The REASON that the big 3 produce trucks and SUV’s is that their existing cost structure is driven by union contracts, which have union salaries and benefits (especially retirement costs) significantly higher than their competitors, making it impossible to create a business model in which the big 3 earn a profit selling fuel efficient small cars for the price consumers want. It has NOTHING to do with any executive’s personal views on green tech, and EVERYTHING to do with BUSINESS. An executive at a manufacturing company will produce ANYTHING that will make a profit margin that justifies ongoing investment in whatever technology, green or otherwise.

But, wouldn’t that be an extremely long extension cord?
But seriously folks, I wanna Ford Reflex. 65mpg and 0-60 in under 7 seconds! Make it affordable. Second choice would be Honda Remix or Chevy Volt.

Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 8, 2007 @ 1:30 pm

Thank you. I just try to see if there is some common ground between the left and right. How can we expect peace in the world when the people of the USA are fighting each other?

And I also wonder about the compensation that the CEOs of the big 3 receive. If I remember correctly, American CEOs are making a lot more money than their foreign counterparts.

At my previous job, the folks in lower management received a bonus that was 20 times that of their employees. That is literally an exponential increase.

Instead of everyone getting a fixed percentage of their yearly pay, the percentage gets higher and higher as they climb the ladder. My boss was able to buy a new car (Toyota ha ha) with his bonus.

Now that’s great if you happen to be higher up the ladder, but do you think that our foreign counterparts are doling out the money like we are here?

Its as if the whole purpose of American industry now is to throw all the money up to the CEO and others until they have more money than they’ll ever need. Even if they screw the pooch!

american provincialism at its best – no idea what’s going on in the rest of the world, but ready to pass judgement on it all in a second.

blame-the-unions-first is the last resort of crooks like Ken Lay – I’m sure he’s proud of you, wherever he’s hiding from justice.

The suits ran Detroit into the ground with their unchecked avarice, arrogance, and lack of genuine regard for their products or customers – no one wielding a wrench or a welder could ever have accomplished that – even in a group.

Hendler – you’re like those blacks who hate blacks – ya got no idea where your real interests lie, so you’re borrowing someone else’s.

They also have electric scooters, that look identical to the Vespas tearing around town, and my favorite, The Zappy. They’re marketing these for industrial use, because they’re a great way to get around in a warehouse or a big parking lot. Unlike the Segway, they are dirt cheap.

http://www.smartusa.com/

Comment by katy — December 8, 2007 @ 10:44 am

The first statement could only have been made by someone too young to remember the gas lines of the 70s, and the blown opportunity Detroit had to compete with the Japanese. Plenty of time then to build reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles. But it’s so much easier now to blame the unions, as though the unions were the people responsible for making the decisions.

No, not with the previous UAW agreements in place. The Japanese would have finished the big 3 off by now.

Even with the new tech and hybrid approach by the big 3, with the Chinese starting to enter the market (note Chryslers new arrangements with Chery (not Chevy), a Chinese automaker), there is still a serious chance the big 3 will collapse. All their current haste is just a hope / prayer that they will come out ahead.

Communist / fasicst governments are NOT good governments – read the Book of Isms, 11th Edition, so that you understand. You hope to control all 3 branches of our federal government, so that you can then possess what DeTocqueville called the tyranny of the majority. Your policies, however well intentioned and sincere, are purposely hidden from voters eyes until you can seize control – that should be your first clue as to the infeasibility of your proposals.

What our current field of presidential candidates is missing is a vision of great movement towards a greater America (note to libs: unmanageable federal social programs, including NASA, aren’t applicable). In the past, we have had broad development of infrastructure – dams, canals, railroads, highways, etc., that signaled an intent to improve everyone’s lives, but today we are getting small proposals to tweak existing infrastructure.

If I were running for president, I would propose:

1) Housing industry – reduce 30 year mortgage to 20 years incrementally over 10-20 years and limit the number of homes any individual or couple could own. I would not interfere with the current market correction in housing.

2) Energy – Issue “green” bonds to lend money to states and corporations (along with federal grants) to build hydro-electric dams, install solar panels on homes, convert river and ocean currents to electricity, etc.

3) Transportation – subsidize consumers (including municipalities and travel/shipping corporations) ability to purchase hybrid or zero emissions vehicles, so that the market chooses the best tech, not the government or corporations. When markets have selected clear winners, then draft legislation to move still more buyers to these cleaner vehicles.

I just listed the biggest costs to the American family (and municipalities / corporations, directly/indirectly). Address these first, and many other problems go away.

they could’ve done that 30+ years ago…

The unions have finally settled with the big 3 automakers, and it was the Prius and other high mileage vehicles that pushed it. The big 3 and the UAW realized they were going down together, if they didn’t bring their overhead costs in line with the competition. Now, GM can invest in high tech, and compete in the small car market.

The hardest thing for Hard Conservatives to do is to live in someone else’s shoes that is not so fortunate. This is the classic “bleeding heart liberal”. However, if Conservatives are Christians (which most are not), then they all must follow Jesus’s teachings and not Rupert Murdoch’s.

It is good to see that you, Captain, have a crack in your armor. The Right’s “Caution”, has been replaced by Fear and Hatred. Myself, I am more of a Mr Spock type character. Whatever makes the most logical sense, I choose. For instance, the left was going after Imus for saying that “Nappy Headed Hos” remark. However, Imus is actually a very compassionate person, and he like another Don Rickles. Rickles was a sweetheart in person, as I know people who know him. But, the so-called left took Sharpton’s side. Logic says that Sharpton is never there when a black person beats or kills white people, or says a disparaging remake. Sharpton does ZERO to help sick children. So, I went against the grain and supported Imus. So it is with politics and social situations. People are too quick to label something “Left or Right” or “Liberal or Conservative”.

Logical or irrational is the only two classes. Hurting people, animals, the environment, and the economy is irrational.

Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 8, 2007 @ 6:53 am

The Right Wing hatred of the government goes back to Labor Unions of the 30s. Before that, workers were completely victimized by Capitalists, child labor and such. There was this effort by Conservatives to tie in everything despised by the Right, homosexuality, hippies, Labor unions, Socialism, Communism, Vegetarians, Environmentalists, Pagans, Government itself, College Professors, Beatniks, Woman’s Libbers, and Ravers. Never mind that the majority of Americans would always take the side of the oppressed. The Right Created this linear equation. If you were one of those people, you were automatically one of the others. Thus, Gays=Communist=Anti-American.

Now, take a look at China. No government oversight or regulations, just corporations running the country. The government there is just to control the population. Is this the model you would like for the USA. A literal police state where protesters against corporate control are beat and arrested? The major difference is this….If corporations did not have so much power and sway over the government, then We The People would be represented. WE could elect individuals who represented our needs. With corporations, we don’t elect board members and CEOs. There is ZERO accountability except “Bottom Line” profit margin. The conclusion is: Corporations should stay out of important aspects of people’s lives; defense, pensions, social security, garbage collecting, schools, and so on.

And remember Mussolini’s definition of Fascism:

Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power

Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 8, 2007 @ 6:53 am

Yes, we do. a well-run government, not a Republican theft-fest, is far more efficient than private company. Social Security is an outstanding example of this. social Security’s “problems”, such as they are, can be tied to republican greed and perfidy. and Big Oil and Big Pharma are not Free market in any way, they are government-funded boondoggles for the rich. there is no Free Market, never has been, and never can be until the morality of the right is aimed at advancing freedom and civilization instead of profits for shareholders. Your first paragraph of #34 is bawed on a lie.

What else would explain them being so behind the times?

Anyone see the flick “WHo Killed the Electric Car?” It’s an eye opener. Maybe one day we will get there.

Comment by Brain From Planet Arous

Hybrids are here now! When the other technologies get to the same point the hybrids are I’ll join you. Unfortunately they are not here yet and will be very expensive for years when the arrive.
Just saying do what you can NOW.

Comment by RUCerious — December 7, 2007 @ 11:52 pm

Yes!!! Totally cut Exxon/Mobil out of the equation. Tesla Motors is releasing the Roadster at around $100,000. Then another two incrementally, depending on the initial response. They will be in the $50,000 and $20,000 range respectively. Hybrids are cool, but Lithium Ion technology is the way to go. For larger vehicles, Trains, trucks, etc, the new bacteria-produced hydrogen shows promise. Again, the little buggers don’t need the Petrol Companies to process hydrogen.