The Automobile: A case study in American stupidity?
The other day I was at a restaurant. As I looked through the menu, I knew I already knew what I really wanted, fish tacos and garlic fries. Ultimately, however, I ended up with a cup of soup and a salad. Since I knew that I was going to have a couple of beers – I was at a microbrewery for crying-out-loud – I thought I should at least eat healthy.
Yet, in America, we don’t seem to ask the question of cost-to-benefit very often, especially when it comes to automobiles. The only question that seems to matter is 'Do I look cool?'
As Americans, far too often, we do what we want in the whim of the moment and deal with the consequences later – if at all.
Consequently, I couldn’t help but laugh when I read some of Rick Wagoner’s comments at the auto industry's Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City. For example Wagoner stated, “Some of the things that we all believe are necessary to ensure the continued strength of the (manufacturing) sector, which I think is just vital ... we just don't see the leadership,” stated Wagoner regarding the White House and Congress.
Leadership!? Give me a break, Mr. Wagoner. When the country was attacked by terrorists supported by America’s foreign oil dependency, when hurricanes destroyed oil refineries and demonstrated America’s overly stretched oil addiction, what was GM’s leadership? (Completed in Comments)
Yet, in America, we don’t seem to ask the question of cost-to-benefit very often, especially when it comes to automobiles. The only question that seems to matter is 'Do I look cool?'
As Americans, far too often, we do what we want in the whim of the moment and deal with the consequences later – if at all.
Consequently, I couldn’t help but laugh when I read some of Rick Wagoner’s comments at the auto industry's Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City. For example Wagoner stated, “Some of the things that we all believe are necessary to ensure the continued strength of the (manufacturing) sector, which I think is just vital ... we just don't see the leadership,” stated Wagoner regarding the White House and Congress.
Leadership!? Give me a break, Mr. Wagoner. When the country was attacked by terrorists supported by America’s foreign oil dependency, when hurricanes destroyed oil refineries and demonstrated America’s overly stretched oil addiction, what was GM’s leadership? (Completed in Comments)
Labels: Congress, Foreign Oil Dependency, GM, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
11:32 AM
1 Comments:
Did you, Mr. Wagoner, announce that GM would produce as many hybrid cars as possible, as quickly as possible? Did you announce that GM would launch a new line of smaller vehicles?
No!!!! Instead, GM launched a new line of their biggest gas-guzzlers and hyped-up the future launch of some muscle cars.
That’s leadership?
Let’s remember GM’s Bob Lutz admitted that GM could have beaten, or at least equaled, Toyota’s hybrid vehicle success by just diverting a FRACTION of their yearly marketing budget to hybrid production. Instead of selling the idea that buying a gas-guzzler is some sort of freedom, GM could have been making hybrids. Yet, GM’s full hybrids STILL are not on the road.
Decades ago, America was dramatically warned about its growing oil addiction. Since, year after year, a growing group of Americans, including many scientists and national security experts, has continued to warn the auto industry and leaders in Washington about the dangers of this addiction. Even when Washington was willing to act, such as by raising fuel economy standards, the lobbyists from Detroit have prevented such action claiming, year after year for decades, that such legislation would interfere with fuel cell development.
Yet, after decades of ‘fuel cell vehicles are just around the corner’ talk, fuel cell vehicles are still decades away.
Sure some Democrats will try to blame Republicans for their oil ties, but even Democrats haven’t stood firmly on this issue. For example, not all Republicans are against raising fuel economy standards and Democrats have had opportunities to make a stand, however, they never have. Enough Democrats, usually those controlled by the UAW, always vote against such a move.
When it comes to inefficient, foreign oil guzzling automobiles, there is plenty of blame to go around, PLENTY. While a lot of that blame goes to American automobile consumers, much more of it goes to the leaders in Detroit – if you can even call them that.
After 9/11, after Katrina, GM could have launched a visionary marketing campaign, such as the Independence Campaign. Instead of using billions of dollars EVERY YEAR marketing the virtues of owning a foreign-oil-increasing gas guzzler, GM could have used that money to explain why the cost of GM vehicles was increasing: Because every fuel saving technology was being utilized to reduce foreign oil dependency, because GM would be the world’s hybrid vehicle leader, because GM would lead the world in small vehicles sales, because GM would LEAD America into a better world.
Nothing, not even corporate profits, could be more important, GM could have told us. This was war and Americans and American companies MUST work together to achieve Independence. Ending oil dependence is today’s Revolutionary War, they could have told us.
Then again, garlic fries always taste better than salad anyway.
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