Where's Michael Moore when you need him?
General Motors Co. CEO Dan Akerson wants the federal gas tax boosted as much as $1 a gallon to nudge consumers toward more fuel-efficient cars, and he's confident the government will soon shed its remaining 26 percent stake in the once-bankrupt automaker.
"I actually think the government will be out this year — within the next 12 months, hopefully within the next six months," Akerson said in a two-hour interview with The Detroit News last week.
He is grateful for the government's rescue of GM — "I have nothing but good things to say about them" — but Akerson said the time for that relationship to end is coming because it's wearing on GM.
[. . .]
A government-imposed tax hike, Akerson believes, will prompt more people to buy small cars and do more good for the environment than forcing automakers to comply with higher gas-mileage standards.
We've come to expect this kind of crap from the political class, but we have to take from an auto manufacturer? Of course, he's a car maker in bed with the government who is grateful for the "rescue" and has "nothing but good things to say about them." Use your taxing power to force us to make the cars nobody wants to drive! Crony capitalist ratfink punk.
Comments
It all started with the bail-out of Chrysler many years ago! Back then, as an engineering salesman, I called on three Chrysler plants in the northeast quadrant of Indiana. They all were, IMHO, the most poorly run automotive plants in my territory (frankly, they all sucked!) The biggest reason was the way that the UAW was allowed to stiffle every action to improve the methods of manufacturing in their plants. And management was responsible because they gave in to the union due to presure from local, state and national politicians!
We have finally gotten to the point that our government has to use tax revenues and international borrowing to keep these "formerly-independant" businesses functioning!
Back when the Chrysler bail-out occured, the "New Chrysler Corporation" was formed - but, within two years the same actions at these plants was the handwritting on their walls - SAME OLD STUFF. If our government had allowed them to go "belly-up" back then, the business cycle would have corrected the failures and they would have been reborn into what could survive WITHOUT OUR PRESENT AND FUTURE TAX REVENUES!
We just don't learn by coverup - Ask Representative Wenner about that!
And let's JUST SAY NO to raising the gas tax to help out a still failing company - What's GM stock (the NEW stuff) selling for? And what about those who lost out on the old GM stock so that the UAW could continue their crap?
I defy anyone out there to provide us with ONE example of government intervention in private business that actually helped instead of creating 10 times more problems and unnecessary programs.
If you want to frick something up, just get the government involved.
This is really un American. Run your company into the ground, beg for bailouts and now ask for a $1 tax on gasoline in order to make the cars you sold individuals years ago obsolete or too costly to operate so that YOU CAN SELL MORE FUEL EFFICIENT CARS all because your business plan sucks.
I will never buy another GM car as long as I live. I am now saying JUST SAY NO TO GENERAL MOTORS!! Those who know me can identify my campaign signs. I now have a new symbol and will be placing it on my web site shortly.