The Congressional Motor Company
George Will’s column this week assailed Barney Frank (and Congress in general) for its plans to impose politically motivated design constraints on the Big Three.
In an interview with Business Week, Rep. Barney Frank, the effervescent Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, was asked, concerning the auto industry, “How do you make sure the government doesn’t meddle too deeply in day-to-day operations and bring politics — like a push for green cars — into the equation?” Frank replied: “Oh, well, a push for green cars is very much a part of what we’re involved in. We don’t think that’s politics.” So, when the government, its 10 thumbs stuck deep in the economy, uses its power to compel an industry to pursue the objectives of the political party that controls both of the government’s political branches, that is not politics.
Business Week: “Should GM acquire Chrysler?” Frank: “I’m not competent to say.” Frank’s humility is selective: He obviously thinks he is competent to say what kind of cars should be made.
To paraphrase Gene Kranz, “Success is not an option.”
Here is a pretty funnny video that highlights the absurdity of letting Congress dictate automotive designs:
Nice to see that 70’s battery powered car, the wedge shaped Pelosimobile, again. One of the local car rebuilders has one in the junk pile.
Wonder if VW will bring back the bug with say a turbo-diesel or the old Messerschmidt vehicle.
Successful or not, Congress certainly has the right. The companies didn’t have to accept the bailout money, but two of them took it with open arms and they ought to have known this was coming.
Because of the contract GM and Chrysler made with the government in accepting the federal loan, then I agree that the government is entitled to the oversight that the automakers agreed to in the loan. However, I also contend that the government had no right to extend the loan. Try finding that enumerated power in the Constitution.
I never said Congress doesn’t have the right. The real problem is that Congress has no knowledge of how to design cars that people want.
such heresy, the Congress knows what best for you and have the approval ratings to show it.