size and horsepower. They push these hard and the choices they offer favor big and powerful over ecnomical. they should tke most of the blame.

benjy,

if the big three get money there should be conditions andn the unions should make big concessions


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