The AutoExtremist Hates America

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

“This isn’t the same America that mustered the will and the fierce pride to counteract global evil in the Second World War. This isn’t the same America whose ‘blue sky’ thinking and unbridled creativity responded to a challenge and propelled the rocket age to new heights. And this isn’t the same America that once shared a common purpose and perspective on what this country stands for. Instead, this country has become a jaded and fractionalized nation of consumer sponges driven by the lackadaisical mantra of ‘whatever’ and ‘what’s in it for me?’ A nation whose people couldn’t be bothered with such esoteric concepts as this country’s eroding manufacturing base and the nation’s burgeoning inability to lead on the world stage.” Wow! It looks like Sweet Pete has gone beyond Shock and Denial, past Pain and Guilt, all the way to Anger and Bargaining. Yup. “At this juncture Detroit has only one move left, and that is to get through to the American consumer by building outstanding products that have no ‘ifs,’ ‘ands,’ or ‘buts’ attached to them. Machines that not only stand out, but stand above the rest.” What’s the hurry? Next up: Depression, Reflection and Loneliness.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • TriShield TriShield on Sep 04, 2008

    CarShark, I'm not rationalizing GM's behavior. I'm also not going to excuse the belief that somehow the health of GM's entire business doesn't matter to anyone in this country or that those employed by Asian automakers are more important than the thousands and thousands of people across our country and in Michigan who are employed by and affected by GM's fall. You really don't think that matters to our overall economic health? I'm not going to look the other way at the double standard applied by so many people to American automakers and products when it's also not applied to foreign automakers. Using Hyundai as an example, it wasn't so long ago that they created some of the worst cars money could buy. They have come a long way, but they still produce many vehicles that are not class leading and that come in at the bottom of comparisons. Yet nobody cares. GM has also come a very long way and produces many competitive products while still producing some products that are mediocre, like Hyundai, but we continue to crucify them instead of lauding and rewarding improvement. I really don't get the double standard and I really don't get the mentality that we should eat our own and that our own business are irrelevant.

  • Rodster205 Rodster205 on Sep 04, 2008

    "what’s in it for me”, in the context presented, is not a Capitalist idea at all. It is the Union and/or Socialist ideal. I agree that it is exactly what is wrong with what America has become. But America is no longer the land of raging Capitalism. It is quickly following Europe into the unproductive and counterproductive cesspool of Socialism. Too many people just want to do the bare minimum, or nothing, to get a check. They are owed a job, which should never change. They are owed a huge legal settlement (beyond actual damages) because someone hurt them or their feelings. This is "what's in it for me". And it is NOT Capitalism, but the opposite. And GM begging for a government check is no different, it is Socialism not Capitalism and they should be ashamed.

  • Psarhjinian Psarhjinian on Sep 04, 2008
    “what’s in it for me”, in the context presented, is not a Capitalist idea at all. It is the Union and/or Socialist ideal. I don't think you understand what Socialism really is. There's nothing wrong with that; most people who oppose it don't take the time to understand it, preferring dogma instead. "What's in it for me" is very much a capitalist truism, and certainly one championed by individualists and objectivists, though usually not in such selfish phrasing. There's a lot of value in such an ideology, but it must be enlightened self-interest. Where individualism falls down (and it does so for the same reason as pure socialism) is that it forgets (or ignores) that people are involved and that people do not fit into philosophical ideals nearly as well as ideologues think they do. A government-sponsored loan or bailout that does not involve the government taking a share of ownership in GM is not socialism, it's light corporatism, which is a stepping stone on the way to fascism. Quite the opposite direction of the political spectrum.
  • Khutuck Khutuck on Sep 05, 2008

    ...I've just used a Dodge Caliber... ...and a 1973 Renault 12 is a more sophisticated car... It's clear why Big 2.8 is in trouble...

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