An Interrogation - Tales Of Terror From Toyota City Volume 3

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

No politician worthy of your vote will pass up on the chance of publicly bashing the heads of foreign corporate types with deep pockets. And so, the Senate will convene its Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation next Tuesday. They will repeat this week’s grilling until perfectly good Kobe steak is well done and reduced to dog food.

Tuesday’s cast will consist of familiar faces: Ray LaHood will again “go into the weeds” and hold Toyota’s “feet to the fire” until all cars – well, at least those of Toyota, will be “100 percent safe.”

Smooth Yoshimi Inaba, Prez. of Toyota Motor North America will bring his baritone to bear. The congress casting crew was obviously dissatisfied with Akio Toyoda playing the role of the duplicitous villain. He will not be called and can (phew…) go home to Toyota City.

Instead, the Senate has extended a cordial invitation to Toyota’s Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki to come and get barbecued by the esteemed embers of the committee. “Sasaki is effectively in charge of making recall decisions at the Japanese automaker,” writes The Nikkei [sub] today, glad that “the announcement ended speculation that Toyota President Akio Toyoda might also be grilled.”

Surely, the elected embers are all students of the great James Madison, who said “The means of defence against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.”

Deep insights, which should always be kept in mind when politicians start pointing the finger abroad during tough times at home. All that perceptiveness will most likely be for naught – again. It didn’t keep Madison from starting the war of 1812, highlights of which were: Trade restrictions that led to the war, the capture of Detroit, and the burning of the White House. Students will also remember how it ended: All were exhausted and went home. Then, a new era of good feelings ensued.


Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • VLAD VLAD on Feb 26, 2010

    The video was very confusing. Looked like Obama Health Care.

  • David C. Holzman David C. Holzman on Feb 26, 2010

    VLAD, you'll change your tune when your health insurance company dumps you in the middle of your chemotherapy

    • YotaCarFan YotaCarFan on Feb 26, 2010

      One can always be proactive and (1) pick an insurance company with a good track record thanks to the free market, (2) save money and buy their own medical services, (3) take out a loan to pay for services not covered by insurance and/or savings, (4) negotiate a discount with the free market doctors/hospitals, (5) opt for treatment at a research institution (reduced cost/free but you're a guinea pig), (6) use Medicare, (7) use Medicaid, or get free treatment at the emergency room. The current system assumes people will take responsibility for their needs (save money or buy quality insurance), and provids a few taxpayer funded safety nets. The Obama approach is "one size fits all" - regardless of one's level of responsibility the services are the same; but, only the workers pay. BamsterCare *will* have cost control measures just like private insurance; Britain's system is an example of nationalized care and it is far from optimal. It just hasn't been publicized much. The various bills in congress have formulas for determining how much to spend on people based on age, for example. (The very old and very young are less likely to get care than people in the teens, 20s, & 30s.)

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