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October 05, 2004
Sure, the Wall Street
Journal is a business publication, and it leans toward
the Republican right. I'm fine with this. Still, I was
surprised at how awful the editors handled Californians
recently-passed pollution legislation in an editorial
titled, "Arnold's Greenhouse", published
today.
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In the article, the WSJ editors start out pimping Gov.
Schwarzenegger as a man standing for the people against
interest groups, but then asks, "How about opposing
those groups imposing huge new costs on car drivers in
California and the rest of America?"
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Excuse me? We have to have the Gov. protect us from
people trying to limit pollution, trying to do something
about foreign oil dependency, and trying to get
corporations to think about helping the American people,
rather than only seeking profit at any cost?
The article also asks, "And to what purpose?",
arguing that CO2 emissions have nothing to do with
pollution.
Shame on the Wall Street Journal. It has been shown
quite clearly, and believed by almost all scientists,
that CO2 emissions from cars interact with sunlight to
form SMOG. Scientists throughout Southern California
will bet their reputation that the majority of SMOG is
caused by cars, PERIOD.
For the WSJ to take such an unscientific stance is
unacceptable and pathetic, and seems to indicate that
WSJ is in bed with the oil industry. It is certainly for
the status quo.
"There's also the question of jobs," the Wall
Street Journal points out.
Jobs? Shouldn't that be the 'job' of auto execs?
A recent article by the American Foreign Press titled
'Asian brands gain ground with US consumers', states
"Perhaps more significant was the way the Asian
brands led in various product segments. Toyota's
Prius hybrid nabbed the compact car category.."
Pardon? Did you say a hybrid
car, something that has been around for just a few
short years, and already hits Californians 2012
pollution legislation requirements, helped Toyota take
over the compact car market?
Oh yeah, you did.
So a new customer segment, regardless of pollution
legislation, is already forming? Could this be a sign of
future market share? Shouldn't Detroit be paying
attention?
Then again, I guess American automakers have been
spending too much of their time fighting rollover
lawsuits for the last 20 years to care about actually
helping make the world a better place.
Add the fact that Toyota's Prius hybrid car technology
is being leased by U.S. automakers, as well as being
introduced to China - possibly the future of the auto
world, and I think I'm missing something here. Or,
Detroit is missing something.
The future of auto jobs are not going to be built around
SUVs. They just don't make sense in an over-populated,
pollution-filled world. More and more consumers are
saying we've had enough. Leadership by Toyota has been
well received by many American consumers who want to do
something about foreign-oil dependency, about SMOG,
about pollution.
Where is Detroit? Promoting bigger SUVs.
Where is the Wall Street Journal? Promoting a
scandalous, tired American automotive industry.
Perhaps two Wars in Iraq have been good for the rich,
but not for the average American.
Where is the leadership? Technological innovation is the
future, and new energy possibilities are just around the
corner. Those who lead those innovations will lead the
future. SUVs are not going to lead the future. So those
jobs are dying anyway.
The Wall Street Journal seems as ignorant as the brass
at the Big 3. Consumers are demanding corporate
responsibility more and more, and questioning the auto
industry is only one part of that demand. As the gap
between rich and poor increases, and as more become poor
and fewer rich, the poor, 'the people', will not sit
back as corporate execs become billionaires promoting
dead-end-technologies, at the expense of Average
Americans
Thank you Governor Schwarzenegger for showing
leadership, for not bending over to the special
interests of Big Business - the worst of all special
interests.
The fact is, hybrid cars already can do what California
requires. Furthermore, hybrid cars are an innovation
which can help transition towards the future, while
creating jobs with a future.
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