Poll: 48 Percent Believe Government Has "Conflict Of Interest" In Auto Regulation
According to the latest Rasmussen telephone polling [via The Financial], 48 percent of Americans believe that the government’s ownership stake in GM and Chrysler means it has a conflict of interest in regulating competing automakers. 25 percent disagree, saying that the government’s bailout doesn’t affect regulation, and another 26 percent aren’t sure. When it comes to recent criticism of Toyota by administration officials like Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, only 25 percent believe the criticism stems from a desire to help GM, while 38 percent disagree and 37 percent aren’t sure. But the polls most interesting results have nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with perception:
Despite Toyota’s major safety recalls, owners of its cars are still more loyal than those who drive cars made by the bailed-out GM. Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans who currently own a Toyota say they are at least somewhat likely to buy their next car from the troubled automaker, compared to 57% of GM drivers who say they are at least somewhat likely to buy their next car from GM.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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There are people who believe in the tooth fairy. There are people who believe the world is flat. There are people who believe there is no conflict of interest.
Considering Japan is one of the most closed markets for foreign automakers, I'd love it even if all these conspiracies prove to be true
I don't know if there is a conflict of interest or not. But the situation is set up for it to easily occur. And that is the troubling aspect of this. The influence of the UAW, to me, is the real worry. I think all transplants, not just Toyota, might be treated unfairly.
My daughter came home last week and told me that her grade 12 economics course was doing a unit on failed government policies and the GM/Chrysler bailout was the leading example of misguided government intervention. Capitalism is apparently dead in North America. After GM and chrysler collapse for the final time in a few years this whole debacle will be studied by future generations much like Chicago gangland and the depression era are today.