Geniuses Fight Back For American Jobs

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

These three men have been charged with criminal damage of property after vandalizing seven 2011 model-year Toyotas at the Chicago Auto Show, reports the Southtown Star.

Police said they caused about $30,000 worth of damage to the vehicles, which had speakers cut open, dashboards ripped apart, seats sliced and windshields scratched.

Responding officers caught the three in a blue Toyota Camry, damaging the interior with razor knives and flathead screwdrivers, according to police.

They said other Toyotas were found in the immediate area with similar damage, and the three were taken into custody by McCormick Place security personnel, who contacted Chicago police. The men told police they were angry about American jobs going overseas. [emphasis added]


Needless to say, Toyota reps are quick to remind that some 60 percent of its US-sold vehicles are made in America, including four of the seven vehicles vandalized by these brilliant and principled young gentlemen. Says Toyota USA rep Curt McAllister

I think that some stereotypes die hard. All automakers suffer minor incidents of vandalism on the auto show circuit — stolen knobs, badging, etc. — however, we cannot remember such an egregious, premeditated act of vandalism, involving this many vehicles, ever happening at an auto show in the U.S

Which raises some interesting questions, like why is Toyota the face of the outsourcing of American jobs? Why didn’t these promising young minds decide to shred vehicles from another foreign brand, or the foreign-built vehicles sold by the domestic brands? Between the UAW, the congress, Ray LaHood, and the media at large, America’s’s been developing a love affair with hating Toyota. Perhaps TTAC’s best and brightest can help me understand why.


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • George B George B on Feb 19, 2011

    I blame Saul Alinsky. Alinsky made Chicago the home of community organizing and the grievance industry. The beef with Toyota is that their success weakens the power of cities like Chicago, the UAW, and lefty parasitic organizations by shifting jobs away from urban centers where the left is strong to rural areas where it's harder to rent a scary mob. University of Kentucky students are less intimidating than busloads of people from the South side of Chicago. Wonder how many consumers end up choosing a Georgetown, KY built Toyota Camry or Avalon over a Chicago built Ford Taurus?

  • Zeus01 Zeus01 on Feb 19, 2011

    The UAW drove thier employers into bankruptcy? So how come Ford didn’t go bankrupt Ford had the presence of mind to build better cars than either GM or Chrysler. True, some of those cars were built in Mexico (cutting the UAW out of the equation), and also true that some of Ford's products (ex: the Fusion) are part Mazda, which is partly owned by Ford. It's all good though, because at least this strategy allowed Ford to build cars that people actually wanted for a price that allowed for a profit margin, however small. Finally, Ford had the presence of mind to avoid a bail-out at all cost, viewing that option as suicidal from a customer loyalty standpoint. They were right. Ford's success (vs. GM and Chrysler) is therefore not because of CAW/ UAW but rather, in SPITE of the CAW/ UAW.

  • Zeus01 Zeus01 on Feb 19, 2011

    blame Saul Alinsky. Alinsky made Chicago the home of community organizing and the grievance industry. The beef with Toyota is that their success weakens the power of cities like Chicago, the UAW, and lefty parasitic organizations by shifting jobs away from urban centers where the left is strong to rural areas where it’s harder to rent a scary mob. University of Kentucky students are less intimidating than busloads of people from the South side of Chicago. Wonder how many consumers end up choosing a Georgetown, KY built Toyota Camry or Avalon over a Chicago built Ford Taurus? Well put!!

  • Steven02 Steven02 on Feb 21, 2011

    I think too much is being made of this. Wasn't there are large tree hugging group in California that would go around an burn Hummers and other large SUVs in the dealer lots?

    • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Feb 21, 2011

      Yes there was. Some of these groups were also burning McMansions while they were still under-construction. And while I think McMansions are eyesores, I'd never destroy someone else's property. (Although my favorite McMansion tatic is "big impressive" facade with stone and brick and columns and such then the side and rear are covered in the cheapest vinyl/aluminum siding you can get your hands on. That one always makes me laugh.)

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