Actually, I have been trying to talk Mrs. into buying a rental property – modest, yes.

Anyway….. on another topic we’ve covered here, it looks like when I go on my vacation to Canada in July, I’d better keep my trap shut, or risk huge fines.

Even the Catholic clergy is no longer immune to the insanity (and yes, before anyone even starts on me, I do realize that the United States is but a few years behind Canada in this new-world-fascist-leftist-feelgood-do-whatever-the-hell-you-
want-except-be-devout foolishness).

Read for yourselves.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=66247

I’d say perhaps it’s time for the Mennonites, the Hutterites and other devout Christians to leave Canada and shake off their feet on the way out – except that, where would they go?

This insanity is becoming world-wide and literally, the United States is only years if not months, behind enacting such onerous “laws”.

Fixed rate mortgages make the banks holders of increasingly worthless loans while the underlying asset retains its actual value. The trick is to hold modest properties that can be rented out.

I never put my money in flash or conspicusous consumption but rather income producing assets.

I actually have a union blue color job but I laways invested my money over the last 18 years instead of spending it on toys.

I believe the vehicle must be greater than 5000 pounds in weight.

This tax break needs to either be eliminated or modified to include lighter vehicles

Yes, it’s true. But don’t believe me, just wait about 5 years and see what hyperinflation does.

Or you could look up the Weimar Republic, or look at Zimbabwe right now.

Here’s the article. Long, yes, but – very illuminating.

http://www.learcapital.com/marketcommentary/6731.html

So there is some absolute truth to the fact that many of us are subsidizing the driving habits of many folks who simply buy/lease their spouses SUV’s to drive to THEIR job while slapping some advertising on the side for THEIR business, in addition to the “real” work trucks.

Now darn it carlos, I didn’t get my tax break for my Expedition… some details on this please (if you can!). What exactly am I due? So all that Iraqi oil is just streaming to the U.S. on our tankers instead of being sold on the world market? Where is this $1 Billion a month oil money that is flowing into the Iraqi coffers coming from? Maybe the invasion was about something other than oil. Maybe you need to update your liberal talking points, you are so 2003.

Thanks for your kind words about the Mennonite brethren (and sisters).

Rule #34

Sometimes “procrastination” accidentally works out well, as in the case of the somewhat smaller Ford Focus being simply warmed over instead of replaced. It means the car is reasonably well placed in size and efficiency to capture a good amount of the marketplace.

In contrast, look at the Saturn S-series cars which were replaced with far larger and heavier (and obviously, thirstier) Ions, which were total dogs (and are now replaced with hyper-expensive to import into the dollar zone Opel Astras with Saturn badging).

It’s the Vauxhallification of Saturn, really.

So is GM’s and Chryslers decline separate and independent from the decline of Ford.

I really don’t care one way or the other on what Ford does one way or the other on the gay issue but seriosly its the cars not the social issues.

Really it is.

Make good cars and thrive make shitty ones and die.

I suppose you probably don’t know what a Mennonite church is, I don’t think there are any anabaptist churches in the UK.

Hmmm, okay, you’ve probably seen “Witness” the movie? Those “plain” folks were Amish. Amish, Mennonites, Hutterites and some other groups are called “anabaptists” (not “anti-baptists”). This means “re-baptizers” (adult baptism). There was also a Tim Allen moview recently, and I can’t think of the title.

Mennonites are kind of like Amish, but with cars (usually – not always), radios (usually), sometimes with televisisions and movies attendance (not the local group here),
electricity (usually – not always), modest modes of dress (both genders), against war and killing.

If anyone is curious, have a peek.

http://www.mennolink.org/doc/cof/art.19.html

I attend a local Mennonite church some of the time in addition to another church closer to home, and find that the Mennonites are more full of peace than anyone I’ve ever met. They hate NOBODY but just speak out in love, and the word.

Just so you know.

It’s not particularly “normal” to obsess about cars as we do (or for that matter, some of those who obsess about the gold standard, hint hint.) But still, I’m glad that I don’t have some religious hate group attempting to turn me into a second-class citizen just because I’ve got some different habits.

And if you study a bit of biology, you actually will see examples of homosexual behavior. But if you want an in depth discussion of the Truth About Other Species, you’re going to have post somewhere else.

Maybe they should find some time in their busy schedules to help their fellow humans, instead of trying to attack them. Although they do help to disprove Darwin, because clearly, these hatemongers haven’t evolved very much at all.

http://www.gaywheels.com/gff/gayfriendly.htm

Unfortunately you can’t un-see some things. Yep, Ford DID put explicit and homosexually oriented advertisements in homosexual magazines.

In nature, bestiality is not any less abnormal than homosexuality.

In humanity, hatred is hatred no matter if it is because someone is a particular color, or because they partake in some particular sin or perversion.

Why the “pass” for homosexuality in our culture? Why the mass media encouraged “assumption” that real Christians “hate” one sin more than another? Or people engaged it same? Remember the old addage; to Assume makes an Ass out of U and Me.

But back on topic, in regards to the Detroit 3 having the chance (and money from OUR POCKETBOOKS as US taxpayers) to develop the “80mpg super car” during the Clinton Administration, see my other posting from a few minutes ago under TTAC Called It: 2010.

So are other automakers following suit?

Japanese government playing unfair by helping develop hybrid cars? Please. What did Detroit do with all the cash our government gave them to development something better? Where is the Detroit hybrid?

Waoz,

That would be the Escape Hybrid, Tahoe Hybrid, upcoming RAM Hybrid, upcoming Fusion Hybrid, upcoming Chevy Silverado Hybrid, and the other upcoming Chrysler hybrids.

The issue with the domestics is that they don’t understand the concept of hybrid vehicles to begin with and don’t have a good small vehicle that they can put a hybrid drivetrain in. I like the Ram and Silverado hybrids (21 mpg is pretty good for that size truck) but they’re only going to appeal to the people who already buy Chevys and Dodges. In other words, they’re preaching to the choir.

What the Detroit 2.8 1/2 need is a competent small car to put a hybrid system into. Their current compact entries aren’t good enough to justify the huge extra cost of a hybrid drivetrain.

Ford said it was going to make a 100-mpg Fiesta hybrid, and hasn’t discussed it since. Until Ford builds it, they just can’t compete with the Prius.

In July 1938, prior to the outbreak of WWII, the German consul at Cleveland presented Ford with the award of the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, the highest medal that Nazi Germany gave to foreigners. Ford accepted the medal, (as did a GM VP).

And, you are correct, Henry Ford was not an avowed Nazi. I went too far. On the other hand, how would you interpret if a prominant American were to receive the highest honor bestowed by the Republic of Iran?

On balance, Ford was a very destructive person whose actions and support of hateful causes cost countless lives.

We covered this before. That is a weak analogy, frankly not even worthy of serious discussion. Activities between consenting adults are not the equivalent of an adult attacking a child. You’re going to have to offer a better argument than that.

In any case, I go back to my earlier point, namely that appealing to the lower-class discriminators is a good way to continue the loss of market share. Resonating most strongly with the bottom demographic is a good way of ensuring a future of diminishing sales, styles that are out of step with the tastemakers, and low prices packed with rebates.

menno- I seriously doubt Ford would advertise with “sexually perverse” ads in publications. Unless YOU would consider two men holding hands as “sexually perverse”.

It’s amazing at this day and age that people are still this prejudiced and ignorant when it comes to minorities. I applaud Ford for standing up to what’s right. Can we get back to cars now?