GM Inside News Forum - View Single Post - Gutierrez: 'dangerous to have Washington tell these companies how to run their bus'

NMCarNut · 12-02-2008, 09:57 AM

Right on! How can we possibly expect congress and the administration (both present and new) to "guide" us out of this mess. The same pack of liars, cheats, and buffoons (sorry, as a current Senator, Obama is included) that helped us in our current mess?
While GM management and the Unions should share their part of the blame one important fact is being overlooked. Until the recent spike in fuel prices the US was buying, even demanding, every gross-pig truck and SUV the manufacturers could belch out. Heck, even Toyota and Nissan had started the madness because the market was so good. Not to mention the bigger and bigger SUVs from Honda and even Porsche(!), for goodness sake. So certainly part of the blame goes to the good old American consumer and to a greater extent our wonderful bunch of elected officials.
Every administration (republican and democrat alike) have been hopelessly remiss for not developing a semblance of an energy policy going back at least to the energy crisis in the early 70s. Instead we get CAFE and other drivel that puts demands on the manufacturer with little or no change in consumer demand. A simple gasoline tax (much as I hate taxes) if it were phased in back in the 70s as some suggested would have done more to prevent the problems we have today than all the other crud passed, combined, since.
Then to top it off the US has safety and emission regulations that are inconsistent with the rest of the world resulting that some of the good stuff sold elsewhere having a costly path or no prayer of ever making it here. And adding to the madness some are suggesting that each state should be free to set any standard they desire?!?
Yea, with Washington more in command, Lord help us.

12-02-2008, 09:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
NMCarNut Walking Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 8	Re: Gutierrez: 'dangerous to have Washington tell these companies how to run their bu Right on! How can we possibly expect congress and the administration (both present and new) to "guide" us out of this mess. The same pack of liars, cheats, and buffoons (sorry, as a current Senator, Obama is included) that helped us in our current mess? While GM management and the Unions should share their part of the blame one important fact is being overlooked. Until the recent spike in fuel prices the US was buying, even demanding, every gross-pig truck and SUV the manufacturers could belch out. Heck, even Toyota and Nissan had started the madness because the market was so good. Not to mention the bigger and bigger SUVs from Honda and even Porsche(!), for goodness sake. So certainly part of the blame goes to the good old American consumer and to a greater extent our wonderful bunch of elected officials. Every administration (republican and democrat alike) have been hopelessly remiss for not developing a semblance of an energy policy going back at least to the energy crisis in the early 70s. Instead we get CAFE and other drivel that puts demands on the manufacturer with little or no change in consumer demand. A simple gasoline tax (much as I hate taxes) if it were phased in back in the 70s as some suggested would have done more to prevent the problems we have today than all the other crud passed, combined, since. Then to top it off the US has safety and emission regulations that are inconsistent with the rest of the world resulting that some of the good stuff sold elsewhere having a costly path or no prayer of ever making it here. And adding to the madness some are suggesting that each state should be free to set any standard they desire?!? Yea, with Washington more in command, Lord help us.