Washington doesn't give "a damn about Detroit"?

Reap what you sow?

This morning Angus Mackenzie wrote on his blog, "The main difference between the Japanese and American auto industries is that the Japanese government does what it can to help its automakers succeed, whereas in Washington, no-one gives a damn about Detroit."

Is this true? Is this a new or old phenomenon?

Since the 1970's there has been growing concern regarding foreign oil dependency. Thus, the last 5 or 6 Presidents have stated that America needs to do something to end foreign oil dependency to protect National security. For decades, however, U.S. automakers lobbied Congress to minimize any fuel economy regulations because such legislation might slow fuel cells - which have now been just around the corner for the last 3 decades. Yet, cost effective fuel cells and a hydrogen highway might still be decades away from cost-effective reality.

In the 90s, U.S. automakers were each given 100s of millions to develop the next generation of fuel efficient vehicles by the Clinton Administration. What did America receive in return from U.S. automakers for this investment of tax payer dollars?

Record sales of the biggest gas-guzzling , foreign oil dependency-increasing vehicles as Honda launched the Honda Insight hybrid and Toyota launched the Toyota Prius hybrid.

Today, America is bent over an oil barrel, and America's foreign oil dependency problems are certain to get far worse before they get better. Thus, can Detroit really blame Washington and America for being a little disappointed?