Quote:
Originally Posted by LazyScot
I think I'm having a reality problem today. I seem to be arguing with an American. I'm defending the Americans and he's attacking them..... (Checks that he is actually in the Conservatory.)
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If you mean me: I'm not trying to attack Americans. I'm trying to figure out a way to get Americans to act responsibly, despite the attacks I receive (from my fellow Americans) for attempting to do so.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LazyScot
I think the problem is a few parts of upper management that are so tied to SUVs and have staked their futures to them they are not willing to give up on them.
The alternative of sacking the upper management is undoubtedly theraputic, but does set a rather worrying precedence, and really only causes harm to those who can sort the mess out. (I think you have your own version of Fred Goodwin in the states, right?) |
Too true. I was convinced decades ago that the real strategy by Detroit upper management was to milk the industry and the public dry with gas-guzzling low-cost-high-profit SUVs, then just before the bottom fell out, take their nice big pensions and jet to their personal islands in the Caribbean for an early retirement. Even now, GM CEO Rick Wagoner is laughing all the way to the bank...
But in this case, sacking the upper management is better than they deserve: As they were all in collusion on the plot, they should all have been fined, and many of them should have been jailed, for openly operating against the best wishes and needs of the American public, the American government, and the Constitution (which they repeatedly bribed--ahem,
lobbied--their way into manipulating to their own ends).
Quote:
Originally Posted by LazyScot
And if you can make a 1000mpg SUV, I don't see a problem with that (though, if you don't mind, I'll stick with my smaller car, cos it fits into my garage....).
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How 'bout this: Larger, heavier vehicles create more wear and tear on highways, requiring greater funds (and taxes) to keep repaired; their greater size lowers traffic visibility around them, making roads less safe for other drivers; and they take up more space on the roads, creating more traffic simply by virtue of their sheer bulk. So even a 1000mpg SUV is worse than a 1000mpg car.