Re: And NOW, the Big 3 are doing what Packard couldn't do...

Posted by HH56 On 2008/12/5 21:37:42

JW has some excellent points but I won't totally agree with Packard53 in putting all the blame on a Texas gentleman since some of the underlying problems happened on the watch and with support of a fellow from Arkansas. I will say that it's my firm belief the party in charge of congress until a couple of years ago has a lot to answer for though.

I can't help but remember that after the first oil crisis there was a number of incentives and programs to promote and develop alternative energy and fuel efficient cars put into place. Unfortunately, they were some of the first things eliminated when the party took over congress because "the govt does not belong in funding, subsidizing (or whatever they want to call it) programs best left to private industry to do". Well, we see how private industry stepped up and took over with no incentives.

The short of it is US car makers have almost no hybrid or alternative energy products to sell now when we need them, unless it's parts come from a supplier in a country whose govt actively supported such research. Same with the financial mess since "there is no need for regulations because the financial institutions know best on how to manage their business and market place will sort things out."